Could it have begun with ODD/ADHD and then the bipolar surfaced years later?

Question

Ok, i am diagnosed with bipolar type 1, but I was reading about ODD/ADHD, and it was like I was reading about myself till the age of 18.

Its like I used to purposely annoy and bother people, get angry and hyper. Or maybe I have ODD and no ADHD because I didn't really have trouble concentrating as a kid(at age is when I couldn't concentrate anymore), just very hyper, very annoying to my parents making their life h**l, demanding things, talking back to adults but this was mostly at home, and at school, I was soo shy to do anything about it, so I kept quiet. That was obviously the social anxiety disorder.

Around 18 I became really depressed due to a lot of college starting stress and a breaking up with my girlfriend.

I later realized that this was my first major depressive episode, part of bipolar disorder.

So I am 23 now. Till 3 months ago I must have gotten 7 long manic episodes and 3 major depressive episodes. I have finally gotten the help i needed, and when I was talking to the doctor, i basically mentioned the past 7 years of my life, because I don't remember much of my past relating to feelings.

Even with medicine I am slightly still annoyed and can become bothersome. I take meds for social anxiety and bipolar and i don't want to add anymore meds, should i mention this to my doctor i i am feeling ok right now because of bipolar medicine? Or should I get this checked out.

Another question is, can all these anger and ODD/ADHD issues have been caused by bipolar disorder all along? or do I have all three?

Answer 1

This is just an opinion, but I think it's all pretty subjective. If you have been diagnosed with Bipolar after being diagnosed with ADHD and/or Oppositional Defiant Disorder, I think it's all basically the same thing. The only difference is ADHD and ODD are diagnoses that are more commonly given for people under 18.

In other words, if someone has a certain kind of behavior before the age of 18, he will most likely be diagnosed with ADHD/ODD. If he has the same kind of behavior after the age of 18, he is more likely to be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.

If someone has three different disorders, how can they tell which is which?

The real point is whether the treatment helps or not, rather than if it is this diagnosis or that.

I am diagnosed with Major Depression and Dysthymic Disorder (low level chronic depression)--is there really any difference? I don't think so.

When I was a kid I think I fit the criteria for ADD (not hyperactive) and sometimes even mild Autism but I never had a formal diagnosis at that time.

I asked my psychiatrist if I should have a diagnosis of ADD and she said it didn't make any difference, she would give me the same medication anyway.

Back to the topic of Bipolar, it's true that some younger people are being diagnosed with Bipolar even in childhood. I was reading the medical record of a 2 year old diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I'm not a psychiatrist, but come on now. How in God's name can you tell?  

Answer 2

The only person who can answer your questions seriously is either a medical practitioner or your psychologist.