What Sets Apart ADHD and Anxiety Symptoms in Children Compared to Teens?
Children and teens with ADHD are also often diagnosed with anxiety disorder. This may be partly due to the added stress of living with the intention and inability to focus associated with ADHD. Many of the symptoms of ADHD and anxiety mirror each other, making it difficult to differentiate them. In some cases, children can receive an incorrect diagnosis, which might complicate treatment attempts. However, ADHD symptoms in 13 year old girls are often very different than those displayed by young children. understanding the difference between the two, and how symptoms change as children grow, can help you identify the problem and begin appropriate treatment.
Many young children with AHDH and anxiety display the following behaviors:
- Restlessness or fidgety behavior
- Outsides worries or fears about otherwise routine things and situations
- Inattention
Older children may continue these behaviors, but you may also notice that they have trouble paying attention in school, which affects academic performance. They may also procrastinate or be unusually forgetful. It is important to keep a watchful eye out for these symptoms.
Communication Styles
Effective communication may be difficult for children with ADHD or anxiety. They often display a tendency to blurt out statements or answers without warning and may interrupt conversations midway through. This may be more readily overlooked in younger children than in teenagers. Additionally, children and teens with ADHD and anxiety may talk too much, not letting others contribute to conversations.
An additional barrier to effective communication is the lack of focus and attention caused by ADHD. This is also more pronounced in older children and teens since the expectation exists for them to listen to and process instructions.
Social Changes
Social changes are a key indicator of both ADHD and anxiety, especially in older children. For example, they may display resistance to facing social situations that they previously enjoyed. It is worth exploring natural anxiety medication for teenager to see if it helps resolve social anxiety associated with ADHD.
In younger children, social changes may appear more as inattentiveness or making careless mistakes that upset others. Some children may talk too much, while others are more likely to withdraw out of fear. They may also interrupt others, including entering conversations they were not part of.
Success in School
Sadly, many children with ADHD and anxiety experience problems at school. These can range from a lack of friends (social isolation) to poor academic performance. The tendency to blurt out answers and speak out of turn can also contribute to disciplinary action in school. The impacts often compound as children get older, making it harder to overcome deficits.
Young children who have trouble sitting still or following directions may find it harder to learn basic skills, such as learning how to decode reading passages or performing basic math functions. Children and teens often exhibit similar symptoms of ADHD and anxiety. These may include social changes and difficulty communicating. Older children often report poor academic performance as a result of symptoms. Brilla for children reviews show that natural, homeopathic medications may be an effective strategy for symptom relief in both children and teens.
