Can Undiagnosed ADHD Lead To Depression?
There are many different causes and triggers when it comes to depression. Often, environmental issues like stressful life events can be the cause. However, certain medical and mental health issues can also lead to depression if they aren’t properly addressed.
ADHD can be one of those issues.
It’s estimated that about 75% of adults with ADHD don’t actually know they have it. While we often consider ADHD to be a children’s disorder, the symptoms can carry over into adulthood if you’ve never gone through any kind of treatment. Unfortunately, you can’t undergo the right management techniques when you aren’t diagnosed.
As a result, you might be at a greater risk of developing other mental health issues, like depression. Let’s take a closer look at the connection between undiagnosed ADHD and depression and what you can do to fight back.
Difficulties Dealing With Symptoms
One of the biggest reasons ADHD is often linked to depression is the toll the symptoms can take on a person’s mental health. Some of the most common signs of ADHD in adults include:
Difficulties staying organized
Lack of focus
Poor time management
Social challenges
Forgetfulness
As you might expect, these symptoms can impact nearly every area of your life, from friendships to romantic relationships and even your career. If you regularly experience these things and they’ve impacted your quality of life, it’s understandable that you would struggle with feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Depression can become even worse if you haven’t received an ADHD diagnosis and you can’t seem to understand exactly why you struggle with these symptoms when other people don’t.
Feeling Inadequate
Because of the stress often associated with ADHD symptoms and how they can impact your life, you might start to struggle with self-esteem issues. Even if you have a strong support system and are relatively successful, you might have difficulty seeing yourself as “normal,” or you might think you simply don’t measure up.
Low self-esteem and negative self-talk readily fuel depression, creating a sort of vicious cycle that makes you feel even worse about yourself.
Dopamine Levels
Dopamine is a chemical messenger in the brain, often called the “feel good” hormone. People tend to get a natural boost of dopamine when they do something they enjoy. It can boost your mood and make you feel happy and motivated.
People with ADHD might not always have the same access to neurotypical levels of dopamine. As a result, your brain’s natural reward system doesn’t work as well. You’re likely to feel less motivation and a negative mood, which can lead to depression.
Overlapping Symptoms
While many of the symptoms of ADHD and depression are different, there are some that overlap. Unfortunately, that can make it even more difficult to get a proper diagnosis, one way or another.
People with either ADHD or depression might experience trouble sleeping, loss of interest, boredom, and restlessness.
If any of the symptoms listed above feel familiar, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. ADHD isn’t just a children’s issue. You might have developed it as a child, but if the symptoms are impacting your quality of life now, getting the right diagnosis can help to improve your overall well-being.
If your ADHD symptoms have led to depression and you feel you might be dealing with both issues, a mental health specialist can help. Undiagnosed ADHD can absolutely lead to depression. Treating both disorders simultaneously can improve your quality of life and give you a sense of hope. Feel free to contact me to learn more about ADHD Testing and how it’s diagnosed or to start managing the symptoms of depression so you can take control of your life once again.
