Why Children with ADHD May Experience Anxiety

If your child has ADHD, you’re probably wondering how best to help them cope. Anxiety is a common comorbidity with many mental health issues. Roughly 3 in 10 children with ADHD also have anxiety. Because they’re so similar, they can be difficult to tell apart. Understanding why your child may be experiencing anxiety can help you address the roots of their problems.

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to pay attention, control impulsive behaviors, and regulate emotions. While most people are diagnosed with ADHD as children, some only get help in adulthood. ADHD is also not something children simply grow out of.

Symptoms of ADHD include:

difficulty focusing on a task
losing things necessary for school or work
talking excessively
interrupting others
difficulty organizing
forgetfulness
difficulty following instructions

Children with ADHD often present with anxiety alongside their diagnosis. Here’s why the two often go hand in hand.

Cognitive overload and executive functioning

Children with ADHD often experience cognitive overload, which is characterized by difficulties in processing information and managing multiple tasks at the same time. This strain can lead to a constant state of heightened alertness and stress. As a result, anxiety can develop as a response to feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with school, their family, and their social life.

ADHD is also closely linked to difficulties with executive functioning. Executive function refers to a person’s ability to plan ahead, follow instructions, and maintain self-control. ADHD disrupts a child’s framework of executive functioning, which can lead to poor organization, planning, and problem-solving skills. This executive dysfunction adds to a child’s feelings of anxiety about their future and fear of failure.

Social and academic struggles

School performance can be particularly challenging for children with ADHD. School demands structure; it’s an inherent part of learning environments. Children are expected to sit still, keep focused, and complete assignments.

For a child with ADHD, these expectations can be overwhelming. If they’re not able to meet classroom goals, they may fall behind their peers and face criticism from teachers or parents. These experiences can then contribute to a vicious cycle of self-doubt and performance anxiety. This fear of not meeting expectations or disappointing others can trigger anxiety symptoms, making it harder to concentrate and perform well in school.

Hyper-arousal and emotional dysregulation

Children with ADHD often struggle with emotional dysregulation, characterized by intense and rapid shifts in mood. They may have trouble managing frustration, anger, or disappointment, which can lead to outbursts or emotional meltdowns.

This constant state of hyper-arousal, combined with difficulties in emotional self-regulation, can increase their likelihood of developing anxiety. When faced with stressful situations, children with ADHD may feel overwhelmed, leading to anticipatory anxiety or an overreaction to perceived threats.

The difference between anxiety and ADHD

Often, signs of anxiety can be misidentified as symptoms of ADHD. But the key difference is that a child with anxiety tends to have specific worries and fears. Their anxiety is usually tied to a specific situation or thought pattern. An anxious child’s restlessness is more focused than the general hyperactivity present in a child with ADHD.

If you suspect your child may have either anxiety or ADHD, they should be properly evaluated by a mental health professional so they can get the right treatment.

Getting your child the help they need

Children who have been diagnosed with ADHD need proper care from medical doctors, teachers, counselors and parents. If left untreated, they could fall behind in school and struggle in social situations. While some treatment plans involve prescription medication, it is sometimes more important to have therapeutic and parent/teacher interventions to assist the child.

To learn more about how to address symptoms of your child’s ADHD, please reach out to us at Mindworthy Therapy today.

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