The Difference Between ADD & Depression

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and depression are two separate conditions that often accompany each other. However, it is important to remember that these are independent conditions. Children with ADD will express the feelings of depression differently than an adult will. Both adults and children often deal with depression because they are unable to communicate or focus the way that they want to due to conditions of ADD and the frustration often leads to depression.

Symptoms of ADD

• Attention Deficit Disorder appears in childhood and continues for the individual’s life. The condition of ADD makes it difficult for a person to control their spontaneous reflexes. The spontaneous reflexes can appear in speech, movements or attention. Many children with ADD find it very hard to focus on a single task for very long and will look for other ways to provide needed input. Adults with ADD are able to find ways to control their symptoms and keep the spontaneous reflexes in check.

Signs of Depression

• An individual with ADD will often show signs of depression because of the frustration they often feel. However, depression is a separate condition. Depression can be hard to diagnose; however, if a person starts to withdraw, limits social interactions and stops caring about personal appearance, they may be experiencing symptoms of depression. Adults who are dealing with depression may start to miss work and struggle with completing required daily tasks.

ADD Treatment

• ADD is a lifelong condition and cannot be outgrown or medicated away. While there are medications that can help to reduce the symptoms, the condition of attention deficit will always be with the individual. Therapy is used to treat ADD and assist children in learning coping techniques so that when they feel themselves losing control, they have the methods necessary to bring themselves back under control.

Treatment of Depression

• Depression can be treated with medication to help reduce the symptoms. However, counseling is also an effective way of dealing with depression without using drugs. Counseling allows an individual to express personal frustrations and to work on building self esteem. Depression is not a life long illness in most cases and can be monitored and improved.

Connection between ADD and Depression

• Not all people who have ADD will develop symptoms of depression. However, the more that an individual with ADD struggles to fit into social situations, the more likely he will be to develop depression. As children with ADD grow, it is important to provide adequate opportunities for the child to express himself. Finding activities that the child can focus on and excel at will help to boost the child’s self esteem and help to prevent depression from having a chance to develop.