Children with ADHD undergo a lot of stress in their daily lives. They have difficulty focusing and following instructions and are afraid of being scolded by teachers or other authority figures. All the emotional stress can sometimes exhibit itself in the same way as anxiety disorders. The two conditions have so many similarities that often, parents don’t realize that their child may also be suffering from anxiety on top of ADHD. Thus, it is essential to be aware of the connection between both disorders.
The ADHD-Anxiety Connection
ADHD in some kids is a struggle enough as is with their difficulty to focus and get organized. As a result, they are often stressed and overwhelmed. Because of their inability to concentrate, they often anticipate being reprimanded by the adults around them, which causes further distress. The ADHD itself affects how well the child can manage his emotions. That being said, these children are at a higher risk of anxiety disorder than children without ADHD. “This anxiety vs. ADHD combination is fairly common,” Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W. says. There is even evidence to suggest that children are predisposed to be both inattentive and anxious at the same time.
Anxious Child With ADHD
Just as each child has individual differences, they may also have different ways to express themselves. Some children may choose to act out, while others may be withdrawn. Though this may make it more difficult to identify the symptoms, a parent or therapist can look out for the following signs:
- Rowdiness and drawing lots of attention to themselves in a class
- Being irritable and hurting others out of frustration
- Tends to lie about completing schoolwork or meeting other responsibilities
- In social situations, he tends to shy away from people and isolates himself in another room
- Continually plays games and watches TV instead of socializing with other people
Reasons Why Anxiety Can Sometimes Be Misdiagnosed As ADHD
While both conditions may co-occur in a child, it is also possible to mistake one disorder for another. They both exhibit similar symptoms but for different reasons, which is why it is important to look further into each sign to arrive at the correct diagnosis.
Attention deficit gives a person a lot to worry about. ADHD often leads a person astray, down blind alleys, or on wild goose chases,” Edward Hallowell, M.D. explains. “The genetic underpinnings of ADHD and anxiety overlap.”
The following symptoms are present in both ADHD and Anxiety Disorders:
- Being inattentive: An anxious child may seem distracted because he is distracted by his excessive worries, whereas a child that has ADHD finds it difficult to maintain focus.
- Constant fidgeting: A child with anxiety has tons of nervous energy, which is expended by such behaviors. A kid that has ADHD tends to fidget because of his brain disorder, which results in hyperactivity.
- Failure to submit school assignments: A child with anxiety may end up stuck in a particular task because he is too scared to get help, while an ADHD child struggles with forgetfulness and poor management.
- Works slowly: An anxious child is often a perfectionist, while a child diagnosed with ADHD takes a long time because he struggles with sustaining focus.
- Struggling to make friends: Children with anxiety have emotional problems, while those with ADHD have problems reading social cues.
How To Help
According to Katharina Manassis, MD, “Children with anxiety disorders and ADHD—a common comorbid presentation—tend to be more impaired than those with either condition alone.” As a parent, your insights are among the therapist’s first references to your child’s condition. Be sure to take notes on your child’s behavior, particularly the times it occurs and the severity. Your child may also tell you himself how he’s feeling, so take that into serious consideration. Also, try to refrain from making your child’s negative behaviors personal; that may be his way of releasing stress. If you also struggle with anxiety (the condition is often hereditary), try to manage it when you are in front of your child.