Both can result in sleep disturbances, poor social relationships, feelings of anxiety, depression, frustration, and self-doubt. Both can significantly impact daily functioning. In addition, ADHD and bipolar disorder commonly occur together, making it even more difficult to tease them apart. This article discusses the symptoms of bipolar disorder and ADHD. It also explores some of the primary similarities and differences between the two conditions and how to tell them apart.
Identifying Symptoms of ADHD
The main symptom of ADHD is a disturbance in attention. The main symptom of bipolar disorder is a disturbance in mood. Structuring one’s environment, limiting distractions, finding stimulating activities, using visual or auditory reminders and organizational techniques can significantly improve function for an individual with ADHD.
Identifying Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder results in dramatic mood changes ranging from extreme highs in energy levels and a sense of euphoria and grandness to extreme lows of depression, hopelessness, and rock-bottom energy levels. These mood episodes are more significant than typical mood swings and may alternate with periods of normal mood and function. They occur relatively independently of outside influences within the environment. An individual with bipolar disorder may experience four main types of mood episodes:
Mania
These episodes are characterized by high energy level, over-the-top happiness, and elation or extreme irritable and angry mood, feeling of grandiosity and self-importance that may escalate into delusions and loss of contact with reality, impulsive risk-taking behaviors, decreased need for sleep, fast speech and increased talkativeness, distractibility, and/or racing thoughts. The manic episodes can severely impact daily functioning.
Hypomania
Hypomania is a milder form of mania that may not impact an individual’s daily functioning as severely as a manic episode. People experience hypomania may have a reduced need for sleep, may behave in inappropriate ways, act recklessly, speak rapidly, and experience irritable moods.
Depression
Symptoms of depression include low energy, fatigue, feelings of sadness and hopelessness, decreased interest in life, perhaps even suicidal thoughts, loss of pleasure in things that previously brought joy, difficulty with concentration and memory, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances.
Mixed Mood
The criteria are met both for a manic episode and for a major depressive episode nearly every day during at least a 1-week period.
Treatments for ADHD vs. Bipolar Disorder
Treatment for bipolar disorder usually involves mood-stabilizing medications, education, psychotherapy, and support. The most common drugs used to treat ADHD are stimulant medications. While mood stabilizers may not impact ADHD, stimulants may exacerbate bipolar symptoms and bring about manic or depressive episodes. Individuals with ADHD respond well to increased structure and organizational strategies in their environment and benefit from education, psychotherapy, social skills training, coaching, and support. An in-depth and comprehensive evaluation is required in order to make an accurate diagnosis of bipolar and/or ADHD, as symptoms can certainly appear similar.
A Word From Verywell
While bipolar disorder and ADHD have some similarities in symptoms, they are distinct and separate conditions. However, it is important to note that the two conditions can and often do occur together at the same time. The presence of both conditions can sometimes complicate diagnosis and treatment, so it is important to discuss all of your symptoms with a healthcare practitioner or mental health professional. The duration of symptoms is another distinguisher; ADHD is chronic while bipolar disorder is episodic. For some people, ADHD symptoms lessen or disappear in adulthood, while bipolar disorder is lifelong.
