7 Natural Ways to Treat ADHD Depression

Is ADHD causing depression? Help is on the way with these depression remedies.

By Marie Suszynski

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

Living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be difficult, and that can take a toll on all aspects of your life. Experts say that a full two-thirds of adults with ADHD have at least one other condition. For many, it’s depression.

In one study, researchers found that among 129 people who were referred to the clinic for anxiety, 28 percent had ADHD, and the most common disorder occurring with ADHD was depression.

“Folks with ADHD struggle more than folks without it, and more than people with other mental health diagnoses,” says Ari Tuckman, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in West Chester, Penn., and author of More Attention, Less Deficit.

What Links Adult ADHD and Depression

Part of the reason people with ADHD struggle so much is because the disorder is constantly there. “It’s present from childhood and doesn’t go away,” Tuckman says. “For folks with ADHD, there’s a constant and slow erosion of their quality of life.”

It also affects every aspect of life, including work, romantic relationships, friendships, and daily life management such as paying bills on time and staying organized.

Kids who have it are significantly less likely to graduate from high school and college, and adults with it are more likely to get divorced and to be fired from a job. “One study found that the average annual income [for an adult with ADHD] is something like $10,000 less per year,” Tuckman says.

Adult ADHD and Depression: Signs to Look For

It’s no wonder that people with ADHD can be prone to depression, but when you’re depressed it will be harder to manage ADHD symptoms. Keep a lookout for these signs of depression, Tuckman says.

• The things you once found enjoyable don’t bring you pleasure anymore.
• You don’t have the usual get-up-and-go.
• You feel sad, tearful, more irritated.
• You wake up too early in the morning and you’re not rested.
• You eat more and gain weight or eat less and lose weight.

If you are depressed, you don’t have to spiral into a deeper depression. Taking an antidepressant medication is one way to get treatment, but other things such as therapy may actually be just as or even more effective, Tuckman says. And there are other depression remedies that don’t require turning to a prescription drug.

1. Spend some time in a therapist’s office. A recent literature review found that cognitive-behavioral therapy is extremely effective in treating depression, whether used by itself, or in conjunction with an antidepressant.

2. Get a move on. Another way to beat depression: Sweat a little. Researchers split 202 people with major depression into four groups: one exercised with a group under supervision, another exercised at home, a third took an antidepressant, and the last took a placebo pill. After four months, 45 percent of those who were exercising in a group under supervision and 40 percent of those exercising at home were no longer depressed — comparable to the 47 percent who beat depression with medication.

“The irony is that when you’re depressed you’re less likely to get up and go,” Tuckman says. But if you force yourself — even if you tell yourself you’ll walk for only five minutes and see how you feel — you’ll be much better off and may gain the momentum to go even longer.

3. Consider omega-3 supplements. Although Tuckman says the research isn’t definitive, some studies have found that taking omega-3 fatty acids can help with both ADHD and depression. In a review of studies, researchers found that when children with ADHD took supplements to raise their blood levels of essential fatty acids, which includes omega-3s, ADHD symptoms improved. However, randomized trials designed to measure a treatment effect have generally been unsuccessful.

4. Try an herbal treatment. In a review of studies, researchers found that St. John’s wort did a better job than a placebo at improving depression symptoms and was comparable to antidepressants. It also has fewer side effects than antidepressants. But like omega-3 supplements, research is inconclusive about whether St. John’s wort really helps depression, Tuckman says. If you try it, be sure to follow the correct dosing on the label.

5. Stay connected to friends. It may be easy to stay home and wallow in a blue mood, but forcing yourself to go out and spend time with family and friends can boost your mood and help you feel less depressed.

6. Spend time in a support group for depression. Support groups remind you that you’re not the only one feeling this way, which can make you feel better, Tuckman says.

7. Treat yourself well. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and staying active aren’t necessarily treatments for depression, but because they are important for physical well being, they are naturally important for emotional and psychological well being. Tuckman says they can help with a variety of problems, including depression, ADHD, anxiety, and others.

Most of the studies on natural remedies for depression involved people with major depression, but not ADHD. If you are considering taking a supplement, it is important to discuss it with your doctor, as supplements can interfere with medications you are already taking. It is never a good idea to stop taking medications without first consulting your doctor. 

(www.everydayhealth.com)