ADHD and Depression

ADHD is often accompanied by depression for both the child with ADHD and the parents. Learn more.

As most of you know, I began my site on Attention Deficit Disorder in 1995. Over the last several years, I have realized that ADD/ADHD is often accompanied by other issues, and the one I hear most frequently, is Depression.

Often times, with the self-esteem issues and hardships that come with ADHD, Depression appears if it isn't already there and if the ADHD child or adult isn't dealing with depression directly, the stress and chaos in the ADHD household can cause depression to be an issue among other family members.

I also have my own personal battles with depression that stem from a father who felt that verbal abuse and humilation would cure my weight problems, even at 40 years old, an 8 year relationship wrought with domestic violence, verbal and mental abuse as well as the challenges of having an ADHD child.

What Depression Is:

By Deborah Deren - from Wings of Madness Depression website

• Depression is an illness, in the same way that diabetes or heart disease are illnesses.
• Depression is an illness that affects the entire body, not just the mind.
• Depression is an illness that one in five people will suffer during their lifetime.
• Depression is the leading cause of alcoholism, drug abuse and other addictions.
• Depression is an illness that can be successfully treated in more than eighty percent of the people who have it.
• Depression is an equal-opportunity illness - it affects all ages, all races, all economic groups and both genders. Women, however, suffer from depression twice as much as men do.
• At least half of the people suffering from depression do not get proper treatment.
• Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide.
• Depression is second only to heart disease in causing lost work days in America.

What Depression Is Not:

• Depression is not something to be ashamed of.
• Depression is not the same thing as feeling "blue" or "down."
• Depression is not a character flaw or the sign of a weak personality.
• Depression is not a "mood" someone can "snap out of." (Would you ask someone to "snap out of" diabetes?)
• Depression is not fully recognized as an illness by most health care insurance providers. Most will only pay 50% of treatment costs for out-patient care, as well as limiting the number of visits.

Extensive information on childhood and adult depression at the HealthyPlace.com Depression Community.

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