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ADHD and Anxiety Treatment
ADHD and anxiety often occur together, and each can make the other harder to manage. Our licensed providers look at the full picture so your treatment plan addresses both focus and worry.
How ADHD and Anxiety Are Connected
Many adults with ADHD also experience an anxiety disorder. Living with untreated ADHD, such as missed deadlines, forgotten tasks and constant catch-up, can create ongoing stress and worry. Anxiety, in turn, can make concentration even more difficult.
Overlapping Symptoms
Both conditions can cause restlessness, trouble concentrating, irritability and sleep problems. The difference is often the cause: with ADHD, attention drifts because of difficulty regulating focus; with anxiety, attention is pulled away by worry. A careful evaluation helps tell them apart.
Treating ADHD and Anxiety Together
- Careful medication choices: some people with anxiety tolerate stimulants well, while others do better with a non-stimulant such as atomoxetine. Your provider will weigh the options. See our medications guide.
- Therapy: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can address both anxious thinking and ADHD-related habits.
- Daily habits: consistent sleep, exercise and routines reduce stress and support focus.
If anxiety ever feels overwhelming or you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 any time.
Start with an online ADHD assessment and a secure video visit. Prescriptions are only issued when clinically appropriate.
ADHD and Anxiety FAQs
Living with untreated ADHD can lead to chronic stress and worry, and many adults with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder. A provider can assess both.
Many people with anxiety take ADHD medication successfully, but stimulants can worsen anxiety in some people. Your provider may suggest a non-stimulant or adjust your plan.
The symptoms overlap, so a professional evaluation is the best way to know. Start with an online ADHD assessment and discuss anxiety symptoms with your provider.
Get started with an online ADHD assessment
Meet a licensed provider by secure video and get a personalized treatment plan.