ADHD Linked With Higher Rates Of Anxiety

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face an increased risk for anxiety, according to new research.

Anxiety disorder is common among children with ADHD. Recognizing and treating anxiety can lead to improved quality of life for patients and their families. The study demonstrated that children with ADHD had 2.2 times the risk of anxiety disorder and 2.7 times the risk of other mood disorders.

Questions Remain

It is important to note that the specific relationship among anxiety and ADHD is unclear. The study did not provide a comparison to peers without diagnoses of ADHD, because they do not possess data on standard peers.

However,  researchers posited that there could be several reasons for these results. One possible reason is based on genetics. Another reason is that one condition is an early manifestation of the other, or that the development of one increases the risk for the other.         

Going forward, an important area for further research is clarifying how mood and anxiety disorders may present in ADHD populations so that clinicians and families may screen, assess, and diagnose these disorders.

As for clinicians today, those who treat children with ADHD should be vigilant about screening for anxiety and mood symptoms. Recognizing these mental health disorders is the first important step toward treatment.           

Simple tools to combat Anxiety:

1. Taking a deep Breath:

Deep diaphragmatic breathing is a powerful anxiety-reducing technique because it activates the body’s relaxation response. It helps the body go from the fight-or-flight response of the sympathetic nervous system to the relaxed response of the parasympathetic nervous system.

A breathing exercise you can try is slowly inhaling for four seconds, holding your breath for four seconds, and then slowly exhaling for four seconds and repeat as many times you find necessary.

2. Positive Self-Talk:

Anxiety can produce a lot of negative chatter. That is why it is important to reassure yourself with positive coping statements. These statements vary widely because it depends on the individual, but the most important part is that it keeps you grounded and in a positive space.

3. Accepting Your Anxiety:

Acceptance is critical because trying to wrangle or eliminate anxiety often worsens it. Remember that anxiety is just a feeling that will subside. It is important to realize that accepting your anxiety doesn’t mean liking it or resigning yourself to a miserable existence, rather that you are able to go through the emotional turmoil and come out the other side.

It is important to note that these solutions are not the be all end all and that it is still important to seek professional help to fully deal with these issues.