ADHD anxiety

What to Expect From Anxiety and ADHD

When you have anxiety and ADHD, it might exacerbate some of your ADHD symptoms, such as restlessness and difficulty concentrating. Anxiety disorder, on the other hand, has its own set of symptoms, such as:

Constant anxiety about a variety of issues

Feeling tense?

Stress

Fatigue

Sleeping problems

Anxiety disorder is more than merely experiencing occasional nervous feelings. It's a mental disorder that can have a negative impact on your relationships, career, and overall quality of life.

How to Tell the Difference Between ADHD and Anxiety

Anxiety is a common side effect of ADHD. When that's the case, your main concern is usually how much — or how little — you'll be able to do. You're worried about your ADHD or feel overwhelmed by it.

When you have anxiety disorder in addition to ADHD, your anxieties are likely to be about a wide range of topics, not just your ADHD issues.

How to Deal with Anxiety and ADHD

Your doctor will most likely look at which condition impacts you the most when determining the best strategy to treat ADHD and anxiety. It's possible that your ADHD treatment will reduce your anxiety to the point where you'll only need to take ADHD medication.

When you undergo ADHD therapy, it can help you:

• Reduce your anxiety.

• Improve your focus so you can handle jobs more effectively.

• Give yourself mental energy so you may deal with anxious symptoms more effectively.

If your anxiety isn't a symptom of ADHD, you'll probably need to treat both conditions at the same time.

Some treatments for both ADHD and anxiety are effective, such as:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy

• Meditation and relaxation approaches

• Medications on prescription

The Anxiety Effects of ADHD Medication

Stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamines are the most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. These medications may be effective for ADHD even if you have anxiety.

Anxiety is a typical stimulant adverse effect. Although your doctor won't know how a drug will effect you until you take it, stimulants may exacerbate anxiety symptoms.

If this is the case for you, your doctor may recommend nonstimulant medications such as atomoxetine (Strattera) or viloxazine (Qelbree).