Is It Anxiety or ADHD? How to Tell the Difference (and Why It Matters)

If you’re feeling restless, overwhelmed, or unable to focus, you might wonder:

“Is this anxiety, ADHD… or both?”

You’re not alone. Many people in Pocatello, Rexburg, and across Idaho search for answers to this exact question. Anxiety and ADHD can look very similar from the outside—and even on the inside. But understanding the difference matters, because it guides the kind of support, tools, and treatment that will actually help.

At Greenstone Counseling, our therapists provide anxiety counseling and ADHD-focused therapy, and we also offer ADHD testing for clients who are already in counseling with us. Whether you prefer in-person sessions or telehealth counseling anywhere in Idaho, we’re here to help you gain clarity and support.

Why Anxiety and ADHD Get Confused

Both anxiety and ADHD can cause:

• Trouble focusing or staying on task

• Feeling overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities

• Restlessness or physical tension

• Difficulty with organization and follow-through

From the outside, someone who is anxious and someone who has ADHD might look like they’re struggling in very similar ways—missing deadlines, zoning out in conversations, or feeling “scattered.”

The difference lies in what’s driving the struggle:

• With anxiety, the mind is often busy with worry, fear, or “what if” thoughts.

• With ADHD, the brain’s attention system functions differently, making it harder to regulate focus, impulsivity, and motivation.

Many people have both ADHD and anxiety, which can make things even more confusing. That’s one reason careful assessment and professional support are so important.

Common Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety shows up in the mind and the body. People with anxiety may notice:

• Constant worrying, “overthinking,” or worst-case-scenario thinking

• Racing thoughts or difficulty turning your brain off at night

• Feeling tense, jumpy, or on edge

• Physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches, tight chest, or shortness of breath

• Avoiding situations that might trigger fear or embarrassment

• Feeling irritable, easily overwhelmed, or “snappy” with others

Emotional tone: Fear-based (“What if I fail? What if something goes wrong?”)Attention: Often hijacked by worry, not boredom.

Common Signs of ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a lack of effort or self-discipline. It often includes:

• Difficulty sustaining attention on tasks that feel boring or repetitive

• Forgetting appointments, losing items, or misplacing things frequently

• Starting many projects, struggling to finish them

• Procrastinating until the last minute, then “hyper-focusing” under pressure

• Restlessness, fidgeting, or a constant sense of needing to move

• Impulsivity—interrupting, blurting things out, or making quick decisions you later regret

• Time blindness: underestimating how long tasks take or losing track of time

Emotional tone: Inconsistency and frustration (“I know what I need to do… why can’t I just do it?”)Attention: Pulled by novelty and stimulation—hard to hold on boring tasks, easier when highly interested.

Overlapping Symptoms: Where It Gets Tricky

Some experiences can belong to either anxiety or ADHD—or both:

• Trouble concentrating

• Feeling disorganized

• Difficulty sleeping

• Restlessness and fidgeting

• Procrastination and avoidance

• Low self-esteem

For example:

• Someone with anxiety might avoid a task because they’re afraid of failing.

• Someone with ADHD might avoid the same task because it feels overwhelming, boring, or hard to structure.

• Someone with both might procrastinate because they feel anxious, then feel more anxious as the deadline gets closer.

This is why reading a list of symptoms on the internet can only take you so far. A trained professional can help you sort out what’s really going on underneath.

Key Differences at a Glance

While every person is unique, these patterns can be helpful:

More consistent with Anxiety when:

• Your mind feels full of “what if” worries.

• Physical symptoms (racing heart, nausea, sweating) show up around specific situations.

• You frequently anticipate rejection or failure.

• You avoid tasks, people, or places out of fear.

More consistent with ADHD when:

• You’ve struggled with attention, organization, and impulsivity since childhood.

• You can focus intensely on things you’re interested in, but not on “boring” tasks.

• You lose or forget items regularly (keys, phone, deadlines).

• Time management is consistently difficult, even when you’re not anxious.

When you’re unsure:If you see yourself in both lists, you may have both anxiety and ADHD—and that’s common. A thoughtful evaluation can provide clarity and direction.

Why It Matters: Treatment & Self-Understanding

1. The Right Tools for the Right Problem

• Anxiety often responds well to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure techniques, and mindfulness.

• ADHD often needs executive functioning strategies, structure, and sometimes medication or coaching-style support.

2. Reducing Shame

When you understand what’s happening in your brain, it’s easier to replace self-blame (“I’m lazy”) with self-compassion (“My brain works differently, and I can learn to work with it”).

3. Better Support at Work, School, and Home

Having a clearer picture of anxiety and/or ADHD can help with:

• Academic or workplace accommodations

• Relationship communication

• Family understanding and expectations

  
  

How ADHD Testing & Therapy Can Help

At Greenstone Counseling, we offer:

• ADHD testing for clients already in therapy with us, to explore whether ADHD may be part of the picture.

• Therapy for anxiety and ADHD, focusing on both emotional and practical tools.

Depending on your needs, therapy may include:

• CBT skills to challenge anxious thinking and reduce panic

• Emotional regulation strategies for overwhelm and big feelings

• Executive functioning support (planning, organizing, breaking tasks down)

• Trauma-informed approaches (like EMDR or IFS) when past experiences are part of the story

• Mindfulness and grounding skills to calm the nervous system

If you’re near Rexburg, you can learn more about local services here:👉 Rexburg Counseling & ADHD Support

If you’re near Pocatello, you can learn more about local services here:👉 Pocatello Counseling & ADHD Support

And if you’re elsewhere in the state, you can meet with a therapist through secure video sessions:👉 Telehealth Counseling Across Idaho

When to Reach Out for Professional Support

Consider talking with a therapist or medical provider if:

• Your focus, mood, or anxiety is impacting work, school, or relationships

• You’re overwhelmed trying to self-diagnose from articles and videos

• You’ve tried “willpower” and self-help strategies without much change

• You’re wondering about medication or accommodations but don’t know where to start

You don’t have to figure this out alone. A calm, structured conversation with a therapist can bring clarity and a plan.

Reaching out is not “being dramatic.” It’s taking your mental health seriously—and that’s an act of courage.

How Greenstone Counseling Supports You

Our therapists in Pocatello and Rexburg provide:

• Anxiety counseling for adults, teens, and children

• ADHD-informed therapy and ADHD testing for clients in ongoing treatment

• Trauma-informed care when anxiety or ADHD is connected to past experiences

• In-person sessions and telehealth across Idaho for flexible, accessible support

If you’re wondering whether what you’re experiencing is anxiety, ADHD, or both, we’d be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Schedule a session or consultation today.