Posted: 18 November 2009 at 9:10am | IP Logged

How common is it to have ADHD and an anxiety issue of some sort?  My DD6 is DX ADHD for about a year and a half and on meds for just over a year now.  The medicins has helped tremendously.  Thankgoodness!

I have always wondered though if my DD has an anxiety issue.  She is very outgoing but clams up and hides behind me in public situations.  She will go if I give her a little "you are fine, off you go"

These are the things I notice:

-pulls at her lip when 'struggling' with something.  Mainly at school when she is nervous or when worried about something.

-frequently complains about being itchy, upset tummy, headaches

-reports bad dreams regularly (though never seems actually afriad, I personally think it is a reason to come in my room at night)  Wakes in the night very often (3-4x a week) and has forever really.

-worried about fire, dying, losing her stuffies.

-seems to worry more about the everyday things than most do. She was so worried about her doc appt and getting her flu shot they had to call the VP to come down and sit with her during afternoon recess because she just couldn't get it together.  Part of me thinks she really does worry but the other part also sees that she likes the attention these "worries" get her. (not by us I might add)

She has a learning support teacher at school - new this year.  She told this teacher that she has bad dreams, she gets headaches, all the above.  The teacher made her up a comfort kit to help with those bad dreams, stomach upsets, fears, etc.  DD thinks it is just the bomb!  I can see how this will help her but at the same time I can see how it is hindering her.  Since she was given the comfort kit she has be up in the night 3 nights in a row (last night for two hours) with 'bad dreams'

We always try to give her a heads up so she can be prepared or know what lies ahead.  No sudden surprises.  We try not to feed too much in to any of the complaints because they are often and she thrives on the attention.  She has not been DX with anxiety but I sense it may be an issue.

I do recall hearing that ADHD meds can increase anxiety but this does seem to come and go (the anxious moments) Rarely none all summer so I don't think this is so much the case.  Truth is though, how do I really know???

Does anyone have any insight they can share with me?

Posted: 19 November 2009 at 4:15am | IP Logged

Many adhd'ers have a co-existing condition. There is more going on than just adhd. My son has anxiety as well. He has other things on top of that but it is very common.

have you tried a med to help relax her? Our doctor prescribed right from the get go guanfacine to help his anxiety. he noticed it when he met my son for the first time. We have had him on this with concerta for over 5 years. And he is doing great!

He had anxiety all along, and it got worse at school. He was 6 and 7 at the time that it really came out. He would bite his nails down to the bottom and chew off all his cuticles until they bled, and kept chewing.

Posted: 19 November 2009 at 7:05am | IP Logged

No, she has never taken any anxiety medication.  Since starting meds for ADHD she tried Concerta for two weeks which has no effect.  Then started Dexedrine and has been on it since. She also takes .5 of Respirdal at 6pm, which the doc says will bring up her appetite and help her sleep - which it does.  Resp. also is known to help with aggression right, although with in her case I am not sure.

The last time we saw her Psych. she was doing so well he said see you again in three months.  Since then she has gone down hill like mentioned in my first post.  I am going to call and see about getting her in sooner and talk about the anxiety and see it the medication is an option for her.  I hate to give her even more, but at the same token I hate to see her living like this everyday.  I see the inner turmoil within her and it breaks my heart. 

Posted: 19 November 2009 at 7:10am | IP Logged

I only know what my child has been through and meds he has been on.

He is successful on concerta. So I know this med.

Do you think you dosed your child to their max before switching?

If the dose is NOT correct, you will NOT see any benefit.

And, in addition with his concerta, Tenex is fabulous!!

Call your doctor. Tell that person of what is going on. They need to step in now!!

Posted: 26 November 2009 at 8:06am | IP Logged

we had to use Zoloft with my sons Concerta to help the anxiety and it was pretty bad. No wanting to go to bed alone

headaches

stomachaches

seperation anxiety

the Zoloft helped all that and worked with the concerta well. I think we need a bump on that one now too(Concerta)

Posted: 26 November 2009 at 9:53am | IP Logged

Thank you for the replies so far.  We have an appointment for next Friday with my DD psychiatrist.  I did speak briefly on the phone with him.  I got the impression he is on the fence with trying anxiety medication for her.  I appreciate him taking all of this into consideration, versus just handing over a prescription. 

He did say that you can either learn to deal with anxiety or run from it.  Right now my daughter runs, fight or flight, and in her case almost always flight.  Maybe fight when she is with us, at home - comfort zone.  At school, it is always flight. 

My angst is though, that she is 6 yrs old with impulsive ADHD.  It is HARD for her to fight off the anxiety when she acts so impulsively.  She is making big scenes at school - crying, running out of class.  She then immediately feels bad and then the anxiety kicks in b/c she knows we will be sad to hear this, her friends look at her like she is crazy, the VP gets called in etc. 

I think anxiety medication would help open the window for her a little bit - maybe let us in to teach her anxiety coping mechanisms.  Just like the Dexedrine does for her ADHD.  The last think I want to do is put this child on more medication but she is stuggling so badly and watching it is just my undoing!  The social cost of her behaviours down the road will be devestating... 

Part of me feels that we already made the HUGE leap to put her on ADHD medication.  Why wouldn't we try the anxiety medication now?  I get all the implications behind it, but what have we got to lose. 

I almost feel like I have to go in to this upcoming appointment ready to battle with our psychiatrist to convince him to try the anxiety meds.  I feel so conflicted about this.  Part of me feels like a pill pusher while the other part of me, which is my gut is telling me this is the right thing to do.

Posted: 17 December 2009 at 11:34am | IP Logged

Everything you have described sounds like what anxiety looks like in a 6 year old!  It's heartbreaking to watch our children struggle.  I don't think you're a pill pusher; I think you're a parent who wants to see her child succeed, like all of us. 

Sure, kids love a little extra attention, but children don't use fight or flight responses to get a little extra something - they do it in response to genuine feelings of fear and anxiety. 

People who experience pathological anxiety will tell you, it's not just a matter of pulling themselves up by the boot straps; their anxiety is truly disabling.

I'm sure the prescribing physician will see that you've thoroughly thought this issue through.  Hope this helps.  Good luck!