Anxiety is one of the most common types of mental disorders out there. It can affect anyone at any age, even children and teenagers. Just because it is common, however, does not mean that it is easy to deal with.

For the majority of people, if they hear the word ADHD (short for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), they think about children or teens. It is a condition that is more associated with younger demographics than it is with those who are adults. It is actually a common misconception that ADHD impacts only children or teens. It's also commonly believed that only males experience and are diagnosed with ADHD. In fact, not only can young girls have ADHD, but so can adult women.

Many adult women with ADHD go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed at alarming rates. This is often due to the tendency for girls and women to internalize symptoms and to socially mask & camouflage at much higher rates so not to present in stereotypical ways. Noteworthy is that while this is beginning to change, most research on ADHD is also based on white, neurodivergent men.

Anxiety and ADHD are two completely separate concerns. Anxiety is a mental health concern and ADHD is a neurological difference. Each has its own symptoms, though many of these often overlap with one another. Let's look at the connection between ADHD and Anxiety In Women.

ADHD & Anxiety In Women

First, it's important to understand that these two conditions can co-exist. In fact, numerous studies have found that those who have ADHD are also more likely to suffer from anxiety as well. They co-occur at high rates, with some estimating as many as 50% of people with ADHD will have a co-occurring anxiety in their lifetime.

Overlapping symptoms

Both anxiety and ADHD include symptoms like:

• Trouble focusing/easily distracted: Excessive worry can make it difficult to focus because the brain may be hyper focused on fear signals and less primed to attend to other signals

• Intrusive thoughts: Intrusive thoughts are common with anxiety disorders and also common in the context of ADHD in relation to cognitive disinhibition.

• Restlessness, Agitation & Irritability: These are common for both conditions but also related too GABA & central nervous system activation

• Insomnia/sleep issues: Insomnia and nightmares are higher for people with Generalized Anxiety and also common with 25-50% of ADHDers struggling with circadian rhythm sleep disorders, insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, sleep disordered breathing, and insomnia.

• Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) Dominant (Fight or Flight): Folks with ADHD tend to be more SNS dominant, meaning they spend more time in the activated part of the nervous system and have a harder tie getting into the “rest & digest” part of the nervous system (parasympathetic). When anxiety is present, it is also common to be more SNS dominant.

• Low GABA: Both anxiety and ADHD are associated with low levels of GABA, which is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. When the GABA-Glutamate cycle is off, this can lead to hyperactivation within the nervous system (hence why a person with ADHD & anxiety tends to be sympathetic nervous system dominant.

• Working memory impacted

• Difficulty completing things

• Muscle Tension

• Higher rates of GI issues

• Tires easily/fatigue

  *adapted from Dr. Neff @neurodivergent_insights

How anxiety and ADHD differ

We'll condense the differences into two sentences: Anxiety disorders are marked by intense fears, worries, and extreme nervousness that can cause significant distress and interfere with school, work or home life. ADHD is characterized by craving novelty/new experiences, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and difficulty regulating attention and focus. The most common misdiagnosis often occurs when one condition is missed or if ADHD is misdiagnosed as anxiety, which can be common because many people experience anxiety directly associated with ADHD struggles.

ADHD and Anxiety Can Fuel One Another

Classic symptoms of ADHD in women include trouble focusing and feeling extremely restless. When both of these things happen, it can make keeping up with work or daily responsibilities difficult. It also can cause someone to procrastinate the more they think about the pressure of needing to be more caught up with things. This pressure, unfortunately, can cause anxiety levels to skyrocket. In addition, perfectionism is a characteristic that many people who have anxiety possess. This becomes even more of a problem when ADHD prevents someone from being able to focus on meeting their own goals.

Certain Medications Can Increase Anxiety Symptoms

There are a few different options when it comes to treating ADHD in a woman. One of these, when appropriate, can be through medication. ADHD medications often contain stimulants, which isn't a bad thing. However, these stimulants can also cause anxiety levels to rise.

If you are prescribed something for ADHD and begin noticing that you are developing anxiety or symptoms are worsening, your primary physician will work with you to find a solution. Alternatively, if you are already on anxiety medication and begin some for ADHD, your doctor will work with you to prescribe something that will help you stay in balance.

Treating ADHD When It Co-Exists With Anxiety

Both of these conditions affect emotional regulation and can make someone feel as if they are all over the place. If you are trying to manage your symptoms on your own, it can sometimes feel like an impossible task. Working with a registered psychologist can help you rule out anything else that might be going on with you to cause these symptoms. From there, they can help give you a proper diagnosis of either one or both.

Therapy is an important part of treating both of these issues. A registered psychologist can assist you in formulating a plan for managing what you have going on. In addition, you can learn coping mechanisms to help you manage symptoms overall and prevent things from worsening. If you want to learn more about either ADHD Treatment or Anxiety Treatment, don't hesitate to contact us.