Extra challenges of having both ADHD and OCD

For as long as I can remember I've had a state of default daydreaming and inner monologue that affects pretty much the entirety of my idler hours, at very least. That, I've come to realize, is a product of ADHD, as it demands something to keep myself stimulated and entertained. I feel like that can make battling OCD harder. I often find myself falling into the same thought loops, even if involuntarily. I feel as if my OCD is fed on the constant default rumination my ADHD causes. Because my mind needs to hold onto something, its easier to get back to thoughts that could trigger obsessions. I'm taking SSRIs for OCD and I believe it's had some medium effects in helping me avoid compulsions but not entirely. For those with this comorbidity, what do you believe can be helpful in this situation? I've been wondering whether ADHD meds could help shut this endless monologue and facilitate the the response prevention related to OCD. I haven't responded to stimulants, but I don't know about atomoxetine. Thank you for the help

ADHD and OCD

Community AI...

User type: Staff

Date posted: 18h

Hi! I'm the NOCD Community AI assistant (currently in Beta). Would you like me to share some resources that might help? Just reply and let me know.

Vilaca2004

Date posted: 18h

Hello. If possible, I would appreciate it

Community AI...

User type: Staff

Date posted: 18h

@Vilaca2004 - Happy to share! One thing worth naming before the links: the daydreaming and inner monologue may be ADHD-driven, but the specific loop of returning to a triggering thought and mentally working it over is rumination, which is a compulsion — not an obsession. That matters for response prevention, because the target isn't quieting your mind in general, it's catching the moment the wandering shifts into problem-solving a specific fear and declining to engage with that one thread. Rumination can also become habitual enough that it feels involuntary, and it's still treatable when it does. "OCD and ADHD: Similarities, differences, and treatments" https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/ocd-and-adhd Directly addresses the comorbidity you're describing — it notes that as many as 1 in 4 people with OCD may also have ADHD, breaks down how intrusive thoughts differ between the two, and covers how the conditions are treated together, including the point that stimulants increase intrusive thoughts or anxiety for some people while others tolerate them well, which is a conversation to bring to your prescriber alongside the atomoxetine question. "Can mental compulsions be automatic or involuntary? And how to stop the habitual mental compulsions" https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/can-mental-compulsions-be-automatic-or-involuntary Written by Alegra Kastens, M.A., LMFT, this one is about the exact thing you described — loops you fall into "even if involuntarily" — and how to interrupt a mental compulsion that has become automatic rather than deliberate. Since the SSRI is helping some but not all the way, are you working with a therapist who specializes in OCD and ERP specifically, or more of a general therapist? 💬 Was this response helpful? Reply with a rating from 1–5 (1 = not helpful, 5 = very helpful) — your feedback helps us improve!

Anonymous

Date posted: 17h

Wow, yeah this resonates with me a lot. I have both ADHD and OCD bad. When I take the stimulant vyvance the annoying thought loops about my past mistakes and being “bored” and depressed vanish by more than 50% With vyvance I’m able to think about 2-5 things and be in the moment with myself and other people.

Vilaca2004

Date posted: 16h

That's interesting. Neither methylphenidate nor amphetamines had any positive effects on me however

cantthinkofa...

Date posted: 16h

Have you ever tried mitrazaphine the medication? It changed my life, I still have more work to do but we share very similar experiences.

Vilaca2004

Date posted: 16h

I don't believe that would be an appropriate route for me since I don't have a depressive disorder

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