What’s the Difference?
Have you ever wondered whether you (or someone you know) have anxiety, ADHD, or maybe both? It’s a common question since these two conditions can look surprisingly similar on the surface. Both can make it hard to focus, stay organized, and feel calm, but they stem from very different causes. Let’s break it down in a simple, easy to understand way.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is like having an overactive alarm system in your brain. It’s your mind constantly telling you that something bad might happen—even when there’s no real reason to worry. You often worry about the past, present, or future. People with anxiety tend to overthink, feel restless, and have trouble concentrating because their thoughts are racing with “what ifs.”
Signs of anxiety can include:
Excessive worrying about everyday situations
Trouble relaxing, even when there’s no immediate stress
Racing thoughts that often focus on worst-case scenarios
Physical symptoms like an upset stomach, muscle tension, or sweating
Difficulty sleeping due to overthinking
Anxiety tends to be emotionally driven. It’s about fear, stress, and worry taking over and making it hard to function.
What is ADHD?
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is more about the brain’s struggle to regulate attention and impulses. Instead of being hyper-focused on worries like with anxiety, ADHD often looks like distractibility, forgetfulness, and impulsivity. People with ADHD might jump from one task to another, struggle with time management, and get easily bored. It’s not just hyperactivity, as was once thought. There are multiple different types of ADHD.
Signs of ADHD can include:
Difficulty paying attention or staying on task
Forgetting things, like appointments or where you left your keys
Feeling constantly restless or needing to move
Acting impulsively, like blurting things out or making quick decisions
Struggling with time management and organization
Racing thoughts
ADHD is more about attention regulation. The brain has a hard time filtering out distractions and staying on top of tasks without getting sidetracked.
The Overlap: Why They Get Confused
So why do people mix up anxiety and ADHD? Because both can lead to difficulty focusing, feeling overwhelmed, and being restless. Here’s a key difference:
With anxiety, the lack of focus comes from overthinking and worry. Your mind is so caught up in anxious thoughts that you can’t concentrate.
With ADHD, the lack of focus comes from a brain that craves stimulation. It’s hard to focus because the brain naturally seeks novelty and struggles with structure.
Can You Have Both?
Yes! Some people experience both anxiety and ADHD, which can make things even trickier. ADHD can lead to anxiety because of struggles with deadlines, forgetfulness, and feeling overwhelmed. On the flip side, chronic anxiety can make it harder to focus, mimicking ADHD symptoms. With children, men and women, symptoms can look different.
How to Tell the Difference
If you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with anxiety, ADHD, or both, consider these questions:
Do I struggle to focus only when I’m anxious, or is it an all-the-time thing? (Anxiety tends to be situational, while ADHD is more constant.)
Am I overthinking and worrying, or do I just lose focus easily? (Anxiety leans toward excessive worry, while ADHD is more about distraction.)
Do I feel like my brain won’t stop thinking, or does it feel like my thoughts bounce around randomly? (Anxiety causes racing thoughts, ADHD leads to scattered thoughts.)
Seeking Help
If any of this sounds familiar, talking to a mental health professional can help you get clarity. They can help determine whether it’s anxiety, ADHD, or both—and guide you toward effective coping strategies and treatments. It doesn’t hurt to reach out and advocate for yourself in a time of need. The process is best done with a professional.
Final Thoughts
While anxiety and ADHD share some overlapping symptoms, they come from different places. Anxiety is driven by worry and stress, while ADHD is about attention regulation and impulsivity. Understanding the difference can help you get the right support and tools to manage whatever you’re facing.
So, whether you’re the overthinker, the easily distracted one, or a little bit of both—know that you’re not alone, and there’s help out there! Please reach out to us at Steffen Counseling Services if you are interested in therapy.
