Panic attacks and ADHD: what to know

ADHD is associated with ongoing patterns of inattention, impulsivity or hyperactivity that affect daily life. A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or physical alarm. Someone with ADHD may feel more overwhelmed by missed tasks, noise, time pressure or criticism, and that stress can coexist with panic symptoms. Difficulty concentrating, feeling anxious and irritability may be useful symptoms to describe, but each can have several explanations.

A panic episode can make concentration temporarily harder, while ADHD-related disorganisation may continue outside the episode. A clinician will ask about timing, triggers, sleep, medicines, caffeine, substance use and how symptoms affect school, work or relationships.

During a surge, sit somewhere safe, loosen restrictive clothing and breathe slowly with a longer, gentle exhale. Name a few things you can see and feel to orient yourself. Avoid driving until you feel settled. Between episodes, record what happened before the symptoms, how long they lasted, your sleep and any medicines or stimulants used.

Arrange a Mental Health Assessment if panic keeps returning, interferes with tasks or leads you to avoid ordinary activities. Bring a list of current medicines and examples of attention difficulties from more than one setting.

Seek emergency help for severe or new chest pain, fainting, marked breathing difficulty, confusion, weakness on one side, or thoughts of harming yourself. Do not assume these signs are anxiety. If symptoms are new, intense or different from previous episodes, prompt medical assessment is appropriate.

Could these symptoms reflect ADHD, panic, another health problem or more than one issue? What pattern should I track? Could my medicines, sleep or caffeine be contributing? Which treatment options fit my symptoms and daily responsibilities?