Getting to Know the ADD Types – Type 7: Anxious ADD

October 20, 2017

Anxious ADD

Do you have ADD or ADHD? If so, do you know which of the 7 types of ADD you have? There is a way to know for sure.

Here are the signs and symptoms of ADD Type 7 (also known as Anxious ADD):

ADD Core Symptoms

Though each of the ADD subtypes has its own set of symptoms, they all share the same core symptoms.

  • A short attention span for regular, routine, everyday tasks (homework, chores, etc.)
  • Distractibility
  • Organization problems (like having a messy room, always running late, etc.)
  • Procrastination
  • Forgetfulness
  • Problems with follow-through
  • Poor impulse control (saying or doing something before thinking it through)

ADD Type 7 Symptoms

In addition to the core symptoms, the unique characteristics of Type 7/Anxious ADD include:

  • Frequently anxious or nervous
  • Tense and stressed out
  • Predicts the worst
  • Conflict avoidant
  • Fear of being judged
  • Tendency to clam up in social situations
  • Physical stress symptoms such as headaches
  • Dislikes or gets excessively nervous speaking in public

ADD Quick Facts

  • Anxious ADD, the newest type of ADD, has become more prevalent in recent years.
  • Unlike the other types of ADD, people with Anxious ADD typically don’t seek excitement and conflict.
  • It’s common for those with Type 7 ADD to avoid situations that cause anxiety.
  • People who have Anxious ADD often latch onto the worst possible outcome and fixate on it.
  • Anxiety disorders tend to fluctuate over time, while Anxious ADD symptoms are constant.
  • Those with Type 7 ADD frequently freeze in situations that trigger anxiety, such as taking a test or giving a big presentation.
  • Taking ADD medications alone can make individuals with Type 7 ADD even more anxious.

Implementing these six tips will help you manage the symptoms of ADD Type 7:

Learn To Relax:

The main treatment goal of Anxious ADD is to promote relaxation. There are a variety of relaxation methods, including: meditating, diaphragmatic breathing and listening to brain-enhancing music. Find a technique that works for you and use it whenever you become stressed.

Calming Support:

Supplements such as L-theanine, relora, magnesium, and holy basil can be used for calming. Multivitamin, mineral supplements, and omega-3 fatty acids can also improve focus and mental energy.

New Menu:

Diet is another aspect that helps to control anxious symptoms of this type of ADD. Individuals with Anxious ADD should eat a lower carb, higher protein diet. Cutting out artificial sweeteners and MSG can also support healthy dopamine and GABA levels.

Laugh It Off:

Laughing releases stress reducing endorphins into your bloodstream. Laughter truly is the best medicine and can work wonders in relieving anxiety.

Talk It Out:

This is an absolute must. Let friends and family know when you’re emotionally overwhelmed. Seek professional help if necessary, but don’t fight your battles alone.

Get a Customized Solution:

Like many other mental health conditions, ADD is not just a single and simple disorder; therefore, treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each of the seven types of ADD requires a different treatment plan. What works for one person with ADD may not work for another—or could even make the symptoms worse!

ADD is a neurobiological disorder with serious psychological and social consequences. Amen Clinics is here to help you understand your brain and provide treatment options that address more than just symptoms.

Want more information? Download Amen Clinics’ free Getting to Know the 7 ADD Types eBook.

Healing ADD starts with knowing if you have it and then finding out which type you have. We’ve helped tens of thousands of people with ADD from all over the world. If you suspect that you or a loved one might have ADD, don’t wait to get help. Call us today at 888-288-9834 or tell us more to schedule a visit.

23 Comments »

  1. I want a scan because i know i gave adhd it drives me crazy. I am using lumocity to help. I take 40mg of vyvanse daily i still find it difficult to deal with and discouraging. I have suffered from this since childhood but i have only been on medicine for four months. I just don’t have that kind of money to get a scan and adhd has ruined my life.

    Comment by Kuden seeker — October 26, 2017 @ 5:12 PM

  2. That’s pretty much me just can’t seem to always get the sleep I need , seem I have a bit of a TWB (tennie weenie blatter syndrome)
    When I can get good sleep I tend to do well , I’m also diagnosed , mild autism , schizophrenia , and my wife a councilor for mentally ill people for years says I’m definitely ADHD , …….
    Currently taking 5 mg abilify daily also had a serious stroke some 35 years ago , drove myself into the ground …….Tim

    Comment by Tim cyr — December 6, 2017 @ 6:28 AM

  3. I suggest trying a different medicine. I too, was not diagnosed with adult ADHD until I was 45. I am 62 now, and went on concerta about three weeks, I feel like I have a brand new brain, that not moving at 250 miles an hours. I drink no alcohol beverages, I do not smoke, and I have no caffeine intake.

    I have not had a brain scan because I know I have the right diagnosis.

    Comment by Norma — December 6, 2017 @ 7:31 AM

  4. I was officially diagnosed with ADD two years ago now… and like so many others can’t afford a brain scan. I also had learning disabilities as a child… my issues are with retention… but alot of things make sense about my life now.

    Comment by Aleta Boyette — January 29, 2018 @ 5:36 AM

  5. I cannot reach your number from Canada. Do you have a contact for Canadians?

    Comment by Betty — February 26, 2018 @ 7:42 AM

  6. Hello Betty, thank you for reaching out! Please call 949-266-3715 or you can submit this form to have someone reach out to you – https://amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/.

    Comment by Amen Clinics — February 26, 2018 @ 2:28 PM

  7. I have a boyfriend going on 4 years . and i was at my wits end everytime we go back & fourth with me wondering if he loves me? He days leave me alone alot. Which hurts. Hes always angry nothing seems to msle him happy. Me and hes daughter always are afaird when he gets do very angyy

    Comment by Vivian — March 29, 2018 @ 9:10 PM

  8. Hi , my son who is 33 years , has Add +anxiety and learning disability. He is on Vyvanse 60 , Abilify 20mg , and Kolnzepom 5mg three times a day .plus he smoke pots.
    He is not doing well he can’t hold any jobs . He claims that 60 mg Vyvanse is not lasting in his system more than 4 hours . He needs to be under some kind of stimulating product like energy drinks for additional help .
    Any recommendations? Life is not easy for either of us . Thanks

    Comment by Soodi — April 7, 2018 @ 4:03 AM

  9. Hello Soodi, thank you for reaching out and sharing with us. It would be best to call and speak to one of our Care Coordinators at 888-288-9834, or you can submit this form to have someone reach out to you – https://amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/. We specialize in using brain SPECT imaging to determine the most accurate diagnosis and provide treatment options and a customized plan moving forward.

    Comment by Amen Clinics — April 9, 2018 @ 7:52 AM

  10. Dear Vivian,
    You and your boyfriend sound like you are on the “crazy cycle”! My husband and I have been on that a lot, too! I suggest a book called Love and Respect. It will help you understand the workings of the female and male brains. We are so different from one another!
    Also, if you are scared when your boyfriend is angry, that is very concerning. If he gets violent towards you or your daughter, you should leave! Do you have family or friends to stay with? If he is just angry, try to calm the situation down. Pray, ask God for help.
    The best thing you could do is find a church to go to and to make friends there. Find one with a women’s Bible study that you can go to. Many churches have free babysitting during the Bible studies, so it’s free! Women friends will really help you.
    I’ll be praying for you! Amy

    Comment by Amy Drummond — May 6, 2018 @ 3:48 AM

  11. I’m 53 years old. I was first diagnosed with ADHD at 12.

    Over the years I’ve tried many different kinds of medication and therapy but none seem to work.

    Lately, I’ve been waking up and remembering things long lost. Visions of old times (I can remember being less than 2 standing in a crib…that far back) long since forgotten and I don’t know why. They’re not good or bad recollections, just images.

    As well, without even thinking about it, just about everything makes me angry. I’m always expecting an argument, or I will go out of my way to avoid those type of conversations to begin with.

    Needless to saay its impacting my social life negatively.

    I’m scheduled to go for an evaluation within the nex few months…not really sure what to expect.

    What’s odd, is that every once in a while (currently not on any medication), I’ll have these moments which are hard to describe. It’s not like a cloud lifting, it’s more like waking from a dream. And for 30 seconds to a minute or so EVERYTHING becomes clear. I know what I need to do, how to resolve issues, etc….and then it’s gone. I end up either very depressed (I remember the problems, but the solutions begin to fade), or angry because I KNOW I know what to do, but…it’s just lost to me.

    I just want that clarity ALL the time.

    I hope someday to find it.

    Robert

    Comment by Robert — July 1, 2018 @ 4:37 PM

  12. The fact both of you are afraid indicates to me it would be a good idea for you to reach out to counseling. I had a marriage like that. It can really affect children adversely. Also it generally gets worse. Speak to a professional, your Dr could suggest someone or google for help in your area. Take good care

    Comment by Deborah — November 5, 2018 @ 8:55 AM

  13. I have been diagnosed with ADD and take Vyvanse 40mg which is doing good since offset taking it an hour after I start working. I have issues with anxiety, it comes out of no where and I try to calm myself down to relieve it but always comes back. I sleep perfect and eat great and I am very healthy but still having a hard time managing my anxiety even letting my therapist know but still hasn’t help enough with any exercise. I think I get myself all worked up for nothing with to much responsibility at work. I just need to pause, relax, breath and realize what is arising before it arises. It isn’t that big of a deal to worry about everything will work out.

    Comment by Nicholas — November 14, 2018 @ 7:32 PM

  14. Robert,
    I read your post and it brought tears to my eyes. You described exactly what I go through and haven’t been able to put into words. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It’s nice to know I’m not alone and that there may be a solution

    Comment by Kristi — March 20, 2019 @ 12:13 AM

  15. Can anyone advise me on what is “brain-enhancing” music? Albums by name? Particular songs? Instrumentals or vocals?

    Comment by Sherry S. Stoffel — March 25, 2019 @ 11:36 AM

  16. Hello Sherry, thank you for reaching out. Here are two articles on our site with information on music that Daniel G. Amen, MD has created:
    https://amenclinics.com/blog/can-music-help-you-feel-better-fast/
    https://amenclinics.com/blog/bright-minds-cd/

    Comment by Amen Clinics — March 25, 2019 @ 12:25 PM

  17. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recognized neurofeedback as an equivalent (Level 1) treatment to Vyvanse and other stimulant medications. A brain map can be done by certified professionals (look for providers at BCIA.org) at a range of costs and neurofeedback can treat ADHD at its root cause. Dr. Amen understands that the brain runs on its chemistry. Sometimes our genes interfere with this chemistry — as in ADHD. This is why supplements and diet are so important. They give the brain the basic building blocks it has lacked to run better. Once it has the right building blocks, it has the power to change. However the brain has, in a way, learned to operate as an ADHD brain. Neurofeedback lets the brain learn how to regain the balance that it lacks. This resolves ADHD where it begins and ends — in targeted areas of the brain, itself. Dr. Amen’s clinic is very prestigious and offers Spect Scans, but it is possible to find help even if the clinic is not affordable for you. Don’t give up.

    Comment by Lorrie Fisher, PhD, MFT, BCN, NBCFCH — March 26, 2019 @ 6:55 AM

  18. Sometimes the body’s own adrenaline can act as a stimulant medication and help the brain to focus. This is one reason that some people with ADHD have learned to procrastinate — they use the anxiety of deadlines to increase the hormone that can help them to focus and organize. This is a common experience for people with ADHD. It lets them see what their brain is able to do with corrective nutrition and neurofeedback (feedback learning for the brain). This is why Dr. Amen has created a comprehensive line of nutritional support. Healing is a matter of chemistry (good nutrition) and then of teaching the brain to form new functional networks (neurofeedback) that can give “clarity.” But nutrition must be in order for neurofeedback to produce lasting results.

    Comment by Lorrie Fisher, PhD, MFT, BCN, NBCFCH — March 26, 2019 @ 7:02 AM

  19. An additional issue is that video games usually are serious naturally with the most important focus on mastering rather than fun. Although, there’s an entertainment factor to keep your sons or daughters engaged, each one game is generally designed to work with a specific group of skills or area, such as math concepts or science. Thanks for your publication.

    Comment by download corel draw x8 — May 18, 2019 @ 10:51 PM

  20. If you don’t have the money. You may concern reading all of the 7 types add/ ADHD. And do what they suggest you to do.

    Comment by Gloria G Taitano — May 24, 2019 @ 6:12 AM

  21. My history with ADD goes back a long way , I always knew there was problem with me being anxious all the time and incompetent at my work but it wasn’t until my daughter showed problematic signs that I knew I had to do something. I initially searched on the web for what might be the causes of ADD and with a focus on diet seeing that that was a likely, in my view ,the cause of these symptoms.
    One web site (phosADD.com) caught my attention. It is a web site devoted to German researcher named Hertha Hafer who through her knowledge of chemistry discovered a way to cure her adopted son of his ADHD. What she discovered was a link between diet and ADD.
    To make long story short she had found a link between the processed foods that had added phosphates and the onset of ADD in some people.I was intrigued by this and I also saw that there was simple PH test that one could do that would signify if you were phosphate sensitive . I followed the procedure to the letter and to my astonishment found that my daughter and I had a saliva PH of around 8 plus while my wife was around the neutral mark of 7 which is pretty normal. According to the test , those high PH readings indicated a high likelihood of phosphate sensitivity. Skipping forward in time as I found I was unable to change the habits of my daughters dietary behaviour and wasn’t in the best place myself and finding there was a lot of opposition to my findings caused me to give up for while.
    It wasn’t until my daughter wanted me to do something in her high school years and me convincing doctors that she needed a proper evaluation from a psychologist that the psychology test was done and the results showed what had always suspected ,that she did indeed have ADD. Since that time I have changed slowly my dietary habits and have found that tyrosine seems to help somewhat. Substituting egg on toast for cereal seems to made a big difference with me, I am far less anxious but unfortunately it’s still a bit of battle with my daughter. I constantly have to remind her to not eat those processed foods high in phosphate additives but she is still not convinced as she sides with the established view and I’m not a doctor . At least I have the evidence both with a photo of the PH test results and copy of the psychologist report. There is more to this story that left out because it might go on for too long.

    Comment by Greg — September 23, 2019 @ 1:05 AM

  22. Wow, reading this I have felt some of what you have. I have moments of clarity. I know i have type 7 ADD without anyone diagnosing me. Since i was little i could never focus one just one thing. As a toddler I couldnt concentrate on just eating, i would have to be playing with toys too. When i listen to music I cant just focus on that, i have to be doing something else at the same time to feel productive. If i go to the kitchen to make coffee i take 15-20 minutes because between every step i have to be watching some stupid youtube video. Then i forget what i was doing.

    As a musicians it takes me forever to learn something. I’ll repeat a part over and over and after a few repetitions my mind begins to wander, and anxiety hits me for some reason.

    What I most relate with about your post is those moments of clarity. Feels like everything “makes sense”. Then the walls crash down, and all these disorganized thoughts come back, the anxiety, depression, inability to make decisions. Unable to concentrate, any little thing makes me nervous.

    Comment by Serj Santy — June 7, 2020 @ 11:07 PM

  23. I’d there a connection between ADD and bipolar 2?

    Exactly which foods should be avoided for ADD and which supplements should be added?

    Comment by Paula — July 31, 2020 @ 8:13 AM

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