The research is clear: the link between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety is strong. In fact, nearly 50 percent of adults with ADHD have an anxiety disorder. The longer an adult goes with undiagnosed ADHD, the worse their anxiety usually gets. Why? The nature of ADHD often makes day-to-day life stressful. Forgetfulness, procrastination, and being criticized for unintended mistakes make adults with ADHD live in a state of uncertainty, which tends to fuel anxiety. Enter ADHD and overthinking: when you dwell on a situation or topic in a continuous thought loop in an attempt to prepare for all possible outcomes.
Overthinking can also result in shame and regret about past mistakes, leading to anxiety that the past will repeat itself. Whichever direction the mind goes, overthinkers will tell you that overthinking rarely helps and usually leads to many other struggles from sleepless nights to chronic stress.
ADHD Impacts the Brain in the Following Ways:
- Inattention
- Difficulties with “working memory”
- Lack of impulse control
- Difficulty with organization
- Struggles with task completion
How Does Chronic Anxiety Impact the Brain?
Anxiety is not just feeling worried every once and a while. Chronic anxiety is likely evidence of an anxiety disorder, which can cause continual issues with worry, fear, and avoidance. To qualify for an anxiety disorder, these symptoms must cause impairments in an individual’s life. For example, not going after a promotion at work or skipping a test out of fear of failure.
What Are the Differences Between ADHD and Anxiety?
The main difference between ADHD and anxiety is the source of the focusing issues. For anxious individuals, they can’t focus due to anxious thoughts and an exaggerated fear response. However, once they feel calm and collected, the focusing issues improve. For ADHD individuals, their attention span is uneven due to neurological differences that do not depend on feeling states. There are also concrete ways ADHD impacts behavior that are not related to anxiety. For example:
- Difficulty listening and following instructions
- Impulse control
- Inability to focus, not due to worry, but due to the length of time needed to stay engaged
- Struggles following through on tasks related to ups and downs of motivation
Can Anxiety Be Overlooked in ADHD?
Yes, anxiety is often overlooked in ADHD, and ADHD is often overlooked in anxiety. Interestingly, a recent research published by BMC Psychiatry provides evidence that anxiety can often be overlooked in children with ADHD. The study also added that anxiety worsens ADHD children’s struggles with focus, sleep, and social functioning.
How Does Anxiety Impact ADHD?
- Insomnia. ADHD brains already have a difficult time turning off, especially at bedtime. This is because the mind has nothing to occupy it other than its own thoughts. It can be helpful to think of the ADHD brain as an air traffic controller and the plane on the runway as the emotion or thought. Sometimes the runway is clear, other times it is cluttered. Since the air traffic controller already struggles to control, it’s much harder to regulate thoughts if the runway is filled with anxiety plans.
- Procrastination. ADHD individuals innately struggle to get started on tasks requiring sustained attention. People with anxiety may overthink getting started due to perfectionism. For example, “I have to be in the perfect headspace and have just the right amount of energy to get started on that task,” which leads to ruminating on making the situation perfect in order to get started.
- Rumination. Similar to struggling to sleep at night, the ADHD brain can ruminate when it is awake. Some ADHD individuals will describe their thought processes as a “virus of the mind,” especially when they are feeling strong emotions like guilt or worry. Overthinking can result in an individual having a strong fear response and worrying excessively in an attempt to prepare for disaster.
- Memory. Studies indicate that one of the strongest ways anxiety can impact ADHD is working memory. ADHD individuals already struggle with quick recall and taking in new information. However, anxiety can create a fight or flight response, actively shutting down the thinking part of the brain so the more reactive and protective part of the brain takes over.
Calming Overthinking in the Worried ADHD Brain
ADHD treatment requires a holistic approach. A well-designed and personalized ADHD treatment plan works to resolve the other issues that impact ADHD, such as the anxiety and fear that is causing overthinking in the first place. While there are many ways to reduce anxiety in the average person, ADHD brains require a specialized approach because the ADHD experience is unique. For example, only ADHDers experience rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD) and have a unique relationship with self-esteem, as many have experienced more criticism in childhood than those without ADHD. However, when the most up-to-date tools are combined with a personalized and holistic approach, anxiety can reduce and untapped ADHD superpowers can be used.
Cope with ADHD and Overthinking to Find Your Calm With ADHD Treatment in Columbus, Oh
Looking for a more individualized approach? You don’t have to live your life feeling overwhelmed. Holistic ADHD treatment that uses proven strategies will help you find real understanding and real solutions. Our Columbus OH-based counseling practice has caring adult ADHD specialists. To start your journey with hone of our adult ADHD specialists, follow these simple steps:
- Fill out the contact form to schedule a free 15-minute phone
- Meet with one of our adult ADHD specialists.
- Stop feeling on edge. Start finding your calm.
Other ADHD Services Offered at Focused Mind ADHD Counseling
We offer a variety of mental health services that go beyond adult ADHD treatment at our Columbus, OH counseling practice. As an adult with ADHD, Focused Mind ADHD Counseling understands you may also benefit from anxiety treatment for ADHD, counseling for men with ADHD, adult ADHD testing, or depression counseling for ADHD. You can also view our blog for more resources and helpful info. We look forward to connecting with you!
