Hi,
My son was diagnosed with ADD three years ago. My Ex and I have tried Concerta (horrible result..lasted one day), and have been pretty consistent with Adderall. My son has extreme anxieties that will build up until he erupts without any warning into violence. I’ve learned how to restrain him but it saddens me so much. The Dr had us try Zoloft, Paxil, and another med (can’t remember the name right now…at work). The last one caused him to want to commit suicide one week to deep depression the next. We took him off all meds except the Adderall as it does seem to help. I am hoping there are other parents who go through the same thing on the ups and downs of anxiety. I get so scared for him as he truly does not know what he’s doing. Sometimes I feel that he is being misdiagnosed.
Thanks!
Re: ADD w/ anxiety and violence
My son is diagnosed ADHD, Bipolar, OCD and several other things. I have experienced the very things you are talking about. Huge mood swings and very rapid at that. They finaly diagnosed him with Bipolar last Feb.00 and put him on Lithium and Lithobid. He has done a complete 180. The rages and violence has basicly gone away. The Lithium and Lithobid for the Bipolar have been wonderful. Your child could very well be Bipolar. I would ask your Dr. or get the book: The Bipolar Child by Papolos & Papolos. It’s a fantastic book with lots of helpful info on Bipolar and what to do.
Re: ADD w/ anxiety and violence
There is a new book out called Healing ADD by Daniel Amen. He lists six different types of ADD/ADHD and one of them does mimic Bipolar, called Type 6 “Ring of Fire”. It starts on Page 141 and goes for a whole chapter. It lists some of the symptoms as:
Is angry or agressive
Is sensitive to noise, light, clothes or touch
Has frequent or cyclic mood changes (highs and lows)
Is inflexible, or rigid in thinking
Insists on having his or her own way, even when told no multiple times.
Has periods of mean, nasty, or insenstive behaviour.
Has periods of excessive talkativeness.
Has periods of excessive impulsivity.
Exhibits unpredictable behaviour.
Displays grandiose or “larger than life” thinking.
Talks fast
Has the sensation that thoughts go fast
Appears anxious or fearful.
Does this help?
Re: ADD w/ anxiety and violence
Howdy all! I’m having some issues with have severe mood swings and was wondering if anyone could offer any advice. I was diagnosed with ADD some 8 years ago. I am 21 now. I took ritalin through out my high school years. 20mg 2x a day. I don’t take it anymore because I found that it was causing more harm than anything. But, I’m thinking that I should go back on it because I can’t concentrate like I used to and I’m have these bad mood swings. I’ve also been reading some info about other drugs. Has anyone had any experence with this or has any advice about this (other than the obvious ‘talk to your doctor’)?
Have you checked out to see if he is Bi-polar. They have similar symptoms to ADHD but their anger/rages seem more intense and sustained.