our brain feels overwhelmed. You cannot focus. Tasks pile up while you sit there feeling stuck. You are exhausted but cannot relax.
So what is it? ADHD? Anxiety? Perhaps both?
The frustrating truth is that these two conditions look almost identical from the outside. People spend years thinking they have one when it is actually the other.
Or they assume it is just stress when something bigger is going on.
Why Everyone Gets Them Mixed Up
Both conditions affect your concentration. Both make you restless. Both interfere with your sleep and leave you feeling drained.
You could list out symptoms and check boxes for either one. That is the problem. The symptoms overlap so much that even doctors need time to figure out what is happening.
The difference is not in what you feel. It is why you feel it.
ADHD Looks Like This
ADHD is about how your brain works. It is not laziness or lack of discipline. Your brain is literally processing information differently than other people’s brains.
A lot of people wonder: Is ADHD special needs? It can be, yes. Schools and workplaces provide accommodations because ADHD genuinely changes how you function.
Here is what it typically involves:
- You hyperfocus on interesting things for hours but cannot stick with boring tasks for ten minutes
- You lose your keys, forget appointments, and cannot remember what someone told you yesterday
- You blurt things out, interrupt conversations, or make impulsive decisions you regret later
- Sitting still feels uncomfortable, your leg bounces, you need to move
- Time makes no sense to you and you are always running behind
Sometimes doctors diagnose unspecified ADHD when your symptoms are obvious and disruptive but do not fit neatly into standard categories. It is still valid and still needs treatment.
Anxiety Looks Like This
Anxiety is fear that will not turn off. It is not the normal nerves before a presentation. It is your alarm system firing constantly, even when there is no real danger.
Different anxiety disorders types affect people in different ways.
The five types of anxiety disorders include:
- GAD
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety
- Specific phobias
- Separation anxiety
While each type of anxiety has its own distinctive traits, there appears to be overlap among them.
- There is an uncomfortable feeling in the chest, one’s heart begins to race, there is an urge to vomit, sweating occurs, and there is trembling.
- Being in situations that trigger a feeling of anxiety is avoided, even if it is something that one wants to do.
- Being a perfectionist. Having an obsession with avoiding mistakes.
Knowing each type of anxiety disorder can help with identifying the one, or ones, that are personally affecting you.
The Main Difference
ADHD. You want to focus. Your brain won’t let you.
Anxiety. You are focused, but on your fears.
What If You Have Both
When talking about these issues, we are talking about the overlap of both. Typical comorbidity of conditions.
Untreated ADHD can cause anxiety problems. Untreated ADHD causes one to forget things, miss deadlines, and feel worthless, all of which contribute to anxiety.
In fact, these things worsen anxiety, which in turn makes the symptoms of ADHD worse. When focus is interrupted because of anxiety, it creates an absolutely awful feedback loop.
When anxiety increases, focus worsens, and this makes anxiety more severe.
Mental health issues like persistent worry are an anxiety issue. Problems with Attention are an issue of neurodevelopment.
Next Steps
Stop trying to diagnose yourself through internet searches. You need someone who actually knows how to tell these conditions apart.
A proper evaluation from a mental health professional makes all the difference. They will ask about:
- Your history
- Your symptoms
- How these issues affect your daily life
Go in prepared:
- When did you first notice these problems?
- What situations make them worse?
- How do these issues affect your job, your social life, and your obligations?
The course of treatment can differ depending on the condition.
Drugs prescribed for ADHD do not ‘fix’ anxiety disorders.
Likewise, treatment focused on anxiety does not resolve issues related to ADHD. One must understand the specific issues at hand to obtain effective assistance.
Your mind and spirit are worth more than the stress of uncertainty. The time is now for you to consult a mental health professional at Mind Glamour PLLC and work on clear solutions.
You deserve better than to struggle without answers.
FAQs
Can you have both conditions at once?
Absolutely.
How long does getting diagnosed take?
Plan for at least one comprehensive evaluation session. Some cases need multiple appointments. Rushing it does not help anyone.
Can anxiety create ADHD-like problems?
Yes. Severe anxiety can cause concentration issues and restlessness that look like ADHD, which is exactly why professional evaluation matters.
