The Connection Between ADHD and Anxiety Disorder

1. What’s the Link Between ADHD and Anxiety Disorder?
2. Why Are ADHD and Anxiety So Common Together?
3. How ADHD Symptoms Can Make Anxiety Worse
4. The Difference Between ADHD and Anxiety: Why It Matters
5. What Does Generalized Anxiety Disorder Look Like with ADHD?
6. How ADHD and Anxiety Overlap in Adults
7. What Happens When ADHD and Anxiety Are Left Untreated?
8. Strategies for Managing ADHD and Anxiety Together
9. Can Treating ADHD Help Lower Anxiety Symptoms?
10. How Real Talk Therapy Supports You with ADHD and Anxiety

What’s the Link Between ADHD and Anxiety Disorder?

If you’ve ever felt like your brain’s fighting itself — overwhelmed, restless, and stuck — you’re not imagining it.

The connection between ADHD and anxiety disorder is real. People with ADHD are about 5 to 12 times more likely to experience an anxiety disorder than people without ADHD.

Why? ADHD often creates daily struggles with focus, organization, and emotional regulation. When those struggles pile up, it’s natural for anxiety symptoms to creep in. You’re constantly trying to manage life with a brain that won’t sit still, and that pressure builds into chronic worry, fear, and self-doubt.

The link between ADHD and anxiety is powerful. If you’re battling both, it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your brain is doing its best with the tools it has — and there are better tools you can learn.

How ADHD Symptoms Can Make Anxiety Worse

You know that feeling when you just can’t start something, no matter how important it is? Or when your mind is spinning so fast that you can’t even hear your own thoughts?

Symptoms of ADHD — like inattention, impulsivity, or disorganization — can make anxiety worse. Missing deadlines or zoning out during important conversations leads to guilt, shame, and self-criticism. That feeds the cycle of anxiety symptoms.

If you have ADHD, your brain's natural wiring might make everyday tasks overwhelming. That feeling of falling behind or messing up fuels anxiety.

People with ADHD may also struggle with social anxiety, fearing judgment from others because of mistakes or perceived failures. It’s exhausting trying to mask or “fix” yourself all the time.



Here’s the truth: ADHD and anxiety are closely connected — but neither defines your worth.

The Difference Between ADHD and Anxiety: Why It Matters

If you’ve ever wondered whether your racing mind is ADHD or anxiety, you’re not alone. The difference between ADHD and anxiety can be confusing because they share symptoms like restlessness, distraction, and trouble focusing.

Here’s the key:

• With ADHD, your mind wanders without a clear source of worry.
• With anxiety, your mind latches onto specific fears and won’t let go.

Knowing the difference matters. Diagnosing ADHD accurately ensures you get the right support. Misunderstanding what’s really going on can leave you feeling frustrated and stuck.

Both conditions can exist separately. But for many people — especially adults in their 30s and 40s — ADHD and anxiety disorders tend to overlap.



Getting clarity is the first step toward feeling better.

What Does Generalized Anxiety Disorder Look Like with ADHD?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common types of anxiety among people with ADHD. It’s more than just worrying about one thing — it’s worrying about everything.

When you have GAD and ADHD, your brain:

• Worries about being late
• Worries about forgetting
• Worries about not doing enough
• Worries about being too much

And that’s on top of dealing with ADHD symptoms like forgetfulness, impulsivity, and inattention.

Living with co-occurring mental health conditions like this means your brain rarely gets a break. That constant state of high alert can drain your energy, your confidence, and your hope.

But it’s possible to interrupt that cycle.

How ADHD and Anxiety Overlap in Adults

Adults with ADHD often experience both attention and emotional regulation challenges. Add anxiety symptoms, and the challenges double.

You might:

• Avoid tasks because starting feels overwhelming
• Overthink conversations and replay mistakes
• Feel like you’re constantly letting people down

For many adults with ADHD also living with anxiety, the overlap looks like procrastination followed by panic. Or zoning out in meetings because your mind won’t slow down.

Living with ADHD and anxiety doesn’t mean you’re failing at life. It means your brain is managing multiple challenges at once. And that deserves compassion — not judgment.

What Happens When ADHD and Anxiety Are Left Untreated?

Ignoring the connection between ADHD and anxiety doesn’t make it go away. Untreated ADHD and anxiety can lead to bigger problems like depression, substance use, or feeling completely stuck in life.

Anxiety often grows when it’s unaddressed. It can take over your relationships, your career, and your sense of self.



People who feel like they’re "just lazy" or "just bad at life" are often battling invisible battles inside. Among people with ADHD, untreated symptoms can lead to isolation, self-criticism, and hopelessness.

But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Treating ADHD and anxiety together is possible — and life-changing.

Strategies for Managing ADHD and Anxiety Together

Here’s the good news: There are real, practical ways to manage ADHD and anxiety without feeling overwhelmed.

Some strategies that help:

• Mindful scheduling: Keep one calendar. Write down everything.
• Break tasks into tiny steps: Start small, like “Open laptop.”
• Self-talk: Remind yourself that forgetting things doesn’t mean you’re broken.
• Therapy: Talking to a mental health professional who gets it can change everything.
• Medication: Sometimes stimulant treatment for ADHD or anxiety meds make a big difference.

When you focus on learning new skills and understanding your brain, you start to lower anxiety symptoms and feel more in control.

Strategies for managing ADHD and anxiety don’t have to be complicated. Small steps build real change.

Can Treating ADHD Help Lower Anxiety Symptoms?

Absolutely. Treating ADHD and anxiety together gives your brain the tools it needs to calm down.

When you learn how to manage ADHD, you naturally experience fewer anxiety triggers. Completing tasks, remembering deadlines, and managing emotions gets easier — and your anxiety symptoms lighten up too.

ADHD can also make anxiety feel worse, but the right support, strategies, and sometimes medications help both.

If you’re wondering if treating your ADHD could make your anxiety better — the answer is a strong yes.

How Real Talk Therapy Supports You with ADHD and Anxiety

At Real Talk Therapy, we see you. We know how heavy it feels to carry the weight of both ADHD and anxiety.

We offer:

• Individualized therapy that respects your experiences
• Collaborative treatment focused on what actually works for you
• Virtual sessions that fit into your real life
• Down-to-earth therapists who get ADHD and trauma
• Gentle accountability so you feel supported, not pushed

If you’ve been living with the shame, exhaustion, and pain of co-occurring mental health struggles, you’re not alone anymore. If you are needing help, contact us today.

Important Takeaways



• ADHD and anxiety disorders are strongly linked.
• People with ADHD are more likely to experience anxiety symptoms.
• ADHD symptoms can make anxiety worse.
• Knowing the difference between ADHD and anxiety helps with diagnosis and treatment.
• Generalized anxiety disorder is common among individuals with ADHD.
• Untreated ADHD and anxiety can lead to serious mental health challenges.
• Managing ADHD can help lower anxiety symptoms.
• Therapy, skills training, and sometimes medication can make a big difference.
• Real Talk Therapy offers real support for people living with ADHD and anxiety.