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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Living with ADHD can be challenging, but what if you have anxiety too? An estimated 20 to 30 per cent<\/a> of people with ADHD live with anxiety as well, with some studies<\/a> suggesting as many as 50 per cent do.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m seeing an increase in children and adults with both problems, probably because there\u2019s more awareness that both conditions can exist together,\u201d says Daniela McCann, director of the Australian Association of Psychologists.<\/p>\n \u201cBut some symptoms of ADHD and anxiety can be similar, and ADHD can be mistaken for anxiety \u2013 that\u2019s why an expert diagnosis from a psychologist or psychiatrist is so important. Symptoms of anxiety can also exacerbate ADHD. When the brain is in anxious mode, you can be more distracted and disorganised.\u201d<\/p>\n The increase in women being diagnosed with ADHD in their 40s may owe to the fact that their symptoms, such as inattention or lack of motivation, were thought to be caused by anxiety, she says.<\/p>\n \u201cSome women feel angry that their symptoms of ADHD have been dismissed this way.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article A clear difference between the two conditions is that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder present from birth, while anxiety develops later, says Associate Professor John Kasinathan, a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.<\/p>\n \u201cADHD isn\u2019t obvious at first. It\u2019s not until the demands of school begin that the signs start to appear. Anxiety can develop in childhood and can sometimes be a result of ADHD \u2013 if you\u2019re at high school and struggling to stay on task, this can generate anxiety.<\/p>\n \u201cADHD can also coexist with generalised anxiety disorder, where someone worries excessively about multiple things, and they can become inattentive if they\u2019re expending considerable energy on this.\u201d<\/p>\n But it\u2019s complicated.<\/p>\n \u201cAnxiety isn\u2019t the only condition that can occur with ADHD: depression and bipolar disorder can develop too, although not usually until after puberty. With depressive disorder, a major symptom is being unable to concentrate, so assessment needs to be careful, not just ticking boxes,\u201d Kasinathan says.<\/p>\n It is possible that anxiety can be overlooked or mistaken for ADHD, but with a comprehensive psychiatric assessment that includes consideration of other diagnoses \u2013 ideally via face-to-face consultation with a psychiatrist \u2013 it\u2019s unlikely, Kasinathan says.<\/p>\n \u201cAudiovisual appointments are great for follow-up, particularly for regional and rural patients. But telephone-only practice isn\u2019t supported by the RANZCP due to the potential to miss clinical signs with audio alone.\u201d<\/p>\n What are the signs of anxiety?<\/p>\n There are several common symptoms of anxiety. \u201cExcessive worry and fear, and possibly physical symptoms like heart palpitations and sweating. Avoiding doing things is another, but not just because you feel you need to watch a cool YouTube reel first, which is typical of ADHD,\u201d says McCann, who was herself diagnosed with ADHD in her 40s.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cWith kids, it might be stomach aches, avoiding social situations or excessive fear about things they didn\u2019t use to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n Along with cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy <\/a>can help people with both ADHD and anxiety, she says.<\/p>\n \u201cOne way acceptance and commitment therapy can help is by teaching mindfulness skills, which can help with attention and self-regulation in ADHD.<\/p>\n \u201cLearning strategies to manage ADHD is important too, as is exercise \u2013 there\u2019s evidence that when kids exercise, especially before school, they\u2019re more regulated and focused, and walking to work is also great for an anxious mind.\u201d<\/p>\n When Melissa Webster, chief executive of ADHD Australia<\/a>, first experienced anxiety there was no mistaking its symptoms for those of her ADHD.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way I experience ADHD is consistent. When I\u2019m struggling, I might find it harder to focus, regulate my thoughts or get started on tasks. My mind can race. But when I developed anxiety following a relationship breakdown, it felt different. I knew immediately it wasn\u2019t my ADHD,\u201d she says. \u201cI felt constantly agitated, I experienced panic attacks, my chest would tighten, and at times it felt difficult to breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n But living with ADHD can sometimes contribute to anxiety, she says. \u201cIt can create pressure. I sometimes interrupt people or lose focus, and you can worry about how others perceive that.\u201d<\/p>\n One strategy that helps Webster manage both ADHD and anxiety is running outdoors.<\/p>\n \u201cI run in the morning before work. It helps regulate my thinking and brings a sense of calm. Being outside gives me space to think differently. The gym doesn\u2019t have the same effect \u2013 I need the openness and quiet of being outdoors.\u201d<\/p>\n What to be wary of<\/p>\n There can be pitfalls with social media\u2019s current obsession with ADHD, as people reading posts about it may assume that ADHD is the reason they can\u2019t focus when there may be other psychiatric issues driving inattention, Kasinathan says.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a potential problem with prescribing ADHD medication for someone whose symptoms are caused by something else, he says.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cStimulant medication can increase adrenalin and dopamine transmission in brain circuits, and make both anxiety and depressive disorders worse. If someone has bipolar disorder, it can trigger a manic episode.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if someone has anxiety or depression along with ADHD, it\u2019s important to treat the anxiety or depressive disorder first, because once anxiety or depression are treated, apparent inattention might improve without any need for specific ADHD treatment. Anxiety and depression can both be treated by cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) or medication if psychological approaches are ineffective.\u201d<\/p>\n Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox<\/a> every Monday.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"ADHD](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7b0e685f56f34957aa9ef569a20c25bd293376b7.jpeg\")
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder present from birth, while anxiety develops later.iStock<\/p>\n![\"Jane](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/992721959e80de558f6cb82f8c6e588d82a9ff8f.jpeg\")
<\/a>The difference between ADHD and anxiety<\/p>\n![\"Lambrina](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/f4524d298822611133f9fc5b03966610812b19b7.jpeg\")
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Experts recommend morning exercise outdoors as a way to help manage ADHD and anxiety symptoms.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/c6e5c2d6c4f4808a666454acf3e0f6bb8cd4f1fabe091ab55b7847c9cd3f6a7b.jpeg\")
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