ADHD & Depression: Distraction As Therapy

I have the comorbid conditions of ADHD and Depression. And may I say that I despise the word "comorbid". What a gruesome, ghoulish word to hang around people's necks. Leave it to psychologists to come up with terminology that depresses depressives. Because "coinciding" and "overlapping" weren't descriptive enough.

But I digress…which is the point of this quick post after all.

I have often found my ADHD to be very helpful in treating my Depression. This is because sometimes I can forget I am depressed if the distraction is engrossing enough. In fact, when I discover that I am depressed, I will seek out distractions as the first coping strategy to get the depression under control. Sometimes, the depression is a wave that passes. What a perfect way to sidestep it by finding something else to think about for a short time until my mind & body regulate themselves.

I had originally stated here that ADHD and Depression were not common coinciding conditions (See? That sounds so much better), but a reader pointed out to me this study (Table 3) that showed a nearly one in five occurrence of either Major Depressive Disorder or Dysthymia (mild depression) with ADHD. That seems high compared to my experience where people search my blog for one or the other—not often both. Also, I have been told by psychologists that having both conditions was unusual, but then I've also had psychologists who believed in the healing power of crystals. So there you are. Regardless, I have both conditions, and I know I am not alone. That is why I wrote this article in the first place. I just never realized that I was in such good company.

Whether you are the one in five or the other four, you have likely encountered a side-effect of ADHD usually referred to as Depression After Success. That is the state of mind that we can find ourselves in when we come out of hyperfocus mode. We flounder as our minds lose their laser focus after the task is done and the bombardment of emotions, thoughts, and impulses begins.

Some of us with ADHD also deal with Depression as a constant and tone-deaf companion who sings over ADHD in the arena of our mind. Together, they make quite a racket. Fortunately, long bouts of Depression are hard to have because the ADHD side gets bored and demands action, but it can be a seesaw effect that takes up considerable amounts of energy to overcome. That is why when ADHD and Depression overlap, I let the ADHD side free.

One distraction that is a favorite of mine is to take photographs with filter-effect apps on my camera. I've been doing this since the first iPhone camera filter apps were released in late 2007. Often, I will take a selfie and either heighten the feeling of sadness I'm feeling with filters, or force myself to take a cheerful photograph then filter it until it looks convincing. These tiny projects don't take a lot of time and often are very effective at funneling my attention away from being depressed and into doing something creative—my number one coping strategy for fighting Depression.

If you find my articles on ADHD or Depression useful, please help me out by starting your Amazon.com shopping here , or share the article using one of the methods below. Thank you.

When Were You Diagnosed with ADHD?

Last week Rock Center with Brian Williams had a segment on a mother who was only diagnosed with ADHD after her daughter was discovered to have ADHD. The mother was 42. You can see a clip of the segment here. I'm wondering how common this is with others. I was diagnosed very early. At 3 weeks old my doctor decided I had "hyperkinesis". That could be because I rarely slept and would stand when people held my fingers. My head was too heavy to support, and I flopped it around, but I was standing. The year was 1967. Fifteen years later the term was Attention Deficit Disorder, but I was lucky. I was diagnosed very early. There was a label for my symptoms.

When were you diagnosed? Did you learn you had ADHD early or late in life? If you were late to the game, do you think an earlier diagnosis would have helped you score better?

If you find my articles on ADHD or Depression useful, please help me out by starting your Amazon.com shopping here , or share the article using one of the methods below. Thank you.

Pitching In for a Good Cause. David Farland Needs Your Help.

I have decided that April is the month I finish my Depression book. I've been working on it long enough, and now that my health is returning to me I would like to make a big push to make up for lost time. I'll still post here throughout the month, but the articles will be shorter than usual. I ask for your patience and support. You can follow my progress on Twitter or Path.

Today's post is a departure for me. Somebody I know needs your help, but it's help that might benefit you. An associate of mine, author David Farland, has suffered a family tragedy lately. His son, Ben, had a very severe sports accident that nearly cost him his life. In fact, he is still struggling in the hospital today. Ben's bout with death has generated a hospital bill estimated to be in the millions. As a writer, Dave doesn't have health insurance, so he is turning to his readers for help. He needs them to buy one of two books today. Read on for the details.

I've known Dave for over twenty years. I can't say we're good friends, but I knew him when he was still Dave Wolverton. I remember fondly a conversation with him I once had. I don't recall how I came upon his phone number, but I had both it and ADHD, so I called him up on impulse. I discussed, of all things, a story by Orson Scott Card. I wanted to know what Dave thought of it. We talked about a lot of things, including his time as a security guard at the prison at the point of the mountain here in Utah. He had to wear a beard by order of the warden, but the beard didn't go over well with some of the folks at church. This was the late 80s and beards were taboo in the LDS church then, despite the one on Jesus' face.

I don't know what Dave made of our odd conversation, but it impressed upon me deeply how real and grounded he was as a person. I've kept in touch with him over the years, and when I had a chance to chat with him at a writers conference three years ago, he was just as pleasant and patient—just as grounded. My heart really goes out to him at this time.

To help generate funds, Dave is having a book bomb today. Everyone supporting the book bomb agrees to purchase one of two books by Dave today. This will hopefully launch the books into the top sales rankings where they'll be noticed by other readers, thus generating even more sales.

Please consider pitching in and treating yourself to either Nightingale, a work of contemporary fantasy, or Million Dollar Outlines, a book on the writing craft. You can read more about the books and the book bomb here, or click on the individual links and just buy them. I'll be buying the enhanced iPad edition with soundtrack and animations, along with the book on writing. I've been meaning to get them for some time, so this is a great day to do it. Hopefully, you'll end up with a book you enjoy as well, and help Dave and his family out during this trying time. Thank you for your generosity.

If you find my articles on ADHD or Depression useful, please help me out by starting your Amazon.com shopping here , or share the article using one of the methods below. Thank you.

I Pushed Through the Stupor of My Brain

Saturday - Entry 30:

It may be 6:15am, but I am very pleased with myself. I pushed through the stupor my brain has been under since the accident and finished my freelance assignments. It is such a good feeling.

Not only did I complete my freelance work despite my addled mind, but I significantly increased my rate of output. Considering that the first two articles took over three days to complete, getting my output back to less than 30 minutes per article was reason to celebrate.

I rewarded myself with an episode of Elementary since I was too wired to sleep. I also did sit-ups, folded laundry, got another load going, and cleaned the living room. All before 6am. As I said, I was wired.

I realize that whiplash, even mild forms of it, can make a mind a quivering puddle of goo, so I am thankful for the elasticity of our minds and their ability to heal. I feel in hindsight that I was rather lucky to have escaped the accident with as little damage as I did. Still, I have tried to be patient with myself while I recuperated. I may have escaped relatively unscathed, but there were still injuries that have affected my state of mind.

Because I pre-wrote my blogs last month, they published automatically while I dealt with the car accident. Unfortunately, I didn't pre-write them into April. I'm afraid I ran out. Instead of producing new articles this past week, however, I decided to focus on my freelance work instead. Some readers had cautioned me to not push myself, which was wise advice, but I needed to push for the freelance work. I couldn't put the client off any further. If my brain is a muscle, it's all buff and ripped now. Plus pooped.

This experience showed me how important my ADHD coping strategies were. I was able to rely on them because I had ingrained them. When focusing on tasks while confused, I quiet the din in my head by focusing only on one task. It helps me plod forward despite distractions. Also, when concentration is difficult to achieve, I plan in breaks. That's what I did last night as I worked in 20-25 minute blocks. I pushed forward only after each break. It was important to make sure that the breaks were timed, too.

Next week, more blogs. This weekend I will happily work on my Depression book and nothing else. All that freelance work has shown me the importance of nurturing my own garden.

~Dˢ

If you find my articles on ADHD or Depression useful, please help me out by starting your Amazon.com shopping here , or share the article using one of the methods below. Thank you.

March Goes Out Lame

Friday - Entry 29:

Where to begin?

It is Day93. My energy levels seem to be returning, though the deep cough lingers. My lungs still burn as if I had just come down with bronchitis. I am still physically inactive, which is difficult as March goes out like a lamb with warm breezes and sunny days. I hope to go to church this Sunday and brave exposure to friendly, smiling people. If only I wasn't also suffering from a really bad haircut.

I must admit. It was a truly bad haircut. Each day I struggle with it to look halfway decent, but it seems to have been cut to enhance all of my cowlicks in the most unflattering ways possible. The hairs stick out here and there as if i had been trimmed by a blind gardner with a weed wacker. My vanity is deeply wounded…

…but not as deeply wounded as my beloved minivan.

On Wensday the 20th, the same day my blog passed the 300,000 unique visitor mark, my minivan was on its way to Unique Auto Body. I had been driving out of my building complex when a young lady coming the opposite direction took a left turn right in front of me. I did my best to react in time, and likely avoided further injury, but I wasn't able to clear her car. She clipped my front end severely. Everyone was all right. Nobody needed to go to the hospital. Yet my minivan was not so lucky.

I have seen worst crashes in my many years on the road, but my minivan is ten years old and only worth $1700, apparently. If the repairs cost more than the minivan is worth, it'll be scrapped. And I'll be looking at a car payment. Oh, joy.

I have spent the past week recovering from the accident, reminding me how frail I have become. My 46th year has not been an exemplary one so far. The accident exacerbated my illness, started me ticking for a few days, and has left me addled and weak. I like to believe that today marked a turning point for both the recovery and the recuperating.

I had intended to bang out six keyword freelance assignments tonight and list items on eBay to make rent next week, but instead I spent the evening caring for my sick daughter who is on an IV in the ER for dehydration. She sleeps now thanks to the medications, but vomiting twelve times took a toll on her body and my heart. After five hours of sickness and exams, it seems it was nothing more than a stomach virus. Soon I'll be taking her home.

Strangely, I am upbeat. Exhausted, but upbeat.

Despite all the drama, the most wonderful thing happened to me this week: I completely forgot about Spring Break. I've had my girls this week ALL DAY LONG. It is true that they have eaten my cupboards bare. I joked with others that my cupboards were so empty, we were sanding the shelves down for “oatmeal”. It is also true that I haven't been able to get a single thing done on my writing until the li'l insomniacs retired each night, leaving me haggard and worn out. But. I have had the most wonderful week with them.

My daughters are rays of sunshine in an otherwise bleak world. I may be more productive next week, but I will miss their light terribly. They ground me and give my life purpose. I sorely need that as I handle financial difficulties on top of this infernal chronic illness. It is my hope that the deathly hands of Winter will finally loose their grip on me, allowing Spring to give my health wings to soar.

That may have to wait until next week, however. For tonight, my daughter needs me to take her home, and I'll dip into the rent money to get her ginger ale & saltines while she recovers. Even if March goes out lame for me, I couldn't be happier.

 

~Dˢ

 

If you find my articles on ADHD or Depression useful, please help me out by starting your Amazon.com shopping here , or share the article using one of the methods below. Thank you.