ADHD and anxiety are two of the most common mental health challenges in adults. Each condition comes with unique struggles, but when they occur together, they can create a cycle that feels exhausting and difficult to break. Many adults live for years without fully realizing how ADHD and anxiety interact, which is why awareness and treatment are so important. At Wings Recovery, we specialize in helping adults navigate co-occurring conditions like ADHD and anxiety with a compassionate, individualized, and gender-specific approach.
How ADHD and Anxiety Overlap
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is often associated with difficulties in concentration, organization, and impulse control. Anxiety, on the other hand, is characterized by ongoing worry, nervousness, and heightened stress responses. While they are different conditions, they often show up together—and when they do, symptoms can build on each other in ways that feel overwhelming.
For example:
- Trouble finishing tasks due to ADHD may cause anxiety about disappointing others.
- Anxiety can make focusing harder, which intensifies ADHD symptoms.
- Everyday responsibilities—such as paying bills, balancing work deadlines, or maintaining relationships—feel harder to manage, creating a cycle of guilt, frustration, and fear.
Recognizing how ADHD and anxiety connect is the first step in breaking that cycle and finding relief.
The Emotional Impact of ADHD and Anxiety
The overlap between ADHD and anxiety doesn’t just affect productivity—it deeply impacts how people feel about themselves. Adults may experience:
- Low self-esteem: Repeated challenges with focus or organization can create feelings of inadequacy.
- Perfectionism: Anxiety may drive a constant push to “make up” for ADHD struggles, leading to burnout.
- Shame and guilt: Forgetfulness, missed commitments, or emotional outbursts can lead to shame, even when symptoms are beyond one’s control.
Without treatment, this emotional burden can lead to depression or withdrawal from social connections. But with the right support, adults can learn to manage symptoms and rebuild confidence.
Treatment Approaches That Work
When ADHD and anxiety occur together, treatment should address both conditions simultaneously. At Wings Recovery, we use evidence-based approaches such as:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps individuals identify thought patterns that worsen anxiety and create strategies to shift them.
- Mindfulness practices: Calm the nervous system and improve focus, helping with both anxiety regulation and ADHD-related restlessness.
- Group therapy: Provides a supportive community where participants realize they are not alone in their struggles.
- Individual therapy, where you can process your emotions at your own pace with a trusted therapist
Our trauma-focused clinicians also look at the bigger picture, exploring how past experiences may shape present challenges with ADHD and anxiety.
Gender-Specific Treatment Benefits
Research shows that ADHD and anxiety often look different in men and women. Gender-specific mental health treatment creates an environment where people feel understood, validated, and comfortable sharing openly.
ADHD and Anxiety in Women
Women with ADHD are often misdiagnosed or diagnosed later in life. A recent small study found that an estimated 14% of adults are undiagnosed with ADHD and women were more likely to be undiagnosed than men. Instead of hyperactivity, symptoms may show up as:
- Constant overthinking and worry.
- Perfectionism and people-pleasing.
- Emotional exhaustion from trying to “mask” symptoms.
These struggles can heighten anxiety, making daily life feel like an endless cycle of self-doubt. In a women’s group, participants often find relief in realizing others share these hidden struggles. They gain tools to reduce perfectionism, practice self-compassion, and feel less alone.
ADHD and Anxiety in Men
Men may be more likely to show outward signs of ADHD and anxiety such as:
- Restlessness or irritability.
- Impulsivity and risk-taking.
- Difficulty managing emotions.
Because of cultural pressures to appear “strong,” men often avoid seeking help. Gender-focused groups give men a safe space to talk about their experiences, break through stigma, and build healthier ways of coping with both ADHD and anxiety.
The Wings Recovery Difference
At Wings Recovery, gender-specific group therapy offers:
- Safe environments for honesty: Participants share more openly when surrounded by peers who understand their experiences.
- Tailored coping strategies: Treatment addresses gender-related challenges directly, making it more relevant and effective.
- Community and connection: Group members provide encouragement, celebrate progress, and remind each other that recovery is possible.
Moving Forward With Support
Living with ADHD and anxiety can feel discouraging, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. With the right treatment, adults can learn how to manage symptoms, rebuild confidence, and create more balanced lives.
At Wings Recovery, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care—including individual therapy and gender-specific group therapy—to help you navigate ADHD, anxiety, and co-occurring disorders. Our trauma-focused clinicians are here to guide you step by step toward healing.
If you or someone you love is struggling with ADHD and anxiety, Wings Recovery offers the specialized support needed to move from surviving to thriving.