50% of adults with ADHD have diagnosable anxiety. In fact, it’s usually the first thing adults with undiagnosed ADHD get diagnosed with, especially women.
Maybe this sounds familiar: after seeing a psychiatrist and having therapy, you’ve noticed you’re less worried, less panicked, and yet…chores pile up, you’re burning out, and goals are unrealized.
Life just feels harder for you than for others. Maybe your sibling was also diagnosed with ADHD. All of a sudden, you realize, maybe you’re not “lazy,” or “scatterbrained.” Maybe there is a simple solution. This blog explores why many adults with undiagnosed ADHD seek ADHD testing in Columbus, Ohio, because lowering anxiety isn’t making life any easier.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a condition of executive functioning. The frontal lobe of the brain houses the brain’s executive functions. They control motivation, planning, emotion, and impulse regulation, sustained attention, and working memory.
Think of the executive functions as the brain’s CEO. Sure, maybe parts of the company can work without leadership. But it’s often more chaotic and lacks direction.
The reason for the difference has to do with how dopamine is regulated in ADHD brains. In the ADHD brain, dopamine is used more quickly. This makes many people with ADHD unconsciously seek interest and novelty to get more focused.
The Anxiety ADHD link
Anxiety can be a coping skill for the ADHD brain. Because the ADHD brain struggles to find motivation and sustained focus internally, anxiety can act as a makeshift alarm system.
Have you ever noticed you struggle to get started until the “pressure is on?” Deadlines can create panic and stress, which can jolt many ADHD brains into action. Sometimes, people with ADHD worry about staying more aware of what they might have missed. For example, if you’ve ever stayed up worrying about things you forgot to do, your brain is doing so to keep them top of mind. You might also call this experience chronic overwhelm.
After anxiety therapy, many adults with undiagnosed ADHD can manage worry better. However, they remain overwhelmed and feel constantly guilty for how much they haven’t gotten completed in their days, weeks, months, and years.
5 Signs it might be ADHD (And not “just anxiety”)
- You know what to do…you just don’t do it: ADHD isn’t a condition of knowledge, it’s a condition of regulation. Many adults with ADHD sit frozen, unable to take action on their tasks or their day. This isn’t because they are worried; it’s because they struggle to find the energy to get started.
- Relationships Still Feel Strained: Even with less anxiety, you’re still constantly being misunderstood. For example, you might hear criticism or frustration from others that you struggle to get things done, like chores, or are forgetful.
- Your anxiety is lower, except for rejection. Many adults with ADHD struggle with rejection-sensitive dysphoria. This is an intense, wordless pain that is a feature of the ADHD brain. RSD isn’t caused by trauma or your experiences; it’s the ADHD brain’s struggle to regulate emotion, particularly gauging the likelihood of being criticized or rejected.
- Time Still Doesn’t Make Sense: No matter how much you try, you feel blind to time. Well, this is actually a term related to ADHD. Time blindness is one other way people with ADHD struggle to regulate. There is no “internal sense” of time passing. This means you might spend hours focused on the wrong thing (because it’s interesting) and hours avoiding the most important thing (because it’s not).
- You Keep Rebuilding the Same Systems: Adults with ADHD struggle to stay organized. They forget the system they made last week or find it less interesting. Over time, keep rebuilding your desktop files or reorganizing your cabinets. It’s exhausting and can feel like nothing you do ever sticks.
Why ADHD gets missed so often
You might be wondering: how could I be struggling this much and no one has noticed? There are a few common reasons.
- Experts frequently overlook ADHD in women. ADHD research in women has exploded in the past decade. The mental health field has uncovered that it overlooks many girls with ADHD. There are many reasons for this issue. One type of ADHD, the inattentive type, creates focusing issues but not hyperactivity. This means a girl with ADHD wouldn’t be hyperactive and might “mask” her symptoms with perfectionism, etc.
- ADHD Masking. Undiagnosed adults with ADHD are highly resilient. They find creative ways of masking their ADHD symptoms to avoid consequences. For example, people-pleasing and ADHD go hand in hand. Many think, “If I keep others happy, I’ll avoid criticism or failure.” While this might help divert attention away from underlying ADHD, it usually ends in overcommitment and eventual burnout (another sign of ADHD).
- High achievement. Closely related to masking, many adults with ADHD are high achievers. This can be in part because of their ADHD. Because ADHD brains are creative and obsessive, many adults with ADHD can find enormous success if they find the right job or career.
What ADHD testing actually looks like
If these signs are on your radar, ADHD testing in Columbus, Ohio, might be a good first step. ADHD testing isn’t just a quick conversation.
ADHD testing takes about 2-3 hours to complete. It’s based on facts and is very modern, using psychological tests, rating scales, and a complete interview that covers a person’s entire past.
ADHD specialists also conduct specialized testing. When you see an ADHD specialist, they are familiar with the nuances of ADHD, like masking and how ADHD looks in women. All of which helps you uncover if ADHD was hiding underneath anxiety.
How the right diagnosis can change everything
Many adults with ADHD struggle for years without receiving effective help. However, ADHD is highly treatable.
After confirming an ADHD diagnosis, people often say:
- “This is such a relief!”
- “I feel so understood!”
- “Life feels so much more manageable!”
ADHD testing leads to real answers and real solutions.
Begin adult ADHD Testing in Columbus, OH
Wondering if you have ADHD? You don’t have to live your life feeling out of control without knowing why. Comprehensive ADHD testing can help you find answers. Our Columbus, OH counseling practice has caring therapists who specialize in ADHD treatment. To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps:
- Fill out the contact form to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
- Meet with one of our caring therapists.
- Stop feeling scattered and overwhelmed. Start finding real answers.
Other ADHD services offered at Focused Mind ADHD Counseling
Adult ADHD testing is not the only service we offer at our Columbus, OH counseling practice. At Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, we offer a variety of mental health services, including ADHD treatment. As an adult with ADHD, you may also benefit from anxiety treatment for ADHD, counseling for men with ADHD, counseling for women withADHD, ADHD-focused couples therapy, depression counseling for ADHD, and a support group for women with ADHD. You can also view our blog for more resources and helpful info.
About the author
Billy Roberts, LISW-S, LCSW, is the founder of Focused Mind ADHD Counseling and a licensed psychotherapist specializing in ADHD. Based in Columbus, Ohio, he provides ADHD testing and therapy to help adults better understand challenges related to time management, focus, emotional regulation, and relationships. He held a position at the NYU Child Study Center and has been a practicing psychotherapist for over a decade. His holistic approach to ADHD to assessment and treatment has been featured in Time Magazine,CNN, HuffPost, and Forbes, where he shares insights on helping individuals with ADHD manage their relationships, emotions, careers, time, and more.
