OCD vs ADHD - Can I have both?

Can you have both OCD and ADHD? Some are diagnosed with both...but how can you tell? I believe people can have both.

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[ocdandanxiety]

Do you have ADHD with your OCD? Let me know your experiences!

[masonmaraz]

Having both is like hyperfocusing on things you cant control. Because ur afraid of the irrational fears ocd causes, then during manic concentration it focuses on compulsions, but when you care about something for once and the fears haven’t hit yet, adhd causes it extremely hard to focus on the few things u care about

[kirstinntaylorr]

I was diagnosed with both, and they seem to play on each other in really confusing ways. Sometimes I do things and try to analyze which caused me to do that behavior or have that thought. One of my obsessions is researching adhd and ocd, and feeling like I am lying or faking. I also struggle with rejection sensitivity which is crushing. I engage in some inattentive or impulsive behavior, then obsess over how awkward or "cringe" it was, then begin to feel rejected and start to really spiral. I also compulsively seek reassurance from friends that I was normal in interactions or that they really do like me. Some days I just feel like I'm a lot to handle, and I worry that I'm "too much".

[smileyfacesheens]

i've been diagnosed with both, the adhd diagnosis has allowed me to bring a lot of self compassion and make sense of a lot of things I've felt shame for before, I do think it makes sense that i have both but there's also part of me that thinks getting caught up in the label can make things worse at times. (especially when you're looking for certainty- the OCD thinking!). In this society ADHD traits are difficult to deal with but i don't think it would be as much of a "problem" if we allowed for diverse brains. Essentially, I see that both make sense for me but I'm trying to focus more on easing my anxiety, being present, not identifying with thoughts too much, and self-acceptance. And i think this will help with whatever symptoms are manifesting.

Part of me also theorises that since OCD is an anxiety disorder, I feel like I've accumulated OCD and let it cover my perhaps inherent ADHD self - so for example, I think if i had let myself I probably would have been more outspoken/ bold/ creative/ taken more risks etc (the "good" adhd traits), but my overthinking about whether i am a good person/ moral/ doing what my family would agree with etc prevented me from being more authentic and taking those risks. I accept that it was all part of the journey though and maybe if more ADHD symptoms had been unleashed then, it wouldn't have been for the best, who knows. anyway just a thought :)

I didn't start this comment intended to ramble, but i think it's also important to remember that these labels and categories are a means to an end (treatment/strategies) and to understand ourselves a bit more, and that ultimately the DSM is very flawed and even experts don't have all the answers, we have pathologised quite a lot of things. I've found it helpful to not identify too strongly to the labels and diagnoses (of course raising awareness/ facing it is important) as they aren't inherent categories. i think my experience of zen/ listening to spiritual teachings etc has helped me to just see things as they are (i still get stuck in patterns ofc) and to understand that no one has all the answers and that ultimately all we have is this moment and the now- I'm sending lots of love and compassion to you if you're confused/ trying to "figure things out" and here's your reminder (and mine) to accept whatever comes and goes, sit with the uncertainty, embrace yourself with compassion and remember that your essence is unbreakable!

[friendlyurchin]

I was diagnosed with OCD about four years before my ADHD diagnosis. I actually find that when my OCD isn't as bad, my ADHD tends to be worse, as I can finally access dopamine when my cortisol is low, and vice versa. Ironically, my ADHD tends to end up making the OCD worse, as I'll do something risky or impulsive, then obsess over it and compulsively try to 'correct' everything I said or did.

It's exhausting to say the least. Not impossible, but still tiring. I'm waiting on the NHS to see if I can get some medical assistance for my ADHD as I currently don't take anything for my OCD. We'll see how that goes.

[willcarter]

I've had symptoms of OCD and ADHD since I was very young, but I was never checked out by a psychiatrist and didn't know that they were symptoms until I was an adult. I was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year (I'm 36), and in my screening appointment with a psychologist, I mentioned my OCD symptoms too. She told me that OCD can sometimes be a result of ADHD because the ADHD can make your world feel unpredictable and out of control and so your brain tries to develop ways to feel more stability and control. She said she suspected that was true for me because it seems like I have the lack of focus and motivation of ADHD all the time and with everything, but the obsessions/compulsions of OCD only occasionally and with a few things.

[chrstopherblighton-sande]

I have both diagnosed ADHD (combined type) and OCD and I am therefore in no doubt that they do indeed coexist (though I'm open to the possibility that the combination could perhaps be a subtype of one or other of the conditions - or a separate condition of its own). When my OCD is triggered, the obsessions and the anxiety they produce, of course negatively impact my executive functioning, however my executive functions are impaired even when that isn't the case, even when I'm totally calm, non-anxious etc. Whilst my OCD gradually got worse over the years, and then improved somewhat following treatment (though unfortunately the pandemic has made me really struggle again - so much so I'm currently housebound) my ADHD symptoms have remained consistent my entire life - though of course the impacts were different depending on the changing demands of circumstances such as school, work etc).

OCD attenuates my impulsivity in areas where there are risks which really scare me, but not in those areas of life that are not related to my particular OCD themes/fears.

There are certain similarities between my OCD and ADHD: Just as I get hyperfocused on things I'm interested in, not being able to stop myself thinking about them, so I get hyperfocused (obsessed) about the things that scare me. Just as I struggle to inhibit prepotent responses and shift my attention away from something that has enjoyably grabbed my attention and onto something that I should be doing or even need to be doing instead, so I struggle to inhibit compulsive behaviour when my mind becomes latched onto an obsessive fear.

I really hope more research will be done into comorbid adult ADHD+OCD as it is an area which seems to have been neglected.

[Godpleaser]

I think you absolutely can have both. One of my daughters was diagnosed with both at 15. Treated for OCD, still had ADHD inattentive. She’s learned to harness it as a superpower now as an adult. 😊 With both, it’s like her brain is going so fast, she doesn’t have time to react the right way to intrusive thoughts. The OCD and ADHD would just bounce off of each other.

[lilymulligan]

Oh man. I spent YEARS thinking I had ADHD. Like, super convinced. But then I started seeing my current therapist, who is a specialist in OCD, and she suggested that may actually be my problem.

Of course I went home and googled for looking for answers... At first I didn't believe it because I've been in therapy for YEARS, have seen numerous different therapists, and none of them ever spotted my OCD. My themes are not the stereotypical germophobia, etc. I realized that if you made a venn diagram of the various symptoms of both diagnoses, I meet EVERY SINGLE ONE in the middle, but none of the ones exclusive to other diagnosis.

The thing that really got me: behavior that I always thought was *impulsive* (procrastinating, retail therapy, googling into all hours of the night) were actually *compulsive.*

I do think that there's a possibility that I still have ADHD, but over the years, I've developed systems and habits to deal with those issues, just out of necessity. My ADHD traits don't distress me when my OCD is under control, and that's ultimately what matters.

[maiamaiapapaya]

I've been wondering for years why I can't focus in school, why my memory sucks, and why I have some very similar traits to my friends with ADHD but also some very different traits. I got tested about 10 years ago for ADHD and the result was 5/10, but I needed 6/10 to get a diagnosis. I'm pretty sure this is just another example of how present OCD is in my life

[GamingComic]

Personally I would love to see a video about the connections between OCD and depression

[MechaWingZero]

I have been diagnosed with both - all I can tell you is that both diagnoses seem to describe me to a T, and my counselors have seen this. Not sure how it is possible but I think it has to be.

[beeignatia]

this cannot come at a better time. thank you for the details analysis in such a sweet short video.... this clip is empowering.

[taebias]

Beautiful, simple, and answers many questions in a succinct way. Thank you for this.

[sugermuffin]

I have both disorders. They can definitely exist together.

[goofball]

I’m living proof that you can have both. I have both disorders.

[scarlettmccain]

I have both. I'm actively in ERP therapy through NOCD and have been taking stimulants for ADHD.

My ocd therapist suggested I go get an ADHD evaluation. I apparently masked very well as a kid. Wild that it took until I was 27 to get that noticed. My therapist mentioned she does see a decent amount of patients who have both.

I can definitely feel the difference. An OCD spiral is negative in nature. The ruminating takes me down a loop of doom. I lack focus because I can only focus on the obsession.

ADHD, it's definitely like lack of focus in general. A lack of "willpower" that I attributed to depression. Even fun things I wanted to do, I was unable to. I was stuck. But this doesn't have the accompanying intrusive thoughts. I'm not stuck on my couch because if I get up my kid will die (OCD) I'm stuck because the executive function button is broken.

They definitely feed into each other at times. The shortcomings I have with ADHD such as forgetting where my keys are, not remembering a verbal promise to a loved one, inability to finish tasks give my OCD plenty of fodder for intrusive thoughts.

ERP helps. The Adderall helps me remember to actually do my ERP and I have noticed an additional drop intrusive thoughts compared to when I was only doing ERP. I was previously on an SSRI which did help, but not at all to the same degree.

I can also see the potential for a misdiagnosis in either direction as outwardly there are overlapping symptoms. But inwardly, I experience these symptoms very differently as the mental states are different.

Fidgeting for stimulation and to help focus and fidgeting due to anxiety are another overlapping symptom. But again, the subjective experience is different. I tend to click pens, tap my fingers etc for ADHD and bite my nails and pick my skin due to anxiety/OCD though it can blur at times.


Hello novel for a 4 minute video!

[NatCatKitty]

I was recently diagnosed with both but I knew I’d had issues for quite some time. It’s like I don’t get anything done. I hyperfocus on things like YouTube and video games and drawing and certain shows to the point where it’s like crazy obsessive and it’s like I can’t function cause I can do it for like 8 hours straight or longer but I also obsess over things and do compulsions, particularly “am I a bad person.” Both of these cause me to get nothing done but I’m sure the first thing isn’t ocd and it’s been that way ever since I was really little. I have very very poor working memory according to my test so I forget things right after I do them but I guess I have an exception for things I did a long time ago cause I can remember every detail about why I may be a bad person and obsess over it for hours or I’m very aware of all my actions to make sure I am not offending anyone but I can’t be anywhere on time of get things done right the way people asked me too. It’s like my brain is just constantly on fire :( idk

[quentinbarth]

I just got an official ADHD diagnosis yesterday! And I get to try meds for the first time this morning.

What's been strange for me is that all the ADHD symptoms have been much worse for a long time after, but not during, my two most severe OCD episodes. I'm hoping I get an explanation for that sometime.

[emilytierney]

I have adhd and ocd. OCD treatment helped my ocd and depression. But did nothing at all for my adhd. I mean, I wasn’t overthinking as much, which helped clear some space, but I was still distracted constantly and couldn’t focus. Maybe it helped my focus a little from not overthinking as much or at least made it not as miserable. But the focus issues remained and I still had random thoughts constantly.