ADHD and Anxiety In Women: How Are They Linked?
Although anxiety and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) are different conditions, for a lot of people, especially women, they are connected. Before diving into how ADHD and anxiety are linked to women, it’s important to understand what ADHD and anxiety are.
It’s also important to understand the symptoms and how ADHD and anxiety are linked.
What is ADHD?
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is defined as a brain development condition that typically causes inattention symptoms, but hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms are still possible. Research also indicates that the condition is underdiagnosed in women.
For many it’s an ongoing and even life-long condition that often begins during childhood but may not be diagnosed until someone is an adult. It’s important to note that these symptoms and types can change over time.
Symptoms include:
Difficulty concentrating
Prome to fidgeting or overall struggles sitting still
Being hyperactive or inattentive–sometimes both
Difficulty completing or organizing tasks and staying focused
Struggles with impulse control
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased heart rate.
Symptoms include:
Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Feeling tense, nervous, or restless
Increased or constant sense of panic, incoming danger, or dread
Hyperventilating, sweating, or trembling
Trouble sleeping
Struggles with controlling worrying thoughts
Are they connected?
The short answer is: yes.
The longer answer: Being diagnosed with ADHD or anxiety can make it hard to identify that you have the other one. Unfortunately, symptoms are very similar. One key way that ADHD and anxiety are different is that anxiety is characterized by uncontrollable or negative thoughts. People with ADHD won't often experience that if they only have ADHD.
How are anxiety and ADHD linked to women?
ADHD has been underdiagnosed in females. One major factor in this is that females typically present less intense (or more subtle) symptoms than males do. Typically, those who have ADHD are characterized as being hyperactive or restless, which is most notably found in males. Women, on the other hand, tend to exhibit signs of inattentiveness or are accused of "spacing" out more often than their male counterparts. When this occurs, it makes it harder for women to be diagnosed because their symptoms fly under the radar of what the typical "ADHD" picture is.
The biggest difference is that males are normally diagnosed as children, whereas females often receive a diagnosis as an adult. Research also shows that women with anxiety are more likely to have ADHD than men.
In most cases, healthcare professionals diagnose women with anxiety, but ADHD can go undetected, undiagnosed, and unfortunately, untreated. It’s important to be aware and honest with your doctor when it comes to conveying symptoms and signs of ADHD and anxiety.
If you have been diagnosed with anxiety, but also exhibit signs of ADHD, please talk to your doctor or other healthcare professional. The proper diagnosis is key when living with both anxiety and ADHD.
How Counseling Can Help
When you are dealing with anxiety and ADHD, it can feel like an uphill battle. Worsening this issue is the stigma that comes with having a mental health condition and women are no exception to this.
As a licensed therapist, I specialize in helping people from all walks of life deal with comorbidities such as anxiety and ADHD. Counseling, in addition to lifestyle changes and in some cases, medication, can really help someone feel more level. If you are tired of being anxious and worried while having trouble focusing and staying on task, don't hesitate to reach out to me for counseling for women. Together, we can help you develop and learn new techniques to manage both of these conditions.