Is it anxiety or ADHD, or both? How to tell the difference and why it matters

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She has taken anxiety medication but it didn’t help much.

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https://theconversation.com/is-it-anxiety-or-adhd-or-both-how-to-tell-the-difference-and-why-it-matters-205304https://theconversation.com/is-it-anxiety-or-adhd-or-both-how-to-tell-the-difference-and-why-it-matters-205304
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Tuesday, June 20, 2023
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American Psychiatric Association, Learning, Depression, Anxiety, Failure, Life, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder predominantly inattentive, Parent, American, ADHD, Eating, Woman, Attention, Mindfulness, Man, Social media, Hearing, Motivation, Generalized anxiety disorder, Diagnosis, Mental health, Family, Irritability, Fatigue, Nursing, Dietary supplement, Property insurance, Vaccine, Toy, Medical device
Summary
Key Points: 
  • She has taken anxiety medication but it didn’t help much.
  • Social media abounds with stories of people who have, without success, taken medication for anxiety and are now wondering about possible undiagnosed ADHD.
  • So, how can you tell if it’s anxiety or ADHD, or both?

ADHD and anxiety can go hand-in-hand

    • On the other hand, a pattern of being late, missing deadlines and forgetting appointments due to ADHD may lead to anxiety and a sense of failure.
    • Anxiety and depression are both commonly associated with ADHD, particularly in women.
    • Anxiety tends to be more severe and persistent and with a younger age of onset in people with ADHD.
    • Successful treatment of co-existing ADHD may, for some, be the best way of getting relief from chronic anxiety.

Could ADHD be a factor?

    • ADHD is often subtle in girls and women, who are less likely to show the disruptive hyperactive behaviour that draws attention to ADHD in men and boys.
    • This matters because women with ADHD have higher rates of depression, anxiety, eating and sleep disorders.
    • However, not all adults with ADHD showed signs of it in childhood.

ADHD in adulthood

    • Problematically, these criteria require that to be diagnosed with ADHD, an adult should have experienced difficulties before the age of 12.
    • Studies have identified ADHD in adults who didn’t show evidence of it when previously assessed in childhood.
    • And ADHD is generally assessed in adults as if it were a continuation of the childhood condition.

If I suspect ADHD, what now?

    • If you suspect ADHD but are able to get on fine in life, you probably don’t need a diagnosis.
    • This could mean disorganisation, inefficiency, difficulty with relationships at work or in the family, or depression or anxiety so severe it affects your ability to function.
    • However, many people who outwardly appear to be coping well may find it difficult to convince a GP an assessment is necessary.
    • An ADHD diagnosis can be a relief for some, who may find treatment helps alleviate problems they’d previously blamed on anxiety.
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