ADHD and Anxiety: How They Overlap and How to Tell Them Apart

Short answer: ADHD and anxiety often go together. Up to 80% of adults with ADHD have at least one other mental health condition, and anxiety disorders are among the most common.¹ The two share symptoms such as restlessness, poor concentration and trouble sleeping,²³ and ADHD that hasn’t been diagnosed or treated can itself contribute to anxiety.⁴ Because one condition can mask the other,⁵ a proper assessment looks at both.

How common is anxiety with ADHD?

Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental health conditions in Australia, affecting 1 in 4 people at some stage in their life.⁶

For adults with ADHD, having another mental health condition as well is common. The Australian ADHD Guideline says up to 80% have at least one additional mental health condition, and that anxiety disorders are among those seen most often, along with depression, bipolar disorder and substance use disorders.¹ A review of research on adults reached a similar conclusion, listing mood and anxiety disorders among the conditions that most often occur with ADHD.⁷ In a large US household survey, adult ADHD was strongly linked with many other mental health conditions.⁸

It works the other way too. The guideline lists adults with any mental health condition as a group in which ADHD is more common than in the general population,⁴ so ADHD is worth keeping in mind for someone being treated for anxiety.

Can ADHD cause anxiety?

It can contribute, but it isn’t the only reason the two turn up together. Several things seem to play a part:

• The strain of untreated ADHD. Years of missed deadlines, forgotten commitments and feeling one step behind can take a toll. The Australian ADHD Guideline notes that anxiety and depression may be a consequence of ADHD that hasn’t been diagnosed or treated.⁴
• Shared roots. Research has found strong family links and similarities in brain biology between ADHD and the conditions that commonly occur with it, including anxiety.⁷
• Causes of its own. Generalised anxiety has its own contributing factors, including family history, stressful life events and unhelpful patterns of thinking.²

So even when ADHD feeds into anxiety, the anxiety may need treatment in its own right.⁴

ADHD vs anxiety: where the symptoms overlap

Several symptoms can come from either condition, and this overlap makes the two hard to tell apart.⁷

• Restlessness. Anxiety can leave you restless and tense;² adults with ADHD often feel restless or driven to stay busy.³
• Trouble concentrating. Anxiety can make it difficult to concentrate.⁶ In ADHD, being easily distracted and struggling to focus on boring or tedious tasks are typical.⁹
• Sleep problems. People with generalised anxiety are often tired but can’t sleep properly;² studies report insomnia in 43–80% of adults with ADHD.¹⁰
• Irritability and mood. Anxiety can make you irritable,² and many people with ADHD find emotions hard to regulate, with rapid changes in mood.³¹¹

Exhaustion, low mood and loss of motivation can complicate the picture further. If those sound familiar, see ADHD burnout vs depression. If intrusive thoughts or repeated checking are part of what you’re dealing with, see ADHD and OCD.

Is it ADHD or anxiety? What clinicians look at

A clinician builds up a picture from a detailed interview, your developmental, mental health and medical history, and reports from people who know you.⁴ These are some of the things they consider. They’re not a self-diagnosis checklist, and you can have both conditions at once.

What’s pulling your attention away?

In anxiety, attention tends to be pulled towards worry. Generalised anxiety involves excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday things such as health, work and money,² and anxiety can make it hard to focus your thoughts on anything else.⁶

In ADHD, attention tends to slip away from tasks that are boring or tedious, and boredom itself can be hard to cope with.⁹ A clinician may explore whether your focus improves when you’re calm, or stays patchy however relaxed you feel.

When did it start?

ADHD begins in childhood. For a diagnosis, symptoms need to have been present before age 12,⁹¹² although the diagnosis may not come until much later.¹ So a clinician will look at whether attention problems were there in your school years, and you may be asked for school reports.⁹

Does it show up everywhere?

For ADHD, symptoms must have lasted more than six months and caused serious problems in at least two settings, such as at home, at work or school, or with friends.⁹¹² A clinician will ask how your difficulties show up across different parts of your life⁴ — and whether they come and go with your anxiety, or have been there for as long as you can remember.

Could something else be causing it?

A full assessment also checks for things that can mimic or worsen ADHD-like symptoms, such as thyroid disease, anaemia, some medicines and caffeine.⁴ If you drink a lot of coffee or energy drinks, it’s worth mentioning. See ADHD and caffeine.

Why ADHD can be missed when you have anxiety

The Australian ADHD Guideline warns clinicians that a co-occurring condition can lead to ADHD being missed — or the other condition being missed when ADHD symptoms are obvious.⁵ Anxiety may be treated without ADHD ever being considered: in a large US survey, most adults with ADHD weren’t being treated for it, although many had received treatment for other mental health or substance use conditions.⁸

Women may be particularly affected: clinicians are advised that girls and women with ADHD may be more likely to receive an incorrect diagnosis of another condition, such as an anxiety or depressive disorder.⁴ Read more in undiagnosed ADHD in women.

None of this means an anxiety diagnosis was wrong — you can have both. But if you’ve been treated for anxiety and still struggle with focus, organisation and forgetfulness that go back to childhood, it may be worth asking your GP about ADHD.

Treating ADHD and anxiety together

When both conditions are present, both usually need attention: the Australian ADHD Guideline recommends offering treatment for any co-occurring condition, following best practice for that condition but adjusted to account for ADHD symptoms.⁴ Where one condition is causing more trouble than the other, guidelines generally suggest treating the most impairing one first.⁷

Psychological therapy

Psychological therapy is a main treatment for anxiety, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), which aims to change problematic thinking patterns,⁶ and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).² The Australian ADHD Guideline also recommends cognitive-behavioural interventions for adults with ADHD,⁴ so this kind of therapy has a place in both conditions.

Medicines

Antidepressant medicines may be recommended for anxiety when symptoms are severe.² When ADHD medicines are started, the guideline recommends monitoring mood and anxiety as the dose is adjusted.⁴ For more on how ADHD medicines and anxiety interact, read does ADHD medication help with anxiety? Don’t start, stop or change any medicine without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

Everyday steps

Regular exercise, cutting back on caffeine, alcohol and other drugs, eating well, getting enough sleep, and relaxation or breathing exercises are all recommended self-care steps for anxiety.⁶

When to get help

See your GP if worry, restlessness or trouble focusing is getting in the way of work, relationships or everyday life. Your GP can talk through what’s going on, check for other causes and help you work out next steps, which may include an ADHD assessment, psychological therapy or both.

For 24-hour support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. If you or someone else is in crisis and needs help now, call 000.¹³

Frequently asked questions

Can ADHD cause anxiety?

It can contribute. The Australian ADHD Guideline notes that anxiety may be a consequence of ADHD that hasn’t been diagnosed or treated. But anxiety also has causes of its own, and many people have two conditions that each need attention.

Is it ADHD or anxiety?

It can be one, the other or both. Clinicians look at what drives the difficulties — worry, or attention that drifts away from boring tasks — and whether attention problems go back to childhood and show up across different parts of life.

Can you have ADHD and anxiety at the same time?

Yes. Anxiety disorders are among the most common conditions that occur alongside ADHD in adults, and up to 80% of adults with ADHD have at least one other mental health condition.

Why is ADHD missed in people with anxiety?

The symptoms overlap, and anxiety may be treated without anyone considering ADHD. The Australian ADHD Guideline warns clinicians that a co-occurring condition can lead to ADHD being missed, which is why a good assessment looks at both.

Does treating ADHD help anxiety?

It can, when anxiety is driven by untreated ADHD. But anxiety often needs its own treatment too, such as cognitive behaviour therapy. Your doctor can help you work out the right approach.

Where can I get support for anxiety?

Start with your GP. For 24-hour support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. If you or someone else is in crisis and needs help now, call 000.

Next steps

Read ADHD symptoms in adults and how to get an ADHD assessment in Australia, or start with the free ADHD self-assessment.

This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Only a qualified health professional can diagnose ADHD. ADHD GP is a private telehealth clinic staffed by AHPRA-registered Australian GPs.

Book your ADHD assessment

References

1. Australian ADHD Professionals Association. About ADHD (Australian ADHD Guideline). 2022. adhdguideline.aadpa.com.au — ADHD affects 6–10% of Australian children and 2–6% of adults; heritability 70–80%; symptoms begin before 12 though diagnosis may come later; 60–86% persist into adulthood; inattentive presentation most prevalent; up to 80% of adults have another mental health condition; describes executive-function, brain-maturation and dopamine differences.
2. healthdirect (Australian Government). Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). 2024. www.healthdirect.gov.au — GAD involves excessive, uncontrollable worry; symptoms include poor sleep, tension, difficulty concentrating and irritability or restlessness; treatments include CBT, ACT and, if severe, antidepressants.
3. Better Health Channel (Victorian Government). ADHD — adults. 2026. www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au — About 7 in 10 children continue to experience ADHD symptoms as adults; treatment can include education, psychological support, coaching, practical strategies and medication.
4. Australian ADHD Professionals Association. Australian ADHD Guideline — summary of recommendations. 2022. adhdguideline.aadpa.com.au — Medication is the most effective treatment for core symptoms, with non-medication treatments adding support (3.1.1); diagnosing clinicians should be registered and trained in ADHD assessment (2.1.1); the diagnosis must be confirmed before starting medication (5.1.2); CBT should be offered to adults (4.2.11); stimulants are first-line for impairing adult ADHD, with heart rate, blood pressure, weight, sleep, mood and anxiety monitored during titration; co-occurring conditions get best-practice treatment.
5. Australian ADHD Professionals Association. Australian ADHD Guideline — Chapter 2: diagnosis. 2022. adhdguideline.aadpa.com.au — Clinicians should know which conditions commonly co-occur with ADHD, as a co-occurring condition may result in a missed ADHD diagnosis, or a missed co-occurring condition when ADHD symptoms are present.
6. healthdirect (Australian Government). Anxiety. 2024. www.healthdirect.gov.au — Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in Australia, affecting 1 in 4 at some stage; symptoms include difficulty concentrating; CBT and self-care such as exercise and less caffeine can help.
7. Katzman MA, Bilkey TS, Chokka PR, et al. Adult ADHD and comorbid disorders: clinical implications of a dimensional approach. BMC Psychiatry. 2017. PubMed PMID 28830387 — Adult ADHD often co-occurs with mood and anxiety disorders, with strong familial and neurobiological links; overlapping symptoms complicate diagnosis; guidelines advise treating the most impairing condition first.
8. Kessler RC, Adler L, Barkley R, et al. The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2006. PubMed PMID 16585449 — Estimated prevalence of current adult ADHD 4.4%; ADHD significantly correlated with other DSM-IV disorders.
9. healthdirect (Australian Government). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 2025. www.healthdirect.gov.au — ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that begins in early childhood; around 1 in 20 people in Australia has ADHD; it is partly genetic; an adult diagnosis requires evidence that symptoms began in childhood; learning difficulties can occur alongside it.
10. Wynchank D, Bijlenga D, Beekman AT, Kooij JJS, Penninx BW. Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Insomnia: an Update of the Literature. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2017. PubMed PMID 29086065 — Studies report insomnia in 43–80% of adults with ADHD.
11. Shaw P, Stringaris A, Nigg J, Leibenluft E. Emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2014. PubMed PMID 24480998 — Emotion dysregulation is prevalent in ADHD throughout the lifespan and a major contributor to impairment.
12. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). 2013. www.psychiatry.org — Diagnostic criteria for ADHD, including the five-symptom threshold for adults aged 17 and over.
13. healthdirect (Australian Government). Mental health helplines. 2025. www.healthdirect.gov.au — Lifeline (13 11 14) offers 24-hour crisis support and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) is available 24/7; if someone is in crisis and needs help now, call triple zero (000).

Sources were last checked on 5 October 2026. See all sources used on this site on our Sources page.