ADHD vs. Anxiety - Or Both?

ADHD vs. Anxiety - Or Both?

⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY: This quiz is designed for educational and self-reflection purposes only. It is NOT a diagnostic tool and cannot replace professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.

SEEK PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION: Only licensed physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, or other qualified mental health professionals can properly diagnose ADHD, anxiety disorders, or related conditions. If you are experiencing concerning symptoms, please consult with a healthcare provider for a comprehensive evaluation.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, suicidal thoughts, severe panic attacks, or any emergency, call 911 immediately or go to your nearest emergency room. Do not delay seeking help.

📞 Crisis & Support Resources

National Crisis Lines (24/7 Free Support):

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

• Crisis Text Line: Text "HELLO" to 741741

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (Mental Health & Substance Abuse)

Condition-Specific Resources:

• Anxiety Support: Visit ADAA.org (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) for evidence-based information, therapist directory, and support resources

• ADHD Support: Visit CHADD.org (Children and Adults with ADHD) for resources and professional directory

Question 1 of 20

1

When did you first notice difficulties with focus or worry?

Since childhood - Always struggled with attention and impulsivity Childhood attention issues that developed into worry later Teen years or adulthood - Worry and nervousness developed gradually After a specific stressful event or trauma

2

What causes your difficulty concentrating?

Mind wanders to random, unrelated thoughts - Can't control attention Both wandering thoughts and specific worries interrupt focus Specific worries and "what if" thoughts consume my mind Worry about potential negative outcomes prevents concentration

3

How do you experience restlessness or physical tension?

Physical restlessness - Need to move, fidget constantly Both physical restlessness and nervous tension Mental tension and worry - Feel wound up or on edge Physical symptoms of anxiety - Racing heart, muscle tension, sweating

4

Can you focus when something really interests you?

Yes - Can hyperfocus intensely on engaging activities Sometimes, but worry still interferes even with interesting tasks Struggle to focus regardless of interest - Worry dominates Can focus but feel anxious about doing it perfectly

5

How do you experience your thoughts?

Scattered and random - Jump from topic to topic rapidly Both scattered thinking and repetitive worrying Repetitive and stuck - Same worries loop endlessly Catastrophic thinking - Always expecting worst-case scenarios

6

Do you act impulsively without thinking things through?

Yes, frequently - Act first, think later, often regret decisions Sometimes impulsive, other times overly cautious due to worry Rarely - I overthink and analyze excessively before acting No - Worry prevents me from making decisions or taking action

7

How does stress or pressure affect you?

Can sometimes help me focus, though I struggle with time management Mixed - Sometimes helps focus, but also triggers worry Makes everything worse - Anxiety spirals and I freeze Triggers physical anxiety symptoms - Panic, overwhelm, avoidance

8

What keeps you up at night?

Racing thoughts about random topics - Mind won't shut off Both random thoughts and specific worries Worry about specific problems, future events, or past mistakes Dread about tomorrow or replaying today's interactions

9

How do you handle routine tasks and responsibilities?

Forget them, procrastinate, lose track - Executive function issues Forget things but also worry excessively about them Remember them but worry I'll do them wrong - Perfectionism Avoid them due to anxiety or fear of failure

10

Do you avoid certain situations?

Avoid boring or tedious tasks - Not fear-based Avoid both boring tasks and anxiety-triggering situations Avoid situations that trigger worry or panic Extensive avoidance - Life is restricted by fears

11

How is your time management?

Time blindness - Consistently misjudge how long things take Poor time management complicated by worry about being late Overplan and arrive early - Anxious about being late Spend excessive time checking and rechecking plans

12

Did you have behavioral issues in childhood?

Yes - Hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity noted by teachers Some attention issues and also anxious or shy behaviors No - I was quiet, well-behaved, possibly overly cautious Anxious child - Separation anxiety, excessive worry, perfectionism

13

What's your experience with making decisions?

Make them quickly, sometimes impulsively, without full consideration Sometimes impulsive, other times paralyzed by overthinking Agonize over decisions - Fear of making the wrong choice Seek excessive reassurance before deciding anything

14

How do you experience forgetfulness?

Constantly forget things - Lose items, miss appointments, forget names Forget things but also overthink to compensate Difficulty concentrating due to worry makes memory suffer Create excessive reminders and lists due to anxiety about forgetting

15

How do you feel about social situations?

Enjoy them but may interrupt, talk excessively, or miss social cues Want to engage but worry about saying the wrong thing Anxious before, during, and after - Overanalyze interactions Avoid social situations due to fear of judgment or embarrassment

16

What triggers your symptoms?

Consistent across all situations - Even low-stress environments Baseline attention issues worsened by stress or anxiety Specific triggers - Certain situations, people, or topics Stress-dependent - Much worse when anxious or overwhelmed

17

How do you experience perfectionism?

Not particularly perfectionistic - More concerned with completion Perfectionistic but also struggle to complete tasks Extreme perfectionism driven by fear of criticism or failure Perfectionism paralyzes me - Can't start or finish tasks

18

Do you experience physical symptoms?

Restlessness and energy - Need to move and stay active Both restlessness and tension/stress symptoms Tension, muscle tightness, headaches, digestive issues Panic symptoms - Racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness

19

What happens when you try to relax?

Get bored quickly - Need stimulation and activity Struggle to relax - Both boredom and worry interfere Mind races with worries - Can't truly unwind Feel guilty for relaxing - Should be doing something productive

20

What's your relationship with organization?

Chronically disorganized - Hard to create or maintain systems Try to over-organize to compensate for attention issues Hyper-organized - Need everything in its place to feel calm Organizing is a compulsion - Reduces anxiety temporarily

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🔗 Anxiety-Specific Resources

For evidence-based information about anxiety disorders, treatment options, and to find anxiety specialists, visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Visit ADAA.org

ADAA provides a therapist directory, support groups, educational resources, and information about evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders.

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