ADD / Depression mix up?

Question

I've been diagnosed w/ ADD, and my doctor prescribed me antidepressants last week. The truth is, could I have one and not the other? Or even neither?
I've always had extreme problems with focusing on things that bored me, keeping a steady train of thought, and generally get addicted to things that I enjoy. (Books, videogames, tv shows, whatever. I say addicted as in I'll spend a lot of time doing these things, but not to the point where it takes over my life or anything bad like that.) Since high school started, I've been heartbroken, have developed slight philophobia due to this, and I'm often depressed. I'm also finding it harder to socialize, and my grades are falling from my inability to focus and my constant thoughts of the past, regrets, etc.
So, can anybody help me? Is it really neccessary to take medication, and do I even have any of these things? I've taken online ADD and depression tests, and both say I am high at risk for these problems.

Is there maybe any other disorder or whatever that includes both the symptoms of ADD and depression that I might have?
I just want to have a clearer idea of what is really wrong with me.
For reference, I'm 16.

I've been feeling down in the dumps for 3 years now, so this isn't something new. I know I have my whole life ahead of me, but I have no interest in the future because it means more academic work that causes me so much grief, and I just feel like all I really want is my past.
And when I say I can't focus when I'm bored, I mean it takes me 14 hours to write a two page essay. I spend hours in between daydreaming. My parents have tried persuading me to do my homework faster by promising videogame time afterwards, and it still doesn't help in the very least.
Hope this sheds some more light on what I'm talking about...

Answer 1

Sweetie,

Sounds to me like your doc hit it right on the head. I, too, suffer from ADD and depression. I'm 41, and can remember having this problem since elementary school.

Yes, I take an anti-depressant (Prozac), and have for the last 2 years (I've been on some type of meds for most of my life). It has made a major difference in my life, and I refuse to go without it, even tho some people consider it a stigma to be on meds for depression.

Remember, some people do out grow these types of problems. Just follow your docs advice, and make sure you note any problems that arise from taking the meds he prescribed. If it interferes in your normal functioning, ask him about changing either the dosage or the med type......the right one to help you is out there.

One more thing........know that there are millions out there that are going through the same thing you are, and if you ever need a friend, just ask.......we will answer.

Answer 2

It really concerns me that you are only 16 and they already want to put you on meds.
Who doesn't get bored or distracted when they are dealing with things that they aren't particularly interested in? And depression, who wouldn't be depressed that they've had a heartbreak? It is hard to socialize when you're feeling kind-of blue and to run things over and over in your mind when you've nothing else to do.
In my opinion, I would tell the doctor that I am interested in tackling this without the meds. He/She will probably tell you that there is a need for the meds for a little while and that they will help you work on getting to a point where the meds are not needed.
Chin up!

Answer 3

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 4

That accually sounds more like anxiety then anything.....Calm down take baby steps start working on the whole heartbreak thing...cause ima tell ya right now DONT WORRY BOUT IT!! ya have ya whole life ahead people come people go...dont let 1 relationship mess your whole life up. Dont go to meds they will mess ya up even more and doctors in my opinion are pill happy. Being ADD isnt bad i have it to and i dont take meds true i get distracted easily but you learn to live with it. Handle the stress level meditate drink some chamomile tea listen to some music and relax im telling ya your whole life will layout before ya and you'll be good

Answer 5

Possibly, Possibly, the only thing wrong is the doctor's trigger-happy prescription mission.

Well, what I mean is feeling bad is OK... and attention deficit is only a deficit, curable by ancient means of Meditation and simple awareness raising cultivation.