Anxiety vs ADHD

Sometimes symptoms of one condition can mask the symptoms of another. ADHD and anxiety share some of the same symptoms & sometimes they co-occur. If you have ADHD, it may be difficult to recognize the symptoms of anxiety. ADHD is an ongoing condition that often onsets in childhood and can continue into adulthood. It can affect your ability to concentrate, and may result in behavioral problems. An anxiety disorder is more than just feeling occasionally anxious; it is feeling consistently uneasy, distressed, and excessively worried in nonthreatening and everyday situations. The symptoms of ADHD are slightly different from those of anxiety. ADHD symptoms primarily involve issues with focus and concentration. Anxiety symptoms, on the other hand, involve issues with nervousness and fear. Even though each condition has unique symptoms, sometimes the two conditions mirror each other. That can make it difficult to tell whether you have ADHD, anxiety, or both. This week I will post info on how we can differentiate between the two, understand co-morbidity, and treatment options.

With ADHD, problems concentrating occurs in any situation, impulse control and poor social skills attribute to relationship difficulties, poor organization and difficulty initiating tasks affect work, fidgeting occurs due to impulse control problems.

With anxiety, the inability to concentrate primarily occurs when worrisome thoughts interfere, relationships can be problematic due to fear of rejection, perfectionism affects work, fidgeting & excessive speech is an attempt to manage anxious energy.

One of the main goals of cognitive-behavioral therapy is to transform this negative outlook into a more hopeful, realistic view. CBT also focuses on the practical issues that may accomopany these diagnoses such as disorganization, work/academic performance problems, and poor time management.

Mindfulness meditation is a form of focused contemplation that relaxes the mind and the body and centers your thoughts. The goal of meditation is to train yourself to focus your attention with the goal of achieving insight, helping you to better resist distractions, lower impulsivity, and improve your focus, developing mindfulness through meditation can also provide more control over your emotions.

Yoga and related activities can be especially effective if you find you’re too hyperactive to mediate. You learn deep breathing and other relaxation techniques that help you become centered and mentally aware. When you feel overwhelmed or out of control, you can turn to yoga techniques to refresh you and put you back in mental balance.

Exercising regularly is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in adults and improve concentration, motivation, memory, and mood. Physical activity burns off extra energy that can lead to impulsivity. It also immediately boosts the brain’s dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels—all of which affect focus and attention.

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