Myths About ADHD Depression

• “A person with ADD depression could simply overcome the disorder by concentrating.” This is patently untrue as ADHD and depression both contribute to disorganized thinking and a lack of ability to concentrate.
• “ADD depression is caused by a lack of willpower.” Untrue as well, depression and ADD are not caused by a lack of desire to perform normal activities but by a lack of ability.
• “People who have ADHD depression are just lazy and don’t want to work.” Completely false, though people with ADD depression are much more likely to be unemployed it has been proven that the chemical imbalances in the brain cause afflicted persons to be unable to keep a job because of lack of organizational skills, fatigue and generalized feelings of illness.
• “ADD is always diagnosed in children first.” This is also false, symptoms of ADHD and depression may have been present in childhood but unaddressed. Most people who are diagnosed with ADD as an adult will remember the difficulties they had as children which may have been ignored as bad behavior and not addressed. The treatment of ADHD depression is still emerging.

Most mental health professionals believe that a complete and thorough psychological evaluation for anyone with a diagnosis of ADHD should be performed, to determine if depression or any other related mental illness is present. Once completed, a team of medical professionals, including the primary physician, psychologist, therapist and/or psychiatrist can work together to develop a treatment plan specific to the individual enabling the person with ADHD depression to become a fully functional and satisfied member of society.