Does Your Child Have ADHD or Anxiety? It Can Be so Hard to Tell!
ADHD and Anxiety
ADHD and anxiety are two of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in children, but oftentimes the symptoms overlap! This makes it difficult to tell whether your child has ADHD or Anxiety.
These two mental disorders are very different yet similar in several ways.
As a parent who’s trying to help their child be successful, it can be difficult to tell what type of treatment will help your child perform to the best of their abilities.
Does your child have ADHD or anxiety? What’s the difference between the two?
Keep reading to find out!
Understanding ADHD
Before we dive deep into the differences between ADHD and anxiety, let’s make sure you have a good understanding of what ADHD is and how it affects your child!
Children with ADHD tend to have a hard time remembering things, staying organized, and they struggle with time management.
All of these symptoms make it difficult for children to follow their daily routines, complete basic tasks and succeed in school.
Common signs of ADHD are fidgeting, impulsivity, inability to stay focused, and they might struggle to make and keep friends at school.
Related: How Does ADHD Affect a Child’s Performance?
Understanding Anxiety
Unlike ADHD, anxiety stems from the Amygdala — the part of the brain that warns us when there is danger. The amygdala will tell the prefrontal cortex to sit out for a while until the threat passes.
What does that mean for your child?
Kids with anxiety often feel like they’re constantly in fight or flight mode. Their actions tend to be instinctive and unplanned.
Anxiety disorders in children can be difficult to recognize because they exist within the mind. There aren’t any sudden outbursts or irrational behavior.
If you suspect your child has persistent anxiety, I highly recommend you talk to your child’s pediatrician or psychologist.
The Differences
Okay, so what’s the difference between anxiety and ADHD?
Children with anxiety are more sensitive to what other people are thinking and feeling whereas children with ADHD struggle with impulsivity.
Kids with anxiety feel calm and safe when they’re doing things they enjoy, but children with ADHD will struggle to focus and complete tasks even if they enjoy them!
The Overlap
ADHD and anxiety are often misdiagnosed because the symptoms are so similar and they often overlap.
Children with ADHD struggle with emotional regulation, which often leads to misdiagnosis. ⅓ of children who have ADHD will also have high-levels of anxiety.
If your child is struggling with anxiety in addition to ADHD, I highly recommend you discuss this with your child’s pediatrician and/or psychologist so you can create a treatment plan that will help your child.
Why Is Misdiagnosis a Problem?
Anxiety and ADHD are caused by changes in the prefrontal cortex in the brain. The symptoms your child is showing aren’t the problem — their brain is just wired differently.
Understanding whether ADHD or anxiety is affecting your child is the most important step on this journey. You want to make sure your child is getting exactly what they need to be successful!
Both disorders are manageable, but they require different types of support to set your child up for success!
The best way to help your child is to have them neurologically tested so you know exactly what they’re suffering with. Once you figure out what’s wrong, (whether it be ADHD, anxiety, or both) you’ll be able to begin treatment.
If you’re interested in giving your child a full educational and neuropsychological evaluation, contact me at welcome@drkoffman.com. Testing can help us figure out if your child has any underlying learning issues.
Let’s create a plan to get your child back on track!