While Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Bipolar Disorder are two very different mental health disorders, their overlapping symptoms can occasionally make it difficult to establish a proper diagnosis in patients experiencing one or both disorders. So, how do you tell the two apart?

Keep reading to learn more about ADHD and Bipolar Disorder and how they present.

What Is ADHD?

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects roughly 6% of adults in the U.S. Commonly characterized by difficulties with focus and/or hyperactivity, ADHD is most often diagnosed in childhood. However, many people do not realize that they have ADHD until adulthood, at which point it can be more challenging to identify what might be going on.

Each person’s experience with ADHD is different, but common symptoms can include:

Difficulty paying attention
Disorganization
Impulsiveness
Restlessness
Problems with time management
Hyperfocus

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder stemming from a chemical imbalance in the brain. It’s typically an episodic disorder that involves two mood poles: one pole is depression (characterized by a “low or down” mood), and the other is mania or hypomania (characterized by an “elevated or high” mood). People with Bipolar Disorder experience episodes at both ends of this spectrum, often with periods of more typical mood in between.

The mood episodes are distinct periods that typically last days to weeks (or longer), and involve significant changes in energy, thinking, behavior, and functioning—not just emotion, which can be disorienting and confusing to the person experiencing it and to those around them.

Keep reading to learn more about what symptoms might characterize a depressive episode and a manic or hypomanic episode:

Depressive Pole (Low Mood)

Depressed or hopeless mood
Sleeping too little or too much
Lack of pleasure or desire to do activities typically enjoyed
Changes in appetite or weight
Lack of energy or fatigue
Feelings of guilt
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Suicidal thoughts or actions

Mania and Hypomania (High Mood)

Increased levels of energy and activity
Needing less sleep than usual
Talking a lot at a rapid speed and switching topics frequently
Racing thoughts
Distractability
Increased self-confidence
Impulsive or risky behavior, such as excessive spending, reckless driving, or risky sexual behavior
Increased goal-directed activity
In severe cases, loss of touch with reality (psychosis)

Hypomania is a less severe form of mania and, while it includes many of the same symptoms, it does not cause the marked impairment seen in mania and does not involve psychosis.

A man sits on a couch, speaking with a therapist, who is taking notes on a clipboard.

What Do ADHD and Bipolar Disorder Have In Common?

While ADHD and Bipolar Disorder are very different, they do share a number of overlapping symptoms, including:

Engaging in risky or unsafe behavior
Overactivity
Inattention, focus and memory problems
Restlessness
Hyperfocus
Changes in sleep
Lack of impulse control
Irritability

If these symptoms resonate with you and you’re struggling to determine whether you’re experiencing ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, or even both, the best thing you can do is to speak with a licensed professional.

ADHD vs. Bipolar Disorder: What’s the Difference?

Though ADHD and Bipolar Disorder have a number of the same symptoms, they are two very different disorders.

As ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, patients with ADHD typically respond to situations in a consistent manner. While they may experience irritability or mood swings in response to overstimulation, their shifts in mood are not extreme or episodic.

Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder and patients experience symptoms as a result of chemical imbalances in the brain as well as environmental stressors. During Bipolar Disorder episodes, a patient often feels like a different person than they do between episodes.

The onset of these disorders is also different. ADHD symptoms are often present from a very early age, even if the condition is not immediately diagnosed. Patients diagnosed with ADHD later in life are often able to look back at their childhood and adolescent years and identify patterns of behavior indicating ADHD that may have been overlooked at the time or written off as “daydreaming” or “misbehaving.”

Bipolar Disorder, on the other hand, often doesn’t emerge until late adolescence or early adulthood. Bipolar disorder develops because of a combination of inherited genes, differences in how the brain regulates mood and energy, and stressful life experiences that can trigger symptoms in someone who is already vulnerable.

Can Someone Be Diagnosed With Both ADHD and Bipolar Disorder?

Absolutely. It’s actually estimated that 20% of people with ADHD also have Bipolar Disorder, and 20% of people with Bipolar Disorder also have ADHD. In adults, it’s not uncommon for these disorders to also coexist with mental health conditions like anxiety disorders and personality disorders, which can complicate the diagnostic process.

How Are ADHD and Bipolar Disorder Treated?

ADHD and Bipolar Disorder require different treatment plans:

ADHD Treatment

Therapy: Many patients with ADHD benefit from ongoing therapy. Patients with ADHD often struggle with emotional regulation and behavioral challenges and a professional therapist can help promote healthier thought patterns and provide insights for building improved habits.

Executive Function Coaching: For ADHD patients experiencing executive functioning difficulties, executive function coaching can be a great fit. An EF coach provides practical, tool-driven support and accountability, helping people with ADHD build systems and structures that work for their brains. If you’re interested in learning more about executive function coaching, feel free to learn more from our sister company, EverBright Minds.

Medication: Some ADHD patients find medication to be a valuable tool in managing their symptoms. These patients are typically prescribed a stimulant medication, such as Adderall, Ritalin, or Vyvanse.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Medication: Bipolar Disorder requires a much different medication plan than ADHD, as the stimulant medications prescribed for ADHD patients can cause manic episodes in patients with Bipolar Disorder. Instead, patients with Bipolar Disorder are often prescribed a combination of medications that may include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and/or antipsychotic medications.

Therapy: Therapy is an immensely valuable tool for patients with Bipolar Disorder. Evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) help patients with Bipolar Disorder build better coping strategies and improve their communication and emotional regulation. At Aspire, our newest clinician, Jennie Jergerian, PsyD, offers a compassionate, collaborative space for patients with Bipolar Disorder to heal and grow.

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Receive the Mental Health Care You Need in Portland, Oregon at Aspire Psychology

At Aspire Psychology, we know that living with mental health disorders can be a challenge that affects all areas of your life. That’s why we’re so passionate about coming alongside our patients to provide compassionate, evidence-driven therapeutic and psychiatric care. Our providers are currently accepting in-person patients in our Portland, Oregon office, as well as telehealth appointments across Oregon.

Ready to take the next step toward the life you aspire to? Get started with us today.

ADHD vs. Bipolar Disorder: How to Tell the Difference