Key points
- Trouble concentrating, restlessness and sleep problems appear in descriptions of both ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder.
- ADHD symptoms begin in childhood, while generalized anxiety centers on worry that is hard to control.
- ADHD often occurs together with anxiety, so the answer is sometimes both.
- There is no single test for ADHD, and an evaluation gathers history and checks for other explanations.
- You do not need a firm answer before asking for help with what is hard right now.
Why ADHD and anxiety get confused
Many adults reach this question the same way. Focus keeps slipping, the body will not settle, sleep is poor, and a search turns up two explanations that both sound right.
That is not a mistake in your reading. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that several other problems, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and certain learning disabilities, can have symptoms similar to ADHD. The overlap is real, and it is the reason professionals take time over it.
What the two have in common
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes both conditions in plain terms, and three items show up on both sides.
- Concentration: NIMH lists difficulty paying attention, staying on task or being organized as the inattention side of ADHD. Its description of generalized anxiety disorder includes having a hard time concentrating
- Restlessness: NIMH describes hyperactivity as excessive activity or restlessness, and the CDC notes that in adults hyperactivity may appear as extreme restlessness. People with generalized anxiety may feel restless or have trouble relaxing
- Sleep: NIMH notes that sleep problems are especially common in adults with ADHD. Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and feeling fatigued, are also listed for generalized anxiety
How they differ
The differences tend to show up in the history and in what drives the difficulty, more than in any one symptom.
ADHD starts early. NIMH explains that an adult diagnosis requires symptoms that began before age 12, and that the symptoms show up in at least two areas of life, such as home, school or work. Adults with ADHD often have a history of school, work or relationship problems that reaches back years, even if nobody named it at the time. The CDC adds that symptoms may become more severe when the demands of adulthood increase, which is one reason the question can surface late.
Generalized anxiety is built around worry. NIMH describes people who worry excessively about everyday things, such as health, money, work and family, and who have trouble controlling those worries on most days for at least six months. It usually develops gradually, and NIMH notes it often starts in early adulthood, although it can occur at any age. It also comes with physical signs that are not part of the ADHD picture, such as muscle aches or tension, headaches, stomachaches, trembling or sweating.
Questions an evaluator may explore
- When did this start? Were there signs in childhood, or did it begin later?
- Does it show up in most parts of your life, or mainly when something worrying is going on?
- When your attention drifts, where does it go?
- Is there persistent worry that feels hard to control, along with physical tension?
- What do old school reports, or people who have known you a long time, say?
It can be both
The question is often framed as one or the other, but NIMH states that ADHD often occurs together with other conditions, including anxiety, depression and sleep problems. The CDC says the same about adults with ADHD.
NIMH also notes that this overlap can make the conditions harder to diagnose and treat. Looking for only one of them can leave part of the picture unexplained. These lists can be signs worth following up. They cannot tell you which condition, if either, applies to you.
What a careful evaluation looks at
The CDC states that there is no single test to diagnose ADHD. For adults, NIMH explains that a diagnosis relies heavily on past reports of behavior. A provider may ask to talk with people who know you well and to see school reports or other childhood records.
According to NIMH, an adult evaluation can include clinical interviews, behavior rating scales or symptom checklists. You may also be asked about your mood and your current and past medical conditions, so that other explanations can be ruled out. The CDC notes that a medical and psychological exam may be needed for the same reason.
In practice, that means a good evaluation asks about anxiety as carefully as it asks about attention. Its purpose is to understand what is going on, not to confirm a guess. Nobody can tell you in advance what it will find.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.
How we can help
Locascio Wellness offers an ADHD evaluation carried out entirely by secure video for people who are physically located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona. It ends with the findings explained in plain language, time for your questions, and a written report. Other types are described on our psychological evaluations page.
Evaluations are private-pay and are not billed to insurance, and a sliding scale is available. Our page on what evaluations cost explains how that works. We do not prescribe medication, and an evaluation does not come with a prescription.
The first step is the short evaluation request form or a free 15-minute consultation, which you can schedule on our booking page.
Therapy is a separate service and does not depend on an evaluation. For ongoing support, therapists on our team offer ADHD therapy and anxiety therapy by video. Whichever explanation fits, the difficulties are real, and there are practical ways to work on them.
Common questions
Can anxiety look like ADHD in adults?
It can. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that anxiety is one of several problems that can have symptoms similar to ADHD. Trouble concentrating, restlessness and poor sleep appear in descriptions of both. That is why an evaluation asks about your history, your mood and your health instead of relying on a symptom list alone.
Can you have ADHD and anxiety at the same time?
Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that ADHD often occurs together with other conditions, including anxiety, and that this can make them harder to diagnose and treat. An evaluation that considers both is more likely to give a full picture than one that looks for a single explanation.
Is there a test that shows whether it is ADHD or anxiety?
No single test does this. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that there is no single test to diagnose ADHD. An evaluation brings together interviews, questionnaires, your history and, where possible, information from people who know you well. Online quizzes can prompt a useful conversation, but they cannot diagnose.
Do I need an evaluation before starting therapy?
No. At Locascio Wellness, therapy and evaluations are separate services. You can start therapy for worry, focus, sleep or stress without a diagnosis, and you can ask about an evaluation at any point. Therapy is often covered by insurance, depending on your plan, while evaluations are private-pay.
Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health: ADHD in Adults: 4 Things to Know
- National Institute of Mental Health: Generalized Anxiety Disorder: What You Need to Know
- National Institute of Mental Health: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Diagnosing ADHD
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: ADHD in Adults
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Published by Locascio Wellness. Published October 13, 2026. Clinically reviewed by Anthony Locascio, PsyD, LPC. This page is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis.