anxiety with adhd

[Mer23]

any tips to help with anxiety while dealing with adhd would be greatly appreciated. I’m constantly overthinking everything. Once my vyvanse wears off around 5, I’m completely absorbed in negative thoughts about myself. How I should be doing more with my life, how I can’t even leave the house due to social anxiety, etc.

[BlessedLady]

It is common for doctors to prescribe anxiety medication. Have you discussed your anxiety with your doctor?

[STEM_Dad in reply to BlessedLady]

Yes, I have had to get onto medication to help me with anxiety and depression. Sometimes, meds can be a critical part of the treatment that's needed.

[Mer23 in reply to BlessedLady]

he has me on cymbalta and clonazepam. I just started the cymbalta so I’m hoping it works soon

[STEM_Dad in reply to Mer23]

I'll currently on a generic of Lexapro (escitalopram).

I've always had some level of social anxiety. It was particularly bad from the time I was 12 through my early 20s.

(Working in a retail store at ages 19-25 helped me improve the most, sort-of like exposure therapy. If I had it to do over, I'd have gotten actual therapy back then, because I think it would have helped me more. I've made slow progress ever since then.)

I'm still introverted. When I'm off work, I like to just stay home, not go out. I had to go to the store yesterday after work, and interacted with others as little as possible (besides the friendly cashier I used to work with).

Overcoming the majority of my social phobia makes me feel like I can talk to almost anyone. But being introverted, I usually don't want to.

If I lived in an apartment complex, I probably would just stay in my apartment all the time I'm home. I live in a duplex in town, so I do talk to my next door neighbors as we're coming and going...but not with the other neighbors up and down the street.

(It's a quiet neighborhood. Most people just keep to themselves. But I wish there were more kids for my kids to play with. I'm more concerned with their social development than my remaining social anxiety.)

[LiamFL in reply to Mer23]

Please be so careful with the clonazepam. Benzos are absolute lifesavers for many of us but so many doctors still don't take them as seriously as they should. Most countries only prescribe them for panic (and then only a small subset of the class) because they typically cause other anxiety disorders to get worse over time rather than better.

[Knitting20projects]

Could you go on a walk at 5? Sometimes exercise helps.

[STEM_Dad in reply to Knitting20projects]

Excellent suggestion.

Exercise has been reported to often be as effective as medication in treating depression. I'm sure that studies will also reveal that the same goes for anxiety. Even as little as a five minute walk might make a difference, but probably 20 minutes would be a great target duration to start.

[Mer23 in reply to STEM_Dad]

I will try to do some at home workouts or meditation.

[LiamFL in reply to STEM_Dad]

Absolutely anxiety too, particularly if its a walk in nature. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... for a recent meta.

The effect is believed to be a deep evolutionary response from before humans evolved, our brains are calmed when we are surrounded by trees.

I have been managing GAD & PD for over 20 years and nature walks are one of the key components of my treatment (along with meds, CBT, mindfulness & diet). I try to get at least 30 minutes in a day and long hikes most weekends. Having a dog helps too, motivation to get out

It might just be me but I also find hobbies like model building and gardening very useful. When you have a singular thing to focus on that doesn't require deep thought my internal monologue is quiet.

[Mer23 in reply to Knitting20projects]

I live in an apartment complex that has a lot of people outside all the time so it makes my nerves bad. I have really bad social anxiety. 😭

[Keeks23 in reply to Mer23]

Have you tried meditation app "Insight Timer"? It is free. Extensive choice of meditations, talks, sound therapy, yoga, relaxation and so on All types and lengths to f ind the right ones. This could assist when going outside is not an option. You can cast you tube nature tracks to your TV to replicate outdoors and practice some kind of movement that feels good to you... create a physical environment that's comforting to your senses...

If you practice a faith of any kind... that can be a tremendous source of peace ...

[STEM_Dad]

As mentioned before, medication and exercise may help a lot with anxiety.

Other things which have helped me with managing my own struggles with anxiety:

* Counseling/therapy

* Practicing mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques (some of which I knew before, and others I learned in therapy)

* Talking with a trusted & accepting friend or family member

* Improving sleep quality (often, I need to listen to "sleep sounds" tracks and take a supplement sleep aid, to settle my mind)

I know that I can do better with good routines for exercise, better sleep habits, and taking care of household chores. But I'm doing much, much better than before. I still have some struggles with anxiety, but I don't feel like I'm drowning in it anymore.

-----

I used to think that my persistent anxiety was due to having a neurotic personality.

The first thing I did that helped was to get professional mental health counseling.

* (Earlier in my life, I'd meet with my pastor or talk to my dad, but that always just seemed to be a "band-aid" that made me feel only a little better, but wouldn't last.)

When I was in counseling, I asked to be evaluated for ADHD, and got an official diagnosis.

Getting onto ADHD medication did a great deal to help me on a daily basis. Managing my ADHD well helps keep my anxiety down. (And managing my anxiety well helps with my ADHD, too.)

* ACCEPTANCE: accepting myself as I am, ADHD and all, has helped me have a healthier, more balanced self-image... And that has helped me to keep from becoming anxious as often as I once did.

But like you, I was originally on a stimulant that wore off in the evening, and I'd begin to struggle again. (For me, irritability became a regular effect of the meds wearing off.)

* Some people get a "booster" dose of a am immediate release stimulant, to help them get through the evening.

* I ended up going on a non-stimulant medication, which I have to take every day, but it keeps working 24x7. No more dropoff in the evenings. (If I miss a dose every now and again, I don't experience any I'll effects. If I miss my dose half the time, my ADHD symptoms start to get worse again.)

** I currently take atomoxetine (aka Strattera). It's not for everyone, but it works very well for me.

[Mer23 in reply to STEM_Dad]

My doctor actually had me on strattera at first and it wasn’t working for me sadly so he switched me to vyvanse. I was always misdiagnosed growing up with depression and put on so many antidepressants that didn’t work. My new doctor said undiagnosed adhd can cause anxiety and depression. He evaluated me and determined I have adhd and it makes so much sense now. I’ve never been able to stick to a schedule, have any motivation, or even watch tv without being distracted. I’ve only been on vyvanse for a week now and I feel slightly better it’s just once it wears off I’m feeling kind of stuck in an anxious state.

[Mazgood in reply to Mer23]

I'm adhd with GAD. Always had anxiety and adhd but only diagnosed at 41. Had a string of abusive relationships as didn't realise makes you vulnerable. Best way I've found as been mugged twice and agoraphobia for while is to push your boundaries I made myself walk into town (15 mins) and look up (always stared at the ground before) and was really hard but each te it got a bit easier.

Keep pushing. I then made myself go to networking events for work and talk to as many different people as it helps you realise they're not a threat and most people are lovely.

I still have anxiety and don't go out a lot alone but way better than I was

[LiamFL in reply to STEM_Dad]

The sleep quality thing is something I think is so often overlooked. So many people with ADHD think they have a problem with waking up on time when its really a problem with going to bed early enough. Same deal with anxiety and depression, the deep phases of sleep are so important to our mental health.

I got hardcore about my sleep about a decade ago and it definitely helped. My aim is to go to bed early enough that I am waking up naturally just before my alarm, for me this is 8/9 hours a night.

If anyone reading this is a snorer ask your doctor for a sleep study. Even mild apnea will reduce the quality of your sleep enormously.

Don't be afraid to talk to your dr about sleep either. Melatonin is often suggested because its OTC, not habit forming and if you use it properly (already in bed, cold room, tv off and actively trying to sleep) then you will sleep even if you are anxious.

[Knitting20projects]

Big hugs to you. I hope gradually you find some relief. I’ve had lifelong anxiety and it’s so miserable.

[LiamFL]

Its possible to have multiple disorders at the same time

I have GAD, PD & ADHD. Some people with ADHD have anxiety or depression caused by their ADHD but many people also have a primary anxiety disorder.

For my treatment I prioritize the GAD & PD, if they ever become unstable again I wouldn't consider treating ADHD at all until they were stable. Anxiety for me is crippling and unmanageable when my treatment is not stable, ADHD is still a big deal but its a manageable big deal.

What I can say is there is absolutely a drug out there which will work for you and you just have to find it. Be assertive with treatment, if after 6-8 weeks the Cymbalta isn't helping tell your doctor you want to switch. If a few drugs in one class like SSRI's don't work ask him to try something newer like SRI (Trintellix) or a non-class like Buspar (didn't work for me but its considered to have similar efficacy to benzos as it doesn't have rebound anxiety).

[Colls47]

I so need to find help with this too. I’m 48 and have been through some real hard times over last few years . Only diagnosed with ASD and adhd in last year or so , and lost both my parents in last few years , mum only two year ago who I was close to . My job, my business . Bankrupt. They tried mr in a couple of stimulants but due to my anxiety being so bad it just made it worse . I’ve been left under my own rubbish mental health team , who aren’t dealing with the adhd , and have just basically said I should up my Effexor from 75 to 150. No one really overseeing it .

My adhd diagnosis was through pyschiatry Uk who only felt with diagnosis and meds , and if the stimulants didn’t work , they just passed me back to my own dr . End of . I’ve also just come off mirtazpine which basically made me so much worse . Don’t know if I’m still dealing with withdrawals from that / it’s all a mess .

Been given anti depressants all my life , and I’ve read so much bad stuff about meds that I actually dare not take anything else , but I’m a mental mess .

Always coped until my four kids got older ; and death if parents loss of friends and job and now I’m just not coping . Only people I spend time with are my wife and 4 kids .

I do volunteer every morning , but that’s not enough .

I’m caught in a negative mind trap . I wake every Morning not wanting to do another day as feel so tired and worn .

I just feel I’m not being dealt with , and wonder if my adhd is causing me hell here , along with my ASD .

I am having online counselling which is useless and he just tells me to accept things , stop looking for answers , go get a job , etc . It just doesn’t feel that easy . I feel failed ; washed up , and useles , and my mind won’t stop spinning negativity , how life is over for me , how this is how I will always be . I keep pushing and pushing , but it’s stating to get tiring . Still don’t get the adhd , as only diagnosed recently . In the passed , cocaine and amphetamine in dance scene kept me focussed , in work , and connected ; that was over 15 years ago . Sorry if I just hijacked this post , please move it if I did .

[El-Eektrified in reply to Colls47]

Can you reach out to someone? Seems like that’s a good thing to do. Mental health can be tricky, but ADHD is just a name for a group of symptoms that can also overlap with other disorders.

I’m diagnosed with ADHD / ASD and I’ve got my own psychiatrist that manages my treatment, seems like something you might need, because my Gp doesn’t understand my meds.

But eventually it’s not about meds, they can help - but therapy and finding a way to be part of “life” again, finding ways to get along with people.

I’m struggling on certain days, but I also believe that there are better ones coming! Try to find someone that can help you find the right mental health professional. Be honest about your concerns, I know it’s hard, but you really should step up for yourself, because you are worth it!

[Colls47 in reply to El-Eektrified]

hey thanks . Believe me , I have tried and tried to get support , but just can’t get it . Drs mental health teams private company , the ASD diagnosis people ,no one really knows . The ASD I understand that it’s not something that has any medicine treatment for . But the adhd , I just don’t feel the bigger picture has been looked at . I’ve been on all the anti depressants since I was 18 , now 48 , and while they may have helped at times , I’m now on just the 75mg Effexor , and simply told to maybe increase that and see ? And no one is overseeing this . Meanwhile I’m pushing myself to try and go back to work . Bur I just feel mentally burned out totally . I get thick head and dizzy it’s the constant over thinking . Also the withdrawals I’m probably going through from coming off mirtazapine in January still . Life just feels hollow and empty and kinda scary that this is it ?! Also the grief of not having my parents anymore . Who I guess , even at my age 48. Were my grounding and attachment . I feel like a kid in an adults body , with no one to tell me what’s adhd , what’s grief , and what I can do about it .

[El-Eektrified in reply to Colls47]

lots of questions without answers, Grief is complicated, because losing parents is awful, losing your mental health as a secondary loss and not being able to work etc… sadly I can relate with what you’re going through, I’m 10 years younger and also lost both my parents 2,5 years ago. Felt lost afterwards… not being able to grief, never learnt how to handle emotions like others… feeling like a child, without a support system… grief can take a long time, don’t force yourself or listen to people who project their feelings onto you, or not knowing how to respond.

Withdrawal can also be awful, but I doubt if that’s the thing that’s bothering you. Don’t underestimate grief, and asd… I truly believe it takes us longer before we actually understand what we feel, or know how to cope.

And you are right… asd officially has no treatment. But they treat comorbodities like anxiety/ depression and irritability. I’m on sertraline for anxiety, which helps a little bit.

Effexor could do the trick, also for adhd, but most important… be kind to yourself, give yourself all the time that you need to find your safety zone.

[Colls47 in reply to El-Eektrified]

hey, thanks for that . And sorry for your losses too , that’s so hard and sad 🙏.

I think the adhd and ASD is a real miss match . I’ve always ploughed on with some pretty bad stuff in my life . From car accident at 18 putting me in coma and losing left eye , to Crohn’s disease and having half my bowel removed in my 20s , I just got back up, and carried on . Saying that ,, when those things happened , I was able to take quite a bit of time out of life as still lived with parents, so just did nothing for some months , rebuilt , and got on .

This time though , wow , I’m spending too long trying to find an answer to why ? Is it my ASD , which I still don’t get , is it my adhd , which I still don’t get , as it’s always been me ? Is it the grief ? Have I burned out with family responsibility ? What I mean by ASD and adhd mismatch is that the adhd tells me to push push push , keep going , don’t stop , can’t stop , stop = failed , also uncomfortable and weird , and my ASD is questioning what are these feelings ? Tired is not well ? What is wrong ? And my head just spins .

I’ve also become very afraid of age and time now since my parents died . I see old age as painful and lonely ( that’s what I witnessed with my mum and dad ) and that constantly plays on my mind daily . From the moment I wake , it starts , you are done , you haven’t got long ( I’m 48 … ), you’ll never make it , kids getting older , will leave you , wife will get older , etc . Man it’s so so so morbid . I do all I can to try change the thoughts , but it’s like my mind is on steroids and winning . Was once happy go lucky ( Always a worrier ) but now I’m a serious scared worried person . I have some better times during day , but still the mind will jump in and say is this it for you ? It’s so hard .

I am scared to increase the Effexor due to the shit show the mirtazapine has given me , i mean I was NEVER as mentally tormented by my thoughts prior to mirtazapine.

Society tells me I must work . I’m failed if not . Sadly , I always used to see people not in work as either old or losers , so, guess that’s come back to bite me .

Also have spent way too long in the last 2.5 years researching and reading so much stuff about adhd ASD mirtazapine mental health , that it’s got me in that real I AM BROKEN. Self pity mode , and it needs to change back . It’s kinda become my life ( hyper focus on negative stuff and me )

I gym, I volunteer , I eat well , I walk every day , (370 miles since Oct )but this just doesn’t seem to hit the mark enough .

I also wonder if I have burned out , be that as a parent ( as I always want to be the best parent , make sure everything is right , clean , sorted , good food etc , as sadly I’m a perfectionist ) or with the pure mental torment that has happened over last few years . But, it’s that unless I’m told by someone in need to stop, like a dr , then I won’t ? How screwed up is that … wow , sorry , think I’ve just unloaded a lot here .

Again, Thankyou for you reply , and I do hope you are finding some peace with your loss , although I know it would never go .

[STEM_Dad in reply to Colls47]

I wasn't familiar with mirtazapine, so I read up on it. It is a serotonergic medication, which means it increases serotonin availability in the body. A possible side effect is "mental changes", which explains the issue you've had with unsettling thoughts.

It's possible that the increase in serotonin availability was starting to cause serotonin syndrome. Your doctor probably already checked for that, but it's worth asking about. According to what I read, some symptoms of serotonin syndrome can go away in as little as 24-72 hours, but there's a possibility that some symptoms will remain (the example the article gave was "tardive dyskinesia", which is uncontrollable body movements).

It's possible that the unsettling thoughts will go away over time, but they may not.

This may or may not help, but some people find that mindfulness or therapy help with unsettling or intrusive thoughts. I'm not affected by intrusive thinking as regularly as I used to be, but when I am, I've found an over the counter GABA supplement helps quiet my mind. (I take it as a sleep aid. I don't know if it's available in the UK.) I don't know if it would help you, but thought it's worth mentioning. (If you take Gabapentin, then then you wouldn't want to take a GABA supplement, because it might interfere with the medication's effectiveness.)

[Colls47 in reply to El-Eektrified]

and sorry for going on about me. Sounds like you can relate to a lot ? I hope you have found ways to cope / accept or deal with ? What is your situation can I ask ?

[Mer23 in reply to Colls47]

I’m so sorry for your loss. If you ever need to talk I’m here for you. I just started journaling the last few days and watching YouTube videos on anxiety and mental health to understand it better. Just know you’re never alone, I feel like it’s hard for me to leave the bed most days and If it wasn’t for my fiancé I’d be homeless. I literally can’t even drive my car right now, my daughters father has to drop my daughter off to me because I’m petrified of being on the road. Vyvanse is starting to help but I still feel loads of anxiety and I have clonazepam to take as needed but I’m fearful to become addicted to it because it works so well. download this app called circles it’s free and they have a community of people who help you and online FREE courses where someone talks about whatever subject you follow and gives tips.

[STEM_Dad in reply to Colls47]

The recreational drugs that made you feel focused before both act on dopamine. They are stimulants.

So, that suggests that ADHD stimulant medication might help a lot with treating your symptoms.

Treating you ADHD may also help a lot with your depression. I had struggled with anxiety symptoms most of my life, and occasional mild depression. When I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, I was also diagnosed with anxiety. I felt that the severe anxiety was making my normally masked ADHD (mild to moderate severity) to be much more severe.

* My doctor gave me medication for anxiety first, and after a few weeks my ADHD returned to my normal "baseline" levels.

* Then, I started on ADHD medication for the first time, and I found that not only was I more focused and less distractible, but I was less prone to anxiety building up.

It can be essential to treat both ADHD and anxiety/depression. They are common comorbidities with each other.

ASD is another fairly common comorbidity with ADHD. I believe there are medications for ASD, but I don't know what they are. However, I do know that ASD has many different presentations, and so I presume the effectiveness of each medication will vary. (This is true of ADHD, too. There are many medication options now, and the effectiveness of each will be different from person to person, and possibly vary for the same person over time.)

Therapy can help, but many studies have proven that medication is the most impactful way to treat ADHD.

-----

ADHD and ASD are lifelong conditions. They may increase or decrease in severity with time and circumstances, but they occur due to a person's own neuroanatomy.

The traits and symptoms might be improved with medication, behavioral therapy, mental health counseling and therapy, and coaching. Even just learning more about your conditions, for the sake of your own understanding, can make a positive difference in your life.

-----

Here's the most important thing that I think that you should know:

You are not flawed, you are not a mistake, you are not worth less than anyone else on the planet.

You are a unique and remarkable human being, who is every bit as deserving of respect and consideration as everyone else.

I have found it helpful to have acceptance of myself just the way I am, to have acceptance of my neurodiversity (ADHD, anxiety, depression). Like most people diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, I've gone through a grieving process...I've asked those often asked questions: "Why didn't anyone catch this sooner?" and "How could my life have been different, if I had been diagnosed & treated earlier?"

We can't change the past. . . but we can learn from it, we can use what we know now to start making a better future for ourselves than if we hadn't been diagnosed. We can use what we learn to try to help others like us to have a better shot at life.

It takes time to make changes. You may need to go through medication changes for months or years before you find the right one for you. (It took me about 6-7 months from diagnosis before getting on my current meds, but they've made such a difference for me )

-----

Another thing that's helpful me tremendously is being a part of the ADHD community (mainly via this forum, and others).

[Mer23 in reply to STEM_Dad]

I LOVE LOVE this comment. I couldn’t have said it better myself!

[Colls47]

hey, thanks for the reply . Do feel lost . Never thought i would have at 48 . I’ve had moments recently where I m have felt like just driving away from family , but I’ve got no where id go or anyone to go to . Feel like a’ abandoned 10 year old in a man’s body .

The recreational drugs i used was when I was in the then race scene , with happy people , possitive fun people , and I loved it , felt part of a community . And during their jem , held down jobs for years , retail , sales , office . It was feeling like part of a community all accepting and feeling normal that made me smile and fee great , but I guess is was the undiagnosed ASD in me that screamed This is wrong , this isn’t healthy ( I have big beliefs in what is right what is normal etc ) so, when I met my now wife , who is totally the opposite , I quit it all .

I was briefly tried on elvanse , dex amphetamine , concerta , and whilst they have me immediate focus and clear mind and living in here and now , no worrying or rumination , it didn’t last longer than 5 hours , then the Cronic anxiety kicked in , and inwas on a roller coaster of feeling great feeling so so low feeling fresh feeling so so low , the difference between the two was so vast , it was awful , and I just craved the better feeling , and my head just felt scrambled . I decided I’d rather feel crap than so up down up down up down . It was almost akin to saying look I can walk , the hours later I can’t walk. The concerta made me just sit and do nothing .

It has to be noted that during these trials , I was on a reducing dose of mirtazapine and also 75mg of Effexor and maybe this didn’t help ( as going through withdrawals ) I just don’t know I really don’t .

The mirtazpine also gave me severe histamine reactions ( dizzyness and anxiety ) , so maybe this counter acted with the stimulants , i just don’t know , but I know I’ve spent so long trying to work this out , that I feel given up .

Thank you so much for replying , and maybe I will stick around . But sometimes , just talking about it makes me anxious , as it’s like I don’t quite want to accept what is , juts want to plough on and can’t accept that this is now proving to be not quite as easy as I thought I used to find it 😢

[Allieblaine86]

My doctor just passed away, I'm diagnosed with Depression, Anxiety and ADHD. it took me and my dr years to find a combination of medications that finally worked. Because I was in a very bad spot in my life and a deep depression I had just lost my husband for years ago and I was undiagnosed with my ADHD at the time so I was taking just depression and anxiety meds. We switched my depression meds and anxiety meds around so many times I can't even tell you how many different medications I work was on. Then I got diagnosed with ADHD and tried multiple medications for that that weren't working. So before I was diagnosed with ADHD I was taking Paxil, Abilify and Xanax. That helped tremendously with my depression and anxiety but I still had the issue with the ADHD so we tried a bunch of different medications and I've taken Adderall when I was younger and my doctor said try that since it's worked before and I tried it and it worked this combination of medications saved my life I was able to get out of bed after 4 years and I mean 4 years of not getting out of bed I couldn't function. Got a job a year ago as a file clerk at a law firm they taught me how to be a paralegal which is a huge deal I didn't have to go to school I made good money and then boom all of a sudden my doctor passes away. And now my primary care physician decides on my first visit that she's going to take me off of my Adderall completely and start weaning me off of my Xanax. Since being taken off of my Adderall I have lost my job my depression is 10 times worse and I can't function. My ADHD is so bad that it was affecting my job and my job understands this and they said when I get put back on my medication I can get my job back. But I am having an issue trying to find a doctor that isn't going to judge me for the medications that I'm on and understand that these medications work for me and I know there are risks for addiction with these medications but I take less than I'm prescribed I take them as needed and now I'm just lost I'm back to being in bed and not being able to function my mind is racing constantly with negative thoughts and I can't find a doctor to help me. I feel like I'm screaming from the top of my lungs that I need help and these doctors are just not listening to me. I don't understand why a doctor would take me off medication that I've been on for the past 3 years that actually worked and made me a functionable adult I got a great job and was happy and living a good life and now I have regressed I am back to where I was in the beginning. I don't know what to do does anybody have any advice? I've been trying to get in to see a psychiatrist but there are like 5 months waiting list. I need to find a doctor that cares and understands my diagnosis and that I've tried all these different types of medications and these were the only one that worked. I have told my doctor now how much I am struggling and that she has made me lose my job over this and she told me she did not care. Isn't that just great? I need some help I'm truly struggling I want to get my job back I want to be happy again I want to be a functional adult and unfortunately I can't without my medication please if anybody has advice comment below and let me know