How To Recognize ADHD And Anxiety In Your Child

From the time you were pregnant to actually having your child or children, you’ve just always wanted them to be healthy, happy, and safe.

But as they’ve grown up, developed their own personality, and become their own little person, you’ve noticed some things that are making you a little concerned.

They seem to be worried or afraid of everything. While you want them to be cautious, you don’t want them to miss out on opportunities because they’re not willing to try something.

Their sleeping and eating schedules and routines are almost nonexistent at this point. And you’ve noticed they tend to have a hard time paying attention to conversations whether it’s at home, school, daycare, or with friends and family.

Here’s how you can recognize ADHD and anxiety in your child.

Lack of Attention

Children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety share some similarities between the two different disorders. One of those shared traits is inattention. A child with ADHD may have a lack of attention since it's one of the many signs and symptoms of ADHD. A child with anxiety, on the other hand, may appear inattentive due to focusing on their worries instead of the task at hand.

Always Moving

Another shared similarity between a child with ADHD and anxiety is that they're constantly moving. Children with ADHD have low impulse control, which means they're often fidgeting. Anxious children will show signs of movement by tapping their feet or pencils or moving their chairs forward and backward.

Relationships with Others

Poor relationships with others, especially peers, are common among ADHD and anxiety as well. A child with ADHD is likely to have poor social skills due to their low impulse control, which can make it even more difficult to make and maintain relationships. A child with anxiety may have poor relationships with their peers due to their social anxiety. They may experience fear relating to interacting with others like worrying about embarrassing themselves or being rejected.

Habits in School

Another telltale sign of ADHD and anxiety is moving at a slower pace compared to their peers in school. Anxious children tend to be perfectionists. Perfectionism can make it even more difficult for a child to complete their daily tasks like homework, studying, or completing quizzes or tests. A child with ADHD may have a difficult time completing their homework assignments or tests due to poor time management, organizational skills, and lack of attention span.

Next Steps

There are a lot of overlaps between ADHD and anxiety. It's important to note that these are two completely different disorders. Children with ADHD tend to struggle with organizational skills and controlling their impulses. Children with anxiety tend to worry about how others perceive them. That being said, a child with ADHD can have anxiety and a child with anxiety can also have ADHD.

It's important to explore if your child has ADHD, anxiety, or a combination of the two. Once that's determined, you can explore the best treatment option.  Treatment will vary depending on what they're diagnosed with. Treatment for ADHD may include behavioral therapy and medication. A child dealing with anxiety may seek treatment through therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). If a child is experiencing a combination of anxiety and ADHD, it may be best to consult with a mental health professional to consider the next best steps.

While there are lifestyle changes you can implement on your own end to help your child cope with the signs and symptoms of ADHD and anxiety, we're here to help find the best treatment option for you and your child no matter what the diagnosis may be. Reach out to us today to set up a consultation for child therapy.