What does this article about "ADHD or Anxiety: Which Test Should You Take First?" cover?

ADHD and anxiety look similar on the surface — restlessness, difficulty concentrating, racing mind — but are assessed differently. This guide helps you know which test to take first.

Who wrote this article?

This article was written by Gildas Garrec, CBT Psychotherapist, from Psychologie et Sérénité.

Where can I take related psychological tests?

You can explore our 189+ psychological tests on https://psychologieetserenite.com/en/tests. Each test offers a detailed PDF report — 100% anonymous, no signup.

ADHD or Anxiety: Which Test Should You Take First?

13 July 2026

📋 Assess your situation — Does this article speak to you? Take one of our 189+ psychological tests for immediate personalised results.

This is one of the most common confusions — and it matters, because working on ADHD is not the same as working on anxiety. Here is how to find your bearings.

In the article that follows, I explore adult ADHD and attention difficulties. If you recognise yourself in this theme, I designed an adult ADHD test that helps you take stock of the signs of an ADHD profile in you. It comes with a guide to extend your reflection beyond the results.

Why They Get Confused

Both produce: difficulty concentrating, a feeling of a mind "going in all directions," inner restlessness, forgetfulness, procrastination, troubled sleep. From the outside, they look very similar. That is why an anxious adult sometimes wonders if they have ADHD — and why an adult with ADHD is often labeled "stressed."

The Real Difference: Since When, and Under What Conditions

Two questions resolve most cases:

Since when? ADHD is a pattern present since childhood. If, looking back at school, you already saw yourself as a daydreamer, disorganized, unable to sit still — that is a strong indicator of ADHD. Anxiety, on the other hand, often has a "before": a period when things were better.
What does it vary with? In anxiety, concentration collapses when worry rises and returns when it subsides. In ADHD, the attention difficulty is there all the time, including in calm moments.

Which Test to Take First

Long-standing and constant difficulties (attention, organization, impulsivity always present) → start with the adult ADHD test, or the attention deficit test to target attention specifically.
Recent difficulties, linked to a period of worry, with rumination and tension → start with the generalized anxiety test.

What If It's Both?

This is common: undetected ADHD generates anxiety (after struggling and missing deadlines repeatedly, you end up worrying constantly). In that case, taking both tests provides a complete picture. The order is not critical — the key is to start with the one that feels most like you, then complete the other. Each test is free to take; the PDF report (from €4.99) details your profile and distinguishes what belongs to each condition.

Still unsure? See which psychological test to take.

These tests are indicative and do not replace a professional diagnosis.

In brief: ADHD and anxiety share visible symptoms — difficulty concentrating, restlessness, racing thoughts, disrupted sleep — which makes them easy to confuse. The difference lies in the mechanism: in ADHD, the attention difficulty is present since childhood and constant, regardless of stress level; in anxiety, it appears or worsens with worry and fluctuates with it. A useful guide: if you were already "daydreaming" or disorganized as a child, start with the ADHD test; if the concentration difficulties are recent and linked to an anxious period, start with the anxiety test. Both can coexist.

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