Comorbidities: ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Understanding the Overlap and What It Means for You

If you live with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), you may already know the challenges: distractibility, impulsivity, emotional rollercoasters, and the brain that never seems to slow down. Now add in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)- the constant worry, tension, and mental over-prepping - and things can quickly feel overwhelming.

It’s not just you. ADHD and GAD often show up together. But when they do, it can be harder to function, harder to focus, and much harder to know what kind of support you actually need.

In this post, we’ll explore what science says about the overlap, how it impacts daily life, and what supportive strategies (including therapy) might help.

November 2025, Rebecca Branham, ADHD Coach @ Agave Health

How Often ADHD and GAD Occur Together

This pairing is more common than most people realize:

• Adults with ADHD are about four times more likely to also have GAD.

• Anxiety disorders in general affect up to 50% of adults with ADHD.

• When both show up together, people often experience more intense symptoms and greater difficulty with executive function. (Source)

  
  

If you’ve been wondering why even basic things feel so hard, and why worry seems to amplify your ADHD, you’re not imagining it.

Why Do ADHD and GAD Overlap?

Some common threads:

• Brain systems overlap. Both conditions affect areas of the brain responsible for attention, memory, and emotional regulation.
  

• Negative feedback loops. ADHD can lead to missed deadlines or overwhelm, which leads to anxiety. Anxiety then increases avoidance or perfectionism, which impacts focus even more.
  

• Masking and hypervigilance. Trying to hide ADHD symptoms often increases anxiety levels over time.
  

• Similar symptoms, different roots. Inattention from anxiety and inattention from ADHD can look similar but stem from very different causes. This sometimes leads to one diagnosis being missed. (Source)

What Life Feels Like with Both

If you’re managing both ADHD and GAD, you may:

• Feel constantly behind, no matter how much you plan or try

• Experience anxiety that hijacks your ability to start or complete tasks

• Struggle with sleep, rest, and winding down

• Live in cycles of pressure, shutdown, and self-criticism

• Feel like your brain is working against itself on all fronts
  

It’s more than just a distraction. It’s the emotional and cognitive load of managing two conditions that both affect how you think, feel, and function.

Where Support Fits In

1. Therapy that fits both

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. At Agave Health, we offer therapy services for ADHD, anxiety, and more—all provided by licensed professionals trained in neurodivergent care. Want to know if we serve your state yet? 👉 Check your state here

2. Education and self-awareness

Knowing whether you’re reacting from anxiety or executive dysfunction can be a game-changer. Start asking:

• Am I avoiding this because of fear or because I’m dysregulated?

• What’s the story my anxiety is telling me right now?

• What would a tiny, doable action look like?
  

3. Micro-resets that work with your brain

You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel better. Sometimes what works best is small:

• 5-minute breaks to stretch, breathe, or change environments

• Task-chunking with built-in relief points

• Naming the emotion and validating it before pushing forward

• Tracking which emotions derail you (shame, fear, urgency) and building in pause moments before acting

External Resources We Trust

For readers who want to explore further, here are some trusted, science-backed resources:

• CHADD – Understanding ADHD and Coexisting Conditions

• Anxiety & Depression Association of America

• Additude Magazine – ADHD and Anxiety Research 

• Healthline – How ADHD and Anxiety Intersect

Final Thoughts

ADHD and GAD together don’t mean something is wrong with you. It just means that your nervous system has extra needs—and those needs are valid.

You deserve support that understands your whole experience, not just a part of it.

At Agave Health, we’re here to help you slow down the self-blame, reconnect with your body and brain, and get the tools you need to navigate life with more clarity.

If you're ready to explore therapy or just want to see what's available in your state, start here.