ADHD and Anxiety
ADHD and Anxiety...
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Unfortunately a child's ADHD is sometimes complicated with other challenging disorders that co-exist with ADHD.
These disorders might be less severe or more severe than the ADHD.
But correctly identifying a child's individual and specific medical condition will allow parents and professionals to provide the best possible treatment for the child.
What is ADHD and Anxiety?
For many children, ADHD and anxiety are co-existing conditions. Anxiety goes beyond worrying about a stressful event, such as the start of school, a test or a doctor's appointment.
True anxiety occurs without reason, disrupts or interferes with a child's daily activities, and can go on endlessly.
Children with ADHD and anxiety disorder can become obsessed with worry, in addition to exhibiting ADHD behaviours.
ADHD and Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Children with ADHD are more likely to have an anxiety disorder than children without ADHD.
Recent studies have shown that up to a quarter of ADHD children exhibit some form of anxiety disorder, while only up to 15% of children without ADHD show signs of anxiety disorder.
Because of the high incidence of ADHD and anxiety, it is wise to have an ADHD child assessed for anxiety.
Detecting ADHD and Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders can be hard to detect and often go unnoticed by parents and other adults involved with an ADHD child.
A child's inner feelings are not always easy to detect and identify.
Children with ADHD and anxiety are reported to have more difficulty with school and in social situations than children with only ADHD and no anxiety.
Recognizing Behavioural Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
Children suffering from an anxiety disorder may exhibit some of the following symptoms...
- Exaggerated and chronic worry
- Trouble concentrating and being easily distracted
- Insomnia and sleep problems
- Fearful and anxious feelings for no apparent reason.
Recognizing Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
- Frequent headaches
- Frequent stomach aches
- Nausea
- Lightheadedness
- Sweating
Common Co-Existing ADHD and Anxiety Disorders
There are a number of anxiety disorders that often coexist with ADHD.
They include...
Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
A child experiences anxiety and terror attacks that last 15 to 30 minutes.
Phobias:
A child has an irrational and overwhelming fear of an object or a situation.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:
A child has obsessions; which are persistent mental thoughts or ideas which are disruptive to the child's life, such
as an intense feeling that they need to wash their hands repeatedly or dress and undress a number of times.
Treating ADHD and Anxiety Disorder
Depending on the type and severity of an ADHD child's anxiety disorder, the disorder is typically treated with medication or behaviour therapy, or sometimes a combination of both.
Complimentary therapy will treat the childs ADHD and anxiety.
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