ADHD vs Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Key Differences & Similarities

Have you ever felt that your child is more stressed than usual? Is your child not paying attention in the classroom? Is your loved one stuck in a cycle of distressing thoughts and emotions? They might be suffering from ADHD and Generalized anxiety disorder. Both ADHD and GAD are common mental conditions that affect life functioning. Affected individuals face difficulty in maintaining the balance between their personal and professional lives. Moreover, they do not easily develop and then strengthen their relationships. 

This article provides a detailed explanation of the major differences or similarities between ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder. Moreover, you will also understand the causes, diagnosis, and highly effective treatment options for both mental issues. So read now!

ADHD vs Generalized Anxiety Disorder

‘’ADHD and Generalized anxiety disorder are common mental health disorders that can affect individuals of all ages, including children, adolescents, and adults. ADHD comprises the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. On the other hand, Generalized anxiety disorder comprises the continuous phase of sadness. Individuals do not feel control over their minds and also don’t feel pleasure in anything. Fortunately, both ADHD and Generalized anxiety can be treated with the help of therapy, medications, and some positive lifestyle changes’’.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Generalized anxiety disorder are mental issues that interfere with the life functioning of individuals. ADHD involves inattentive behavior, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Generalized anxiety disorder involves prolonged stress or fear. Although both GAD and ADHD are distinct mental issues, they can occur together and disrupt the normal life functioning of individuals. Cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, and healthy or positive lifestyle changes can help in treating or preventing both mental issues.

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the brain’s growth and development. ADHD can affect any individual but is mostly diagnosed in children. However, if the symptoms are not treated in childhood, they can persist into adolescence or adulthood.

Moreover, ADHD is also characterized by the symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity. Affected individuals also face difficulty in focus or concentration. In addition, they also exhibit negative behavior. With time, cognitive functioning gets badly affected. 

Symptoms of ADHD

The onset of ADHD symptoms usually occurs before the age of 12 or 13. 

The most common symptoms of ADHD include:

• Lack of focus or attention
• Sense of forgetfulness
• Hyperactive behavior
• Lack of organization
• Impulsivity
• Impatient behavior
• Difficulty in completing the tasks
• Fidgeting behavior
• Poor listening skills
• Extreme sense of distraction
• Poor short-term memory
• Highly interrupting behavior
• Talkative behavior

What are the types of ADHD?

There are three different types of ADHD, which are as follows:

Inattentive ADHD

This type of ADHD involves the inattention symptoms. Affected individuals have to struggle more in completing their tasks and achieving their goals. Moreover, the other common symptoms of inattentive ADHD include:

• Making careless mistakes
• Losing important things in different places 
• Easy distraction 

Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD 

In this type of ADHD, individuals exhibit hyperactive behavior. Moreover, their impulsive actions are also common in this type of ADHD. In addition, individuals suffering from hyperactive-impulsive ADHD also exhibit the following symptoms:

• Impatient behavior 
• Difficulty in sitting in one place 
• Fidgeting behavior
• Excessive talking 

Combined type

Combined type ADHD involves the symptoms of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD types. Moreover, the combined type is the most common type of ADHD. Individuals with combined type exhibit at least six symptoms from each type of ADHD. 

What is Generalized Anxiety disorder?

Generalized anxiety is a common mental illness and a type of anxiety disorder that affects the mental stability of individuals. Taking stress is quite normal. Remember that your body generates a stress response or emotional response after being exposed to any difficult or undesired situation.  But if the period of stress is getting prolonged and affecting the quality of life, then the individual might be suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. 

Individuals suffering from generalized anxiety disorder take excessive stress and spend their valuable time getting worried about little things. Moreover, in some cases, they feel stress without any apparent reason. They feel anxiety in each aspect of their life, including their relationships, physical health,h professional work, etc. Due to their persistent phase of sadness or fear, they face multiple issues in performing their daily life functions.

Symptoms of GAD

As there is a variety of types of anxiety disorder, individuals also exhibit different symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Some common GAD symptoms include:

Psychological symptoms

• Prolonged phase of stress
• Focus or concentration issues
• Sense of fatigue or tiredness
• Most often nightmares 
• Difficulty in making decisions
• Disturbed sleep-wake cycle
• Clinging behavior
• Intrusive or racing thoughts
• Tantrums
• Thoughts of self-harm or harming others 

Physical symptoms 

• Increase in heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Irritable behavior
• Nausea
• Trembling or shaking of hands
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating 
• Frequent urination
• Headache
• Muscle stiffness

Diagnosis of GAD 

If you are aware of the GAD symptoms, then you can also self-identify your mental condition. Professional mental health experts can evaluate the mental condition of the individual. They perform the psychological evaluation or utilize the symptom checklist or scales to complete the diagnosis. However, according to the DSM-5, the effective diagnosis of GAD only occurs if you are taking continuous stress for approximately six months or a minimum of three months. 

What are the main similarities between ADHD and GAD?

Most of the symptoms of ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder overlap with each other, which also presents difficulty in their accurate diagnosis. Moreover, the shared symptoms can also result in the misdiagnosis. 

In most cases, ADHD is usually misdiagnosed with anxiety, while in some, anxiety is considered as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, in some cases, some children are also diagnosed with both anxiety and ADHD. 

The symptoms of GAD and ADHD, which overlap, are as follows:

• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Trouble in focus or concentration 
• Difficulty in completing the schoolwork
• Insomnia or hypersleep issues
• Low GABA levels
• Dominance of the sympathetic nervous system
• Difficulty in remembering facts 
• Difficulty in processing ideas in the mind
• Irritating behavior
• Issues in the Gastrointestinal tract
• Sense of discomfort in social settings

Co-occurrence rates

If you have ADHD, then there is a greater possibility that you will also suffer from anxiety or any other type of anxiety disorder. If the person suffering from anxiety disorder also experiences ADHD, then it is referred to as secondary anxiety. 

Various recent studies have reported that approximately every 3rd in 10 children dealing with ADHD also have anxiety. However, such children have to face more issues due to the presence of both mental issues. Their mind is incapable of retaining important memories, and they also face issues in learning new skills. 

Furthermore, it is reported that approximately 50% of individuals combating ADHD will experience anxiety at any phase of their life. In addition:

• 31% of the ADHD individuals met the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder.
• 27% are those children who are more likely to suffer from more than one type of anxiety disorder

What are the major differences between ADHD and GAD?

Although both ADHD and GAD are common mental issues, there are still some major differences between them. 

Is it Anxiety or ADHD?

Some significant ways are useful to distinguish ADHD and general anxiety disorder. Experts ask the following questions and then consider their answers for accurate diagnosis.

• Does your child get anxious when leaving home to go to school?
• Does your child exhibit shy behavior?
• Do you have a previous family history of ADHD or anxiety?
• Ask your child what things make him or her scared.
• Does your child prefer isolation or engagement in any social activity?

After considering all answers, you can determine the actual condition and develop a treatment plan for your child, adolescent, or adult accordingly.

Treatment of ADHD & Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and generalized anxiety disorder can be treated with the help of medications and psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy. 

Psychotherapy 

Psychotherapy is employed by professional health experts to deal with ADHD. During psychotherapy sessions, individuals communicate with experts and share their mental health issues. If children face difficulty in concentration, then their parents communicate with the experts and speak up about the mental health of their child. There are different types of psychotherapies but the most common ones are as follows:

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is used to treat cognitive abnormalities. This therapy helps individuals to identify their unhealthy, unproductive, and negative beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and then alter them into positive and productive forms. Individuals grappling with ADHD can deal with their symptoms including hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity, disorganization, and time management. 

Family therapy

Family therapy is also a type of talk therapy that helps individuals to improve their relationships. Experts guide them on how they can identify their conflicts and adopt strategies to strengthen their relationships with their loved ones.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive treatment that is used for effectively managing the symptoms of both GAD and ADHD. This treatment is preferred when other treatments are not providing the desired results. The main goal of this treatment is to stimulate the brain regions that control focus, attention, and behavior. In the therapy sessions, magnetic impulses are generated which specifically target the prefrontal cortex region of the brain. Brain stimulation regulates the neurotransmitters in the brain, which include norepinephrine and dopamine. The ultimate goal is to assist individuals in recovering from the symptoms of both ADHD and GAD. 

Medications for ADHD & GAD

Medications recommended by experts to treat ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder include:

• Stimulants 
• Non-stimulants
• Beta-blockers 
• Antidepressants 

Positive lifestyle Changes

Some major positive alterations in lifestyle can help in preventing or treating common mental issues including ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder.

Nutrition

Eat a healthy, nutritious and balanced diet. Avoid the intake of processed food items and only focus on organic food. Always take the organic food items and remember that what you eat directly affects your physical and mental health. 

Adequate sleep

Make sure that you are getting adequate sleep so you remain energetic and happy throughout the day. You can also make a schedule of your sleep so your both physical and mental health remains protected. 

Exercise 

If you move your body daily, you can also stay physically and mentally active and healthy. When you perform any strenuous activity, the brain releases certain neurotransmitters which improve the functioning of brain cells. 

Other best ways to prevent the onset of both ADHD and GAD include:

• Avoiding the intake of alcohol
• Going out with your friends 
• Taking care of personal hygiene 

Mindfulness techniques 

Mindfulness techniques are significant in controlling stress or anxiety. Stressed individuals only focus on the past and remain lost in their negative and intrusive thoughts. However, with the help of mindfulness techniques, individuals learn to focus on the present and positive aspects of the future. Moreover, their mind also gets diverted to the positive thoughts and emotions. By staying in the present, individuals feel more calm and relaxed. The most common mindfulness techniques include yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises. 

Omega 3-6-9

Omega fatty acids are also essential for effective brain growth and development. Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids improve the functioning of different brain regions and prevent the occurrence of common mental issues including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and GAD. 

Seek Professional help for ADHD and GAD.

Whenever you feel any negative changes in your mental state, immediately prepare your mind to seek professional help. Remember that early diagnosis is significant for early intervention or treatment so the individuals can protect their mental health. 

If you or your loved one is suffering from ADHD or anxiety, then we are here to provide professional mental health assistance. Brainpower Wellness Institute is an ideal mental health platform that offers the best mental health treatment for individuals suffering from common mental health issues including ADHD and GAD. We have a team of professional mental health experts who first perform a complete psychological evaluation to identify the actual condition and develop a strategic treatment plan that meets the mental health needs of each individual. Our experts also provide effective mental health counseling for individuals so they experience a complete recovery from their mental issues. So what are you waiting for? Reach out to our mental health experts and schedule a consultation with our experts to treat your mental illness today.