ADHD Questions
What does ADHD and anxiety feel like?
Charles Li, MD
April 24, 2023
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ADHD has been linked to higher rates of many different forms of anxiety, including generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, and social anxiety.
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Anxiety can make emotions more intense and difficult to manage for those with ADHD.
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Anxiety can also get in the way of test-taking and performance at school and work.
The different flavors of anxiety in ADHD
Anxiety is a broad concept that covers different disorders and aspects of life. It is completely normal to have anxiety as part of everyday life.
Studies have shown that anxiety can come in multiple forms in ADHD. Those with ADHD are more likely to have generalized anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders, including social anxiety and OCD.
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In support of these numbers, Spencer, Biederman, and Wilens (1999) found that children with ADHD had higher rates of agoraphobia, simple phobias, separation anxiety disorders, social phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Spencer, Biederman, and Wilens
How anxiety affects emotions in ADHD
Anxiety can also change how we feel emotionally as we deal with ADHD.
One study showed that those with anxiety were significantly more likely to suffer from difficulties managing their emotions. They also had stronger ADHD symptoms.
One study found that those with ADHD and anxiety are more likely to have issues regulating their emotions. Having ADHD and anxiety also potentially amplifies ADHD symptoms.
One user on Reddit does a great job portraying how it feels to have anxiety and emotional issues with ADHD. They describe the challenges and intensity of trying to manage these feelings:
What does test anxiety feel like?
Since ADHD is often associated with academic difficulties, some research has been done on ADHD and test anxiety and how it feels.
Those with ADHD and test anxiety often feel like their mind goes blank on tests. They also feel physically tense. They are more likely to have lower self-esteem and experience fears of losing social standing.
A user on Reddit did a great job describing how it feels to have test anxiety and ADHD and how their mind goes “blank” on tests:
How anxiety affects ADHD symptoms
Anxiety can even affect how we think with ADHD. Anxiety can make it harder to pay attention, which is already challenging for those with ADHD. It can also reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity, two key challenges for those with ADHD.
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Two recent texts on comorbid conditions seen in ADHD (Brown, 2000; Pliszka et al., 1999) have posited that anxiety may inhibit impulsivity while making attentional tasks worse. Pliszka et al. (1999, p. 155) reviewed their own studies showing that children with ADHD and anxiety are less likely to display off-task and hyperactive behavior and have longer reaction times than pure ADHD children.
Brown, 2000
Pliszka et al. 1999
There is some evidence linking anxiety with more severe symptoms in ADHD:
Children with ADHD had more severe ADHD symptoms if they also had an anxiety disorder. Parents typically noticed anxiety symptoms in these children, but the children often did not see the anxiety symptoms in themselves.
Key Takeaways
If you or your loved ones have ADHD and anxiety, tell your doctor. Anxiety affects how we feel and how we experience ADHD. It can also affect the types of treatments we respond to.