If ADHD were a solo act, that would be chaotic enough. But for most people with ADHD, it doesn’t come alone—it brings mates. Anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and more often tag along like unwanted +1s at a party.
In fact, according to the NHS, around 78% of people with ADHD have at least one other condition. So if you’ve ever thought “ADHD alone would be bad enough, but why am I also constantly exhausted/anxious/emotional?”, you’re not imagining it. Let’s take a look at why ADHD rarely travels alone—and what that means for managing it.
Why ADHD Brings Extra Baggage
Imagine your brain as a very busy train station. ADHD is like a dodgy tannoy system announcing platforms at random, making it hard to focus on where you need to be. Now throw in delayed trains (anxiety), power cuts (depression), and passengers getting on the wrong train (impulse control issues), and suddenly, your brain is absolute mayhem.
The reason ADHD overlaps with other conditions is because of how it affects brain chemistry. ADHD brains have differences in dopamine and norepinephrine levels—neurotransmitters that help with focus, mood, and motivation. If these are out of whack, it can lead to mental health struggles, emotional sensitivity, and sleep disturbances.
The Most Common Coexisting Conditions
Here’s a rundown of the most common “ADHD plus-one” conditions and how they interact.
1. ADHD & Anxiety: The Overthinking Olympics 🏅
Ever spent four hours replaying a conversation in your head, convinced you sounded like an idiot? Do you have a to-do list so overwhelming that you end up doing… nothing? If so, you might be part of the ADHD & Anxiety Club (membership: high).
🔹 How They Interact: ADHD makes it hard to keep on top of things. Anxiety makes you panic about that. The more overwhelmed you feel, the harder it is to start anything, which makes the anxiety worse—hello, vicious cycle!
🔹 The UK Struggle: The NHS tends to treat anxiety first, meaning many adults are diagnosed with anxiety before ADHD, even though the anxiety is often a symptom of undiagnosed ADHD.
💡 What Helps?
• Breaking tasks into tiny steps—if “clean the house” feels overwhelming, start with just “put one plate in the dishwasher.”
• Medication tailored to ADHD & anxiety—some ADHD meds can increase anxiety, so a combined approach may be needed.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)—available on the NHS (eventually).
2. ADHD & Depression: Motivation vs. Mood 🌧️
Depression and ADHD are very different, but they often look alike:
✔️ Low motivation
✔️ Struggling to start tasks
✔️ Feeling emotionally drained
🔹 How They Interact: ADHD can make life feel like an uphill struggle, and constantly feeling like you’re failing can lead to depression. Meanwhile, depression can make ADHD worse—because if you already struggle with focus, a lack of energy just makes everything harder.
🔹 The UK Struggle: Many adults are misdiagnosed with depression first, leading to years of antidepressants that don’t fully work because the ADHD isn’t treated.
💡 What Helps?
• Treating ADHD first—for some, ADHD meds dramatically lift depression symptoms because they give back motivation.
• Routine, even when you don’t feel like it—regular wake-up times, movement, and exposure to daylight help regulate mood.
• Getting the right diagnosis—if antidepressants haven’t helped, it may be worth asking if ADHD is the missing piece.
3. ADHD & Sleep Issues: Why Is Bedtime So Hard? 🛏️
Ever thought, “I should sleep”, only to find yourself deep in a Wikipedia rabbit hole at 2AM, learning about the history of the postbox? ADHD brains struggle with sleep, and many adults with ADHD have lifelong insomnia.
🔹 How They Interact:
• ADHD brains don’t wind down easily.
• Time blindness means “just 10 more minutes” turns into three hours later.
• Sleep deprivation makes ADHD much worse, creating a horrible cycle.
🔹 The Struggle: GPs often ignore ADHD-related sleep problems, blaming “bad sleep hygiene.” But ADHD-related insomnia is neurological, not just “too much screen time.”
💡 What Helps?
• Melatonin supplements—prescribed on the NHS for children, but not usually for adults. Private prescriptions exist, though.
• Body-doubling for bedtime—watching a YouTube video of someone else going to sleep can trick your brain into settling down.
• Stimulant meds at the right time—for some, ADHD meds improve sleep by reducing daytime hyperactivity.
4. ADHD & Rejection Sensitivity: Taking Everything Personally 😢
Ever had someone send a slightly blunt text and thought “Oh no, they hate me”? Do you spiral for days if someone gives you criticism? That’s Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), and it’s a HUGE issue for people with ADHD.
🔹 How It Feels:
• Overreacting emotionally to criticism (even minor things).
• Taking rejection very personally.
• Avoiding situations where you might be judged.
🔹 The UK Struggle: RSD isn’t officially recognised in the NHS, so most people with ADHD aren’t even told it exists—even though it massively affects emotional wellbeing.
💡 What Helps?
• Recognising it’s RSD, not reality—not everyone is mad at you; your brain is just exaggerating the threat.
• Practising self-compassion—easier said than done, but learning to pause before reacting emotionally helps.
• Medication—some ADHD meds help with RSD, particularly non-stimulant options like guanfacine.
So, What Can You Do?
If you have ADHD plus something else, you’re not alone. Most people with ADHD do. The key is:
✅ Identifying what’s ADHD and what’s something else.
✅ Getting the right treatment—treating ADHD first often helps with co-existing issues.
✅ Not blaming yourself—it’s not about being weak, lazy, or “too sensitive.” It’s brain chemistry, not a personality flaw.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just You
If you’ve spent years feeling like a mess, it’s not because you’re failing at life. ADHD is complex, and the UK healthcare system often doesn’t recognise the full picture. But understanding what’s really going on in your brain is the first step towards making things better.
And hey—if you made it to the end of this blog without getting distracted, that’s a win.
Further Reading & Support
• NHS ADHD Overview: www.nhs.uk/conditions/ADHD
• ADHD UK (Support & Info): www.adhduk.co.uk
• ADDitude Magazine (Great ADHD Advice): www.additudemag.com
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