Anxiety and ADHD are distinct mental health conditions that can share symptoms, making it difficult to differentiate between them. Anxiety disorder involves chronic worry and stress, with symptoms like excessive worry, restlessness, and avoidance of stressful situations. ADHD, on the other hand, is characterized by difficulties in concentration and focus, leading to issues like distractibility, missed deadlines, and disorganization. While both conditions may present symptoms of restlessness or distraction, anxiety stems from specific triggers while ADHD results from inherent difficulties in regulation. Individuals can have both conditions, making professional diagnosis and treatment important for proper understanding and support.
Is It Anxiety or ADHD?
Anxiety and ADHD are two different mental health conditions that share several similarities. Because each condition is similar, and an individual can have both anxiety and ADHD, this inevitably can make it difficult to tell the difference between the two conditions. If you are asking yourself, “Is it anxiety or ADHD?” and struggling to know the difference between these conditions, keep reading.
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Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
To better understand “is it anxiety or ADHD”, it is first important to understand what each condition is. Anxiety disorder is more than just experiencing a stressful event or situation. Anxiety is when an individual chronically experiences persistent worry and stress daily. Common signs and symptoms of anxiety disorder can include:
- Excessive worry
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Avoiding certain places, situations, or people due to stress
- Racing heartbeat
- Excessive sweating
- And more
It is important to understand that anxiety can take many forms and look different from one individual’s struggles with anxiety to the next. For example, someone can struggle with generalized anxiety, in which they experience persistent feelings of worry in daily life. Meanwhile, someone can struggle with other forms of anxiety, like separation anxiety, social anxiety, or even certain phobias.
An example of a phobia that can bring about intense feelings of stress and anxiety could be an individual afraid of airplanes and thus will avoid flying altogether because of the overwhelming sense of worry they experience.
Signs and Symptoms of ADHD
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a mental disorder in which an individual has difficulty concentrating and focusing. This difficulty in being able to pay attention inevitably can impact their daily life, quality of life, relationships, and productivity. From missing deadlines to even impacting relationships with loved ones, ADHD can make focusing difficult. Common signs and symptoms of ADHD include:
- Being easily distracted
- Having difficulty focusing/paying attention
- Missing deadlines
- Having trouble staying organized
- Being fidgety
- Having trouble completing tasks
- And more
Anxiety vs ADHD: What is the Difference?
Now that you know more about each condition, you may still be wondering, “Is it anxiety or ADHD?”. While anxiety and ADHD do have some things in common, such as symptoms of restlessness or being distracted, the causes behind why an individual experiences their symptoms are vastly different.
For example, an individual who struggles with social anxiety and who may appear anxious and restless in social situations is presenting those symptoms due to the environment they are in, which triggers them to feel anxious.
Meanwhile, an individual who struggles with ADHD may be restless or fidgety, not necessarily because something is making them anxious, but because they have difficulty focusing and regulating their mind and body. It’s important to understand that someone can have both anxiety and ADHD. This is why it is critical if you are trying to understand the question “is it anxiety or ADHD” for yourself, that you seek professional help to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about “is it anxiety or ADHD”. While both mental disorders can present similar symptoms, like restlessness, the causes behind the symptoms are different. ADHD is marked by difficulty focusing, while anxiety consists of persistently feeling anxious or on edge. If you or someone you know is struggling to manage their mental illness symptoms, it is important to consider seeking professional help to effectively manage both conditions.
Multi Concept Recovery is here to help you receive the tailored support you need to heal and lead a healthier, happier quality of life. You should never feel afraid or ashamed to ask for help in leading a healthier, happier life. We provide a comprehensive range of addiction treatment programs and mental health treatment so you can receive the best possible care along your road to recovery. Ready to begin your road to recovery? Contact us today to learn more!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can ADHD be mistaken for anxiety?
ADHD can oftentimes be mistaken for anxiety (and vice versa) because both conditions have overlapping symptoms. For example, some similar symptoms include restlessness, difficulty focusing, and forgetfulness. However, although both conditions can have overlapping symptoms, it’s important to understand that the cause/ source behind the symptoms is different.
For instance, someone who has anxiety may be forgetful or have trouble focusing because their mind may be preoccupied with feelings of worry or a stressful thought pattern. Meanwhile, someone with ADHD may struggle focusing because they become easily distracted and have difficulty staying focused on one thing for some time.
Should I seek professional help for my anxiety?
While stress is a normal part of life, if you are struggling with chronic stress that is harming your daily life, you may want to consider seeking professional help, as you may be struggling with anxiety. Anxiety treatment can help you not only recognize triggers and symptoms but also teach you healthy coping strategies you can use to effectively manage your anxiety symptoms. For example, if you are struggling with anxious, ruminating thought patterns, therapy can help you better understand and identify those anxious thought patterns and turn them into positive thoughts.
Are there different forms of anxiety?
Anxiety disorder is a common mental illness; however, it is important to understand that anxiety can look different. For instance, some individuals may struggle with social anxiety. This is where someone experiences overwhelming amounts of stress and anxiety in social situations. Meanwhile, someone can also struggle with generalized anxiety, in which they experience persistent feelings of stress and worry daily. Therefore, while anxiety is common, it is important to understand that there are different forms of anxiety and thus may look different from individual to individual.
