Anxiety tricks us into thinking that we HAVE to worry; that the worrying will keep the bad things from happening. In reality, most of what we worry about NEVER happens.
Therapy can help.

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ADHD often brings a date:
anxiety, depression or both.

So you’re neurodivergent. You’re ADHD, Autistic, AuDHD (both). And you’re anxious or depressed? NO surprise! Up to 80% who are ND struggle with these co-occurring conditions.

It’s not hard to understand. We’re neurodivergent people and we are living in a neurotypical world (cue Madonna, in “material girl melody, “ and I am a neurodivergent girl…”). But I digress…. (and btw, if you do that in therapy with me, I love it and I’ll follow you. We’ll get the work done anyway!).

I made a rant recently about a therapist I ran into who “ignores” neurodivergence in his clients that he treats for anxiety and depression. I almost lost my mind. Watch this video to see how I approach this and what the therapy process with me is like.

Oh, and feel free to have your current therapist call me to talk if they’re doing what this guy does. :)

Start here. You’ll learn everything you need to know about how I work right here as I rant about a therapist I encountered who “ignores” ADHD in his clients.

So how does ADHD or Neurodivergence “cause” anxiety?
Do these sound familiar?

  • feeling like you’re doing everything wrong and can never catch up

  • can’t sleep because your mind won’t shut down

  • replaying things you’ve said or done- thinking of what you “should” have said/done

  • feeling like you’re forgetting something (and you just might be)

  • constantly losing things

  • you’re worried about money but keep spending impulsively

  • you have a constant “inner monologue” of all of the things that are “wrong” with you

  • you feel like you’re always disappointing someone- including yourself

  • you overanalyze everything- even things that other people don’t seem to worry about

  • you live with knowing you “should” do so many things, but you’re paralyzed.

  • you feel guilty and ashamed, call yourself lazy or “self sabotaging” when you feel paralyzed or lose track of time.

  • your relationships are suffering because of all of this.

 

Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak. It’s the first step in living a better life.

And it doesn’t mean you’re looking for excuses. Together, we can identify your neurodivergence and how it shows up in your life, and look at DIFFERENT ways of managing your life. (Btw- they include a lot of fun along the way!).

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Panic Coping Skill

Panic is real. It’s an overwhelming sense of intense dread or fear. It often seems to come out of the blue, with physical symptoms like sweating, rapid heart beat, flushing and shaking. Here’s a strategy for when panic attacks.

First, remind yourself that you’re going to be ok, as panic attacks themselves are not life threatening (and the good news is: they can sometimes stop happening just as quickly as they started!).

Next, refocus your mind :

  • Name as many breeds of dogs as you can think of (Afghan hounds, Beagles, Chihuahua, and so on- in any order).

  • Think of as many as you can even if you repeat yourself.

  • This activity works to send a message to the brain that everything is ok, no need for alarm.

Adapt the topic to what works for you. If you’re a foodie, name all the foods you love to eat. Or if you like music, name every band you can think of.