ADHD & Anxiety
Have you ever heard the saying “where there is one, there is probably two”? Unfortunately, this can commonly be applied when describing individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Approximately 90 percent of children and 85 percent of adults with ADHD are also diagnosed with at least one other mental and/or development disorder during their lifetime. Further, it’s also not uncommon that ADHD sufferers have at least two additional conditions known as comorbidities. In fact, this is true for about half of all children with ADHD.
One of the most common comorbid conditions alongside ADHD which can affect cognitive, psychological, and social functioning is anxiety. In reference to comorbidity with ADHD, diagnosis can go both ways. It has been reported that 25 to 40 percent of people with ADHD may also have an anxiety disorder and ten percent of people with anxiety are then diagnosed with comorbid ADHD.
For example, studies have revealed that anxiety may develop over time because of the extensive impairments experienced by individuals with ADHD. Children with comorbid ADHD and anxiety disorders also have been found to exhibit more severe anxiety symptoms, early age of onset of anxiety, and it can be common for them to develop even more psychiatric comorbidities later in life if conditions and symptoms are left untreated.
ADHD and anxiety can greatly affect the functioning of the entire family and environment of the patient. Particularly in children with ADHD and anxiety, this comorbid diagnosis is associated with poorer attentional and executive functioning, social functioning, and increase in strained family functioning. For example, poorer mental health in parents may lead to less positive parenting behaviors and interactions with child and other family members. Studies have also shown that children with ADHD and anxiety have poorer quality of life and daily functioning, more problematic behaviors, increased academic and cognitive struggles, and more conflicts within their family dynamic when compared with children diagnosed with only ADHD.
How do I know if I have anxiety and ADHD?
Comorbid symptoms may include:
o Difficulty controlling overwhelming feelings of worry and/or powerlessness
o Difficulty maintaining focus or concentration
o Feeling on edge or unwarranted irritability
o Tense body movements and muscles
o Increase in heart rate
o Trouble breathing and/or events of panic attacks which include feelings of
overwhelming fear, dizziness, heart palpitations, or shortness of breath
o Twitching / fidgeting, restlessness, and / or trouble staying in confined areas or spaces
o Fatigue and/or difficulties sleeping
Anxiety disorders can be secondary to an initial ADHD diagnosis or can develop independently from ADHD. Regardless, it is important that the shared symptoms of both disorders be discussed with your mental health professional to ensure that the two diagnoses are not misdiagnosed or mistaken for the other and that the case is in fact a comorbid case of both ADHD and anxiety. Identifying a comorbid condition as well as assessing the developmental timeline of both conditions with each patient is important to determine the best form and sequence of effective treatment options.
What can I do if I think I have anxiety and ADHD?
Talk to your counselor about therapy options that would be best for you. Your regular physician or psychiatrist can discuss any needed prescribed medications.
Methods of therapy and medication can include:
o Relaxation and self-calming therapy techniques
o Anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications
