In addition to a high level of co-occurrence, the symptoms of one can mimic each other making it difficult to detect the underlying ADHD. Or alternatively, co-occurring depression may be missed as symptoms of depression may be mistaken for ADHD.
Depressed mood and lack of energy can make it hard to follow through with responsibilities. This might lead you to think you have ADHD. If you have GAD, worry and distraction can keep you from hearing someone when they speak to you. GAD can also lead to excessive talking if you feel nervous during awkward silences.
Both disorders bring mood problems, forgetfulness, and inability to focus, but there are slight differences. Emotions: ADHD moods are transient, precipitated by a setback. Depressive moods are pervasive & chronic. Motivation: Individuals with ADHD are overwhelmed by deciding what to do first.
Getting a proper diagnosis for an anxiety disorder can be tricky, given that many symptoms mimic ADHD or are seen as related to ADHD. A physical examination should be conducted to rule out any other medical condition. You should report any medications or their side effects that cause anxiety.
ADHD misdiagnosis stories are all too common. Particularly among adults, symptoms like rejection sensitivity, poor focus, and stress are diagnosed as depression, anxiety, and even bipolar disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; anxiety)
While you'll often spot the two together, some clinicians are quick to diagnose anxiety, but not ADHD. If you have trouble concentrating and completing tasks on top of the anxiety, this can be an indicator that something more is going on.
ADHD vs Anxiety: What's the Difference? The difference between ADHD and anxiety ultimately comes down to whether or not the individual is not focused because of fearful, apprehensive thoughts, or is not focused because of being easily distracted even though their mind is calm.
People with anxiety will struggle with focus and attention, but it's because their minds are so preoccupied with anxious and worry-filled thoughts. Whereas the ADHD brain struggles with focus and attention due to being easily distracted (Drake Institute).
It's not uncommon for people with anxiety to be misdiagnosed with ADHD, or vice versa.
Can ADHD stimulant medications like Adderall help with symptoms of depression and anxiety? It depends. Stimulant medications aren't used on their own for treating depression. But they are sometimes used as an add-on treatment for depression to boost an antidepressant that's not working well.
Typically, in these situations ADHD symptoms appear first and the depression comes later. These negative reactions are common in individuals with ADHD and some experts claim that up to 70 percent of those with ADHD will be treated for depression at some point in their lives.
They can adversely affect school or work performance, leading to a poor self-image and low self-esteem, which can contribute to depression, studies have shown. Relationships, finances, and even driving are negatively impacted by ADD/ADHD, which may contribute to low mood.
Overall, the study found that about 20 percent – or 900,000 – of the 4.5 million children currently identified as having ADHD likely have been misdiagnosed.
Several depressive and manic symptoms of bipolar disorder and ADHD symptoms resemble each other in both children and adults. ADHD is far more common than bipolar disorder. (About 9% of all children in the U.S. have symptoms of ADHD3; many of those children grow up to become adults with ADHD.
Stress or a sudden life change, such as a move, parents' divorce, a death, financial difficulties, and even a new sibling, can evoke ADHD-like behaviors.
Though not often listed as symptoms, other indications of ADHD in girls and women include co-occurring depression and anxiety, difficult romantic relationships that can lead to intimate partner violence, trouble maintaining friendships, and at least one space in her life in disarray (messy house, messy bedroom, or ...
The overlap between the symptoms of ADHD and other conditions can also add to the potential for misdiagnosis. As many as 75% of children with ADHD meet the criteria for another diagnosis. About a third of children who have ADHD will also have clinical levels of anxiety.
Certain attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications can help treat a person's co-occurring anxiety, while others, including Adderall, may worsen it.
However, it can also lead to potential misinterpretation of symptoms. Take, for example, ADHD. While most people associate ADHD with hyperactivity and impulsivity, it can also manifest in more subtle ways, such as through intrusive thoughts and overthinking.
Other less common issues can also present as inattention, including trauma, absence seizures, hearing impairment, hallucinations, Tourette's syndrome, among others. Because the root cause of inattention can sometimes be something very specific and complex, it is important to get a thorough evaluation.
Hyperactivity (talks a lot, fidgets, always on the go, etc.) Impulsivity (blurts out, interrupts, lies, angry outbursts, difficulty waiting, etc.) Inattention (forgetful, loses things, disorganized, makes careless mistakes, etc.)
Masking is when a person with ADHD acts in a “socially acceptable” way to fit in and form better connections with those around them. This usually involves camouflaging their symptoms by controlling their impulses, rehearsing responses, and copying the behaviors of those who don't have ADHD.