The ADHD-Anxiety Link: Why Your Nervous System Feels Constantly “On”
If you’ve ever felt like your brain has one foot on the gas and the other on the brake—welcome to the ADHD-anxiety connection. It’s that restless, wired-but-tired state where your nervous system feels constantly “on,” even when you desperately want to chill.
For women, this overlap between ADHD and anxiety is often missed or misunderstood. ADHD in women doesn’t always look like the stereotype of a hyper little boy bouncing off the walls. Instead, ADHD symptoms in adult women often show up as racing thoughts, overthinking, procrastination that looks like perfectionism, or constant anxiety that never seems to turn off.
Why ADHD and Anxiety are BFFs (and Not the Fun Kind)
Anxiety is a frequent sidekick to ADHD, partly because of how the ADHD brain processes information. Imagine living with a nervous system that never quite trusts you to remember the deadline, pick up your kid on time, or pay that bill. That chronic “did I forget something?” feeling fuels anxiety.
Add in executive dysfunction vs procrastination—where your brain knows what to do but can’t quite make the leap into action—and it’s no wonder women with ADHD end up anxious. You’re not lazy, flaky, or dramatic. Your nervous system is literally stuck in survival mode, bouncing between overdrive and exhaustion.
Why Women Get Overlooked
Here’s the kicker: many women go through life undiagnosed. Undiagnosed ADHD in high-achieving women is especially common because you’ve learned to mask symptoms by over-preparing, overachieving, and people-pleasing. On the outside, you look “fine.” On the inside, your nervous system is running a marathon it never trained for.
Hormones play a role, too. How hormones affect ADHD symptoms in women is still under-researched, but many notice symptoms spike around PMS, postpartum, or perimenopause. That’s not “in your head”—it’s your brain and body doing a complicated dance that no one taught you the steps to.
ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression: The Overlap
When ADHD goes untreated, anxiety often takes the wheel. And over time, that constant pressure can slide into depression. The ADHD-anxiety-depression overlap is real, and it can make life feel like one long uphill climb.
The good news? It’s not your fault—and it’s not permanent. With the right tools and support, you can shift out of survival mode and into a calmer, more regulated version of yourself.
What Helps: Healing the ADHD Nervous System
Neuroaffirming therapy for ADHD: Therapy that understands neurodivergent mental health can help you untangle shame and learn nervous system regulation skills.
Somatic practices: Slow exhales, grounding, movement—these help tell your body, “You’re safe.”
Hormone awareness: Tracking your cycle can reveal patterns in ADHD symptoms and help you work with your body instead of against it.
Community: Connecting with other neurodivergent women reminds you you’re not broken—you’re wired differently.
Final Thoughts
ADHD in women is underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and often tangled up with anxiety. But the truth is: your nervous system doesn’t have to feel constantly “on.” With support, tools, and a neuroaffirming lens, you can learn how to regulate your system, ease anxiety, and step off the hamster wheel of survival mode.
You deserve more than just coping—you deserve to thrive.
