ADHD and anxiety can look remarkably similar on the surface. Both can cause restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems. This overlap leads to frequent misdiagnosis—people with ADHD may be told they "just have anxiety," while anxiety is sometimes mistaken for ADHD.
~50%
of adults with ADHD have anxiety
25%
of anxiety patients also have ADHD
Quick Comparison
ADHD
- •Distraction from understimulation
- •Mind wanders to random topics
- •Restlessness from excess energy
- •Procrastination from lack of interest
- •Present since childhood
- •Consistent across situations
Anxiety
- •Distraction from worry/fear
- •Mind fixates on specific worries
- •Restlessness from nervous tension
- •Avoidance from fear of failure
- •Can develop at any age
- •Often situation-specific
Overlapping Symptoms
These symptoms appear in both conditions, making diagnosis challenging:
🧠Difficulty concentrating
😰Restlessness
😴Sleep problems
📋Avoiding tasks
😤Irritability
💭Racing thoughts
Key Questions to Differentiate
🤔 "WHY can't I focus?"
ADHD: "I keep noticing other things" / "This is boring" / "I don't know where my mind went"
Anxiety: "I'm worried about X" / "What if I fail?" / "I can't stop thinking about that thing"
🌙 "WHY can't I sleep?"
ADHD: "I'm not tired yet" / "I got hyperfocused on something" / "My brain won't turn off (random thoughts)"
Anxiety: "I'm worried about tomorrow" / "I keep replaying that conversation" / "What if something goes wrong?"
📋 "WHY do I avoid tasks?"
ADHD: "It's boring" / "I'll do it later" / "I don't know where to start" / "I forgot about it"
Anxiety: "What if I do it wrong?" / "People will judge me" / "It has to be perfect" / "I'm afraid to fail"
When It's Both: ADHD + Anxiety
Having both conditions is very common. In fact, living with undiagnosed ADHD often causes anxiety:
The ADHD → Anxiety Cycle
ADHD causes mistakes→Fear of more mistakes→Anxiety develops→Focus worsens→More mistakes
Signs you might have both:
- You had attention/hyperactivity issues as a child AND developed worry later
- Treatment for anxiety alone hasn't fully helped
- You experience both "random" distraction AND worry-based distraction
- You feel anxious ABOUT your ADHD symptoms (forgetting things, being late)
Screen for Both Conditions
Our free screening tools can help you understand your symptoms better. Take both assessments to get a clearer picture.