Anxiety and ADHD

Two common mental health struggles law students and legal professionals often report are anxiety and ADHD. However, there is not enough discussion about the fact that the two are closely related and often co-occur in patients. Specifically, up to 50% of patients can have both anxiety and ADHD.

More specifically, symptoms of one may exacerbate the other. For example, the common restlessness or difficulty focusing may also lead to at least one or more types of anxiety (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, performance anxiety, etc). Similarly, ADHD can sometimes also lead to emotional disregulation, which may also cause frustration and, in turn, anxiety.

Additionally, too many use ADHD as the punchline of a joke, when it can be a deeply problematic condition, complicating life for millions of people. However, those already with co-occurring anxiety and ADHD may experience a worsening of their anxiety if they feel the profession or society at large is dismissive of their ADHD.

None of this is helped by the trend of law students sometimes taking ADHD medications like Adderall or Ritalin for non-medical reasons. Such action further complicates an already difficult reality for those who have these conditions co-occurring. Unfortunately, even for those who take these medications as prescribed and for their intended purpose, there are additional wrinkles they have to worry about.

Both Adderall and Ritalin are stimulants, which can be helpful for ADHD, but can worsen anxiety-related conditions. This may leave such patients overreliant on non-medication-related approaches such as talk therapy. In particular, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to benefit both conditions.

Also helpful can be having an empathetic, trauma-informed support system, like the programs offered here at The LegalMind Society. If you feel you might be among those who struggle with both, know that we are here for you. While our Support Programs aren’t the same as therapy, they can provide crucial support from those who’ve been through their own struggles and come out the other side.