The Trials of Anxious ADD

What are the causes and symptoms of having anxious ADD? I will discuss this and medications to take further in the post. ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder. It is an outdated term that was used to describe a subtype of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which that is what it it called now.

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects individuals of all ages and is characterized by symptoms such as difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.”– Michael Cunningham

Can ADD Cause Anxiety?

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) lead anxious lives. Obviously, the nature of ADHD often makes day-to-day life stressful, creating situations and environments fraught with uncertainty – anxiety’s primary fuel. Although anxiety alone is not included in the diagnostic criterion for ADHD, the link between the two conditions is strong. Individuals with ADHD are more likely to have an anxiety disorder than are individuals without the condition, with rates approaching 50 percent.

Particularly, in one study on adults with ADHD, researchers noted that problems stemming from ADHD — such as tardiness, procrastination, and the prospect of social stigma — all led participants to experience anxiety at many points in their lives, “and once they were anxious, their ADHD symptoms worsened.”

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”– Mary Anne Radmacher

ADD and Anxiety Symptoms

Nonetheless, anxiety and ADHD might cause various symptoms and impact daily life and well-being. Therefore, understanding the symptoms of these conditions might be crucial for finding the proper treatment and support.

The Symptoms Of Anxiety

Overall, the symptoms of anxiety could vary from person to person. Still, some common symptoms may include excessive worry, fear, and panic as well as physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, and shaking. People with anxiety might also experience sleep disturbances, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Moreover, in severe cases, stress might lead to panic attacks, which are sudden and intense episodes of fear.

The Symptoms Of ADHD

In short, the symptoms of ADHD might also vary, but primary symptoms could include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. People with this disorder might have trouble paying attention, following instructions, and completing tasks, for example. They might also be easily distracted and forgetful. In addition, people with ADHD might have difficulty controlling their emotions and managing stress. Hence, hyperactivity and impulsiveness might manifest as fidgeting, interrupting others, and acting without thinking.

“Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.”– Les Brown

ADD and Panic Attacks

Consequently, a lot of people who haven’t experienced an anxiety attack don’t take it seriously. They would rather consider it as a lame excuse for escaping from sticky situations or from mundane tasks. But to make things clear for everyone, anxiety is real, and anxiety victims are surely not faking it just to get attention or escape from awkward situations. Specifically, it’s a mood disorder that triggers without further indication, and when it happens, it’s tough to explain to other people who are not even considering it a severe condition.

Therefore, to prevent a stress response, interrupt the pattern of feeling overwhelmed before the amygdala takes over. When you start to feel brain fog, generalized disorganization, or anxiety, try meditation to quiet your mind. Thereafter, use rituals like deep breathing to activate the relaxation centers in the brain. In the event that that doesn’t work, try tapping on certain meridian points of your body, and repeating positive affirmative statements like, “Even though I feel stressed out, I can handle this.” In the same fashion, this can lay down new neural pathways in place of old, negative ones, and help stop fear from gaining control.

“A secret to life: Know that none of this matters, and yet… live as if every single moment does.”–George Lorimer

Medication for Anxiety and ADD

Not to mention, there are many different treatment options for ADHD and anxiety disorders. One common, first-line treatment is ADHD medication. On the whole, there are several medications available to treat ADHD and anxiety disorder symptoms in adults, but among those, stimulant ADHD medications are perhaps the most common. That is, stimulants work to improve focus, concentration, and impulse control in adult ADHD. While stimulants can be effective in treating ADHD symptoms, like most medications, stimulants have been associated with some systemic side effects.

To begin with, common ADHD medications include methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), and amphetamine (Adderall). These ADHD drugs work by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. That is to say, they can help to improve focus, attention span, and productivity.

“You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.”-George Lorimer

Anxious ADD Test

Do you or your loved one have trouble focusing, have difficulty with follow through, feel disorganized, or easily distracted? If so, you or your loved one could have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Therefore, with this simple, confidential 4-minute test you will discover if you potentially have Attention Deficit Disorder as well as which one of the 7 different types identified by Amen Clinics that you may have.

“Difficult and meaningful will always bring more satisfaction than easy and meaningless.”– Maxime Legacé

Conclusion

Overall, anxious ADD is very prevalent. ADD and anxiety in adults is on the rise with more and more individuals being diagnosed everyday. Moreover, some people suffer from it but don’t know it. They were never officially diagnosed with ADHD.

I have one friend who suffers from ADHD, but she refuses to take medication. Which is fine, but constant disorganization is starting to weigh on my tolerance (we live together). I always tell myself that if you have no control over the situation, forget about it. She’s consistently late for appointments (I know, it’s none of my business, it’s her life). I don’t understand how her employer puts up with it. Besides the fact that she’s been working there for 18 years, they continually allow her to be late everyday. With that said, I refrane from talking about it anymore.

Well, it’s time to end this post. Feel free to leave any comments for me, I would much appreciate it. Keep plugging through the ADHD and anxiety. Until next time…

Articles