Editor’s note: This is a guest post written by Jennifer C. Carillo. For more info about Jennifer, see the “About the Author” section below the article.

If we look at the current statistics, we will be shocked to know that one out of ten children suffer from ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and about 2.4% of the world’s total population are afflicted with Bipolar Disorder. That sure doesn’t look good.

ADHD and Bipolar Disorder are two of the most common mental disorders which affect both children and adults from all walks of life, from different parts of the world. Both ADHD and Bipolar Disorder are life-long illnesses without cure. Both diseases have treatment options which will only help manage and control the symptoms but not cure the disease completely.

Symptoms, Types, Causes and Treatment of ADHD

Like Bipolar Disorder, the symptoms of ADHD are quite difficult to isolate and distinguish from the symptoms of other similar mental conditions such as psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, etc. All of them share some of the symptoms and this makes it very challenging to recognize if the symptoms manifested correspond to ADHD or Bipolar Disorder.

ADHD manifests in two primary symptoms – difficulty in focusing or paying attention and impulsiveness or hyperactivity characterized by overly fast thinking, talking and racing actions.

There are three known types of ADHD, namely:

• Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive – manifest symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness
• Predominantly Inattentive – lack of focus or inability to pay attention characterize the symptoms of this type.
• Combined Hyperactive-Impulsive and Inattentive – this type combines the symptoms of hyperactivity and inattentiveness.

ADHD is generally caused by the following:

• Genetic links or heredity – parents who are diagnosed with ADHD are likely to have children with disease.
• Chemical imbalance – abnormalities in the neurology and physiology of the brain causing malfunction of the brain neurotransmitters.
• Environment conditions – such as child’s diet, mother’s condition during pregnancy, home environment.

ADHD treatment options include prescribed medication, psychotherapy or behavioral management, counseling or a combination of any of these options. A correct diagnosis of this mental condition will help in determining the proper treatment option for the patient.

Symptoms, Types, Causes and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder, on the other hand, is another mental illness which is characterized by extreme mood swings that alternately cycles from mania to depression. Like ADHD, some symptoms of bipolar disorder overlap with ADHD symptoms making it difficult to have an accurate diagnosis of the disease.

There are three types of Bipolar Disorder:

• Bipolar disorder type 1 – also known as manic-depressive disorder where symptoms manifest through abrupt changes in mood or emotional condition, from extremely happy mood to major bouts of depression.
• Bipolar disorder type 2 – this is a milder version of bipolar disorder type 1, showing mild symptoms of mania and depression. The symptoms are less intense but with very tough depressive periods. This type will also see a period of normal behaviour in between.
• Mixed Bipolar Disorder – this type manifests manic and depressive symptoms at the same time, generally characterized by racing thoughts, high energy level and erratic behaviour.

Bipolar disorder is known to be caused by three factors, namely:

• Genetic links – the symptoms run in families and parents who are diagnosed with the disorder will have kids who stand the risk of having the symptoms to as much as 80%.
• Chemical imbalance – a malfunction in the neurons caused by chemical imbalance in the brain sends off wrong signals resulting to erratic behaviour.
• Environment factors – like exposure to drug or substance and alcohol abuse, child neglect or any other disruption in the normal emotional state of the person contribute to the onset of bipolar disorder symptoms.

Treatment options for Bipolar Disorder include prescribed medication or drugs, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes to eliminate possible stressors or symptom triggers and counselling.

Like ADHD, if bipolar disorder is not diagnosed accurately and treated accordingly, the danger of extremely violent behaviour and actions and even suicide is a high possibility.

If any symptoms is spotted or recognized, the next best thing to do is to consult a doctor. Proper tests and checking of medical history will help the doctor in correctly identifying the mental condition that is manifesting the observed symptoms.

About the Author : My name is Jennifer C. Carillo from New Jersey. I am 34 years old and a psychology teacher at the community college in New Jersey. I have 2 lovely daughters aged 5 and 2.  I work as a freelance writer for bipolarsymptoms.org which gives me a different perspective about this mental condition.

ADHD Symptoms

ADHD symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulse control issues. Most kids display one or more of these traits at some point during their childhood. However, when establishing a diagnosis of ADHD, the focus is on whether or not the behavior is expected for the child’s particular age group. ADHD is common in children and teenagers, and adults can also have ADHD.

ADHD symptoms in adults can vary from those seen in children. Instead of overt hyperactivity, an adult may experience a physical restlessness and feel more comfortable moving than sitting down. In addition, adults with ADHD often have interpersonal relationship and employment issues.

There are three different categories of ADHD symptoms:

1. Inattention
2. Hyperactivity
3. Impulsivity

Inattention may not become apparent until a child enters a school classroom. Symptoms of inattention in adults may appear in work or social situations.

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may display some or all of the following inattention ADHD symptoms:

• Difficulty paying attention to details which results in incomplete or messy work
• Distractibility, especially related to stimuli irrelevant to the task or situation at hand. This is the idea of “oh, look, a shiny object!”
• Difficulty or inability to concentrate on schoolwork tasks
• Moving frequently from one incomplete activity to the next
• Procrastination
• Disorganized work habits
• Forgetting mundane but relatively important things: leaving lunch at home, forgetting keys, forgetting wallet, etc.
• Difficulty in following rules and sometimes social conventions

Hyperactivity ADHD symptoms are some of the most noticeable and often cause the most tension in interpersonal relationships. These ADHD symptoms are almost always noticed before the child is seven years old, though hyperactivity may vary based on developmental stage:

• Moving around while seated – inability to sit still even when in a chair
• Walking and/or running around at inappropriate times
• Difficulty participating in quiet activities
• Excessive talking

Toddlers and preschoolers with ADHD tend to be constantly in motion, jumping on furniture, and having difficulty participating in sedentary group activities. For instance, they may have trouble listening to a story. School-age children display similar behavior but with less frequency.

They are unable to remain seated, squirm a lot, fidget, or talk excessively. In adolescents and adults, hyperactivity may manifest itself as feelings of restlessness and difficulty engaging in quiet sedentary activities.

ADHD symptoms of impulsivity include:

• Impatience
• Trouble holding back responses until an appropriate time – blurting out answers before hearing the whole question
• Difficulty waiting turns
• Interrupting or intruding on others to the point of causing problems in social or work settings
• Holding conversations at inappropriate times

There are several ADHD symptoms that seem to get worse when demands at school or home increase. They include:

• Difficulty following instructions
• Inability to get organized
• Overactive hands and feet
• Failing to finish projects
• Not paying attention to details
• Poor grades / poor work performance
• Isolation from peers due to secondary depression

ADHD is diagnosed after children consistently display some or all of the above behaviors in at least two settings, such as at home and in school, for at least six months.

About 20% to 30% of children with ADHD develop learning difficulties that do not improve with ADHD symptom treatment. Oppositional-defiant disorder and conduct disorder are two of these that are often “offshoots” of ADHD. It is not known why this association exists.

Many children with ADHD adjust. However, it is advisable for both children and adults exhibiting ADHD symptoms to seek professional help from a medical professional who specializes in ADHD.

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