Is anxiety more common in people with ADHD?

Yes. People with ADHD experience anxiety at higher rates than the general population. The executive function difficulties in ADHD can fuel worry and anxiety.

How does anxiety present differently in autism?

Autistic people may experience anxiety around social situations, sensory stimuli, or changes to routine. Anxiety can be masked by masking behaviors or mislabeled as oppositional behavior.

Do standard anxiety screeners work for neurodivergent people?

Standard screeners may need interpretation. Neurodivergent-informed assessment recognizes that anxiety symptoms may express differently and may overlap with neurodivergent traits.

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Anxiety and Neurodivergence: ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety Overlap

Peter Kolomiets

|April 10, 2026|Updated Apr 13, 2026|7 min

Anxiety and Neurodivergence: ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety Overlap

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References

Jarrett, M. A. & Ollendick, T. H. (2016). Anxiety Disorders in Children with ADHD
White, S. W., Oswald, D., Ollendick, T., & Scahill, L. (2009). Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Prevalence, Presentation, and Predictors
Chapman, R. & Kirby, A. V. (2017). Neurodiversity and Mental Health Assessment

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