Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents challenges for any woman with this diagnosis. When it arrives alongside anxiety, this can more than double the potential obstacles. In fact, anxiety can make it harder to identify the presence of ADHD — or vice versa. Even though about 25 percent of women with ADHD have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, it’s widely believed that the number is much higher.
Therefore, it becomes essential that we better understand the interplay between ADHD and anxiety in women. The more we know, the quicker we can begin any of the available and effective treatments. Let’s learn more about making that happen.
Understanding ADHD and Anxiety in Women

There are some crucial trends to consider as part of this conversation. ADHD symptoms in women tend to be more subtle than those in men. As a result, ADHD in girls and women is often underdiagnosed and more often discovered in adulthood. On top of that, studies find anxiety is more common in females with ADHD. How then can we recognize the differences?
What Anxiety and ADHD Feel and Look Like in Women
Chronic Rumination and Worry
People with ADHD are over-thinkers. Anxiety notoriously causes rumination. The combination can leave you feeling out of control. Not only are you in a spiral of worry, but you’re also struggling to hide this reality from the people around you.
Fearing Rejection and Failure
Anyone struggling with a habit of overthinking will be more likely to fear the judgment of others. They don’t want to fail because it might lead to rejection. What typically follows is perfectionism. You feel as if you can’t risk doing anything unless you do it perfectly. This part of the cycle then causes procrastination because the thinking goes, you can’t fail if you don’t try.
Being Overwhelmed By Sensory Input
As you struggle with the emotional distress described above, the combination of ADHD and anxiety can lead to sensory overload regularly. It could be loud noises, aggravating textures, bright lights, big crowds, or more — ADHD makes them feel like a minefield. This, in turn, ramps up anxiety that makes it more difficult to manage external stimuli.
Unexplained Physical Symptoms
At the same time, a woman with ADHD and anxiety may experience physical symptoms for which there seems to be no logical culprit. From digestive disturbances to muscle aches to ongoing headaches, such symptoms increase anxiety because they increase worry.
What Can a Woman With ADHD and Anxiety Do?
An ideal place to start is self-education. Women who focus on informing themselves are well-positioned to be their own healthcare advocates. Any practitioner you work with will need plenty of background information about your history and current symptoms — and you are the best source they have. Other important steps include:
- Identify Your Triggers: What is it that gets an anxious spiral started in your mind? Keep a journal to monitor these factors. You may quickly realize the role ADHD is playing as a potential trigger. This kind of self-awareness can empower you to take preventative steps to avoid flare-ups.
- Cultivate Coping Skills: It’s awesome to recognize your triggers, but the other side of that coin involves the development of strategies to calm yourself. Each person will have different solutions, but whatever they are, they can be implemented when you feel a trigger on the horizon.
- Self-Compassion: If you struggle with rumination and perfectionism, your inner critic might already be the loudest voice in the room. A giant step toward healing is to take active steps of self-love. Whatever choices you make, treat yourself as you’d treat your best friend if they were struggling.
If all the above sounds daunting, it’s understandable. That’s why most women in your situation find solace in connecting with a therapist who understands. Reach out to learn more about ADHD or anxiety counseling. Let’s connect soon.