Parents with anxious children may wonder whether ADHD or anxiety is the cause. Anxiety is not uncommon in children, it can be present from pre-school age, and stressful situations and the need to conform can only increase a child’s anxiety and worry when they are at school. As to whether ADHD can cause anxiety, it is possible that the memory problems, poorer organisation, observational skills and challenges in managing emotions that may be associated with ADHD may be more likely to cause stress and anxiety in children.
ADHD and anxiety – What is the link
Tartalomjegyzék
ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is often associated with concentration difficulties, but anxiety can also cause these symptoms.
ADHD symptoms include attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour.
When someone is anxious, they think too much about things, worry about everything.
Attention deficit and anxiety problems can be assessed and differentiated by professionals using symptom lists and tests.
It is very important to make a correct diagnosis and to target the problem.
ADHD or anxiety – how to tell the difference?
In many cases, it is not easy to distinguish between ADHD and anxiety, or both ADHD and anxiety, because of the overlap, even for a professional.
An anxious child is a perfectionist, a perfectionist, so for example he or she works more slowly at school and wants to do everything well.
A child with ADHD finds it difficult to start a task and can’t keep his attention for long.
At the same time, for example, children with ADHD do not have as much difficulty in forming friendships and social relationships as children with anxiety, who are often more withdrawn.
Biofeedback therapy for anxiety and ADHD
Biofeedback for anxiety can be a drug-free and intervention-free therapy with no side effects for affected children. It requires the most effective biofeedback device, such as the QUEX ED, and the biofeedback therapist who administers the device.
In biofeedback therapy, the biofeedback device uses temperature and skin conductivity to indicate physiological signals, biomarkers, which provide feedback to the brain about how the body is functioning. In this way, the brain can consciously control the body-mind functioning in the optimal direction, and control and influence our unconscious bodily functions in a targeted way.
Skin conduction biofeedback is a very effective stress relief technique. The therapy is initially performed in a comfortable position, with the aim of achieving a relaxed body posture and mental state, reducing stress. The increase in skin temperature and the decrease in electrical conductivity indicate the progression of relaxation, the control of stress and the achievement of physical and mental balance.
Neurofeedback, biofeedback for ADHD, is a conscious body technique that helps you to consciously achieve a state of balance at any time with some practice.
EEG biofeedback for ADHD supports out-of-balance brain waves to return to healthy, normal functioning and patterns. It is a therapy not only for ADHD and anxiety, but for many other problems, which can ultimately make you calmer, happier and more focused.
The importance of correct diagnosis
Whether a child has anxiety or ADHD, it is important to get the correct diagnosis as soon as possible and to ensure that the child receives the right therapy! A wrongly diagnosed ADHD medication can exacerbate the child’s anxiety.
As parents, we can also help the professional during the assessment by observing and perhaps taking notes on the child’s behaviour, trying to spot any ‘patterns’. We talk to our child a lot, we know his feelings, we see his reactions and we try to help him if he is anxious.
For children with ADHD under the age of 6, it is rare that medication is recommended by a specialist. In any case, medication is not the only possible treatment for ADHD or anxiety.
Try to organise your child’s life and environment, get them to play sports regularly, introduce behavioural therapy and try risk-free biofeedback if you can! These alone can help your child to be more focused and calm!