Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Is it ADHD, anxiety, or both? And why does ADHD so rarely show up alone?
Psychologist Dr. Russell Ramsay answers the internet’s biggest questions on ADHD and the conditions that come along with it. He explains why ADHD tends to have fellow travelers, starting with the most common ones: anxiety, depression, and substance use problems.
He breaks down how to tell anxiety and ADHD apart (and why ADHD works like an uncertainty generator), how the timing of symptoms helps separate ADHD from trauma, why the small daily losses of ADHD can build into depression, and why sleep is so often affected. He also covers OCD, learning disabilities like dyslexia and dyscalculia, and the physical health conditions that show up more often with ADHD.
Why does this matter? Because the treatments for ADHD, trauma, anxiety, and depression are very different — so getting the picture right is key to getting the right support. A long list of possibilities isn’t a reason to worry. It’s a reason to get a clear answer.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:26 What conditions commonly go along with ADHD?
01:19 How do I know if I have ADHD, anxiety, or both?
02:42 Can ADHD cause sleep problems?
03:59 Are people with ADHD more likely to have depression?
04:58 Is it ADHD or trauma?
06:28 Are people with ADHD more likely to have OCD?
07:33 Can ADHD cause learning disabilities? 08:33 Are there any physical health conditions linked to ADHD?
For more on this topic
Watch: Why do you feel guilty all the time with ADHD? A psychologist explains youtu.be/1gvggznhGlI
Watch: Why people with ADHD can’t sleep (and what actually helps) youtu.be/-Lv7jmdqTUU
Questions about learning and thinking differences? Get answers and expert-vetted resources by asking the AI-powered Understood Assistant:
understood.org/en/assistant?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=assistant-agn-prod&utm_content=video
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give.
For more resources, support, and excellent memes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on:
Instagram: instagram.com/understoodorg
Facebook: facebook.com/Understood
TikTok: tiktok.com/@understood.org
Pinterest: pinterest.com/understoodorg
#ADHD #CoOccurringConditions #ADHDandAnxiety #ExpertsAnswer
Is it ADHD, anxiety, or both? And why does ADHD so rarely show up alone?
Psychologist Dr. Russell Ramsay answers the internet’s biggest questions on ADHD and the conditions that come along with it. He explains why ADHD tends to have fellow travelers, starting with the most common ones: anxiety, depression, and substance use problems.
He breaks down how to tell anxiety and ADHD apart (and why ADHD works like an uncertainty generator), how the timing of symptoms helps separate ADHD from trauma, why the small daily losses of ADHD can build into depression, and why sleep is so often affected. He also covers OCD, learning disabilities like dyslexia and dyscalculia, and the physical health conditions that show up more often with ADHD.
Why does this matter? Because the treatments for ADHD, trauma, anxiety, and depression are very different — so getting the picture right is key to getting the right support. A long list of possibilities isn’t a reason to worry. It’s a reason to get a clear answer.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:26 What conditions commonly go along with ADHD?
01:19 How do I know if I have ADHD, anxiety, or both?
02:42 Can ADHD cause sleep problems?
03:59 Are people with ADHD more likely to have depression?
04:58 Is it ADHD or trauma?
06:28 Are people with ADHD more likely to have OCD?
07:33 Can ADHD cause learning disabilities? 08:33 Are there any physical health conditions linked to ADHD?
For more on this topic
Watch: Why do you feel guilty all the time with ADHD? A psychologist explains youtu.be/1gvggznhGlI
Watch: Why people with ADHD can’t sleep (and what actually helps) youtu.be/-Lv7jmdqTUU
Questions about learning and thinking differences? Get answers and expert-vetted resources by asking the AI-powered Understood Assistant:
understood.org/en/assistant?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=assistant-agn-prod&utm_content=video
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give.
For more resources, support, and excellent memes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on:
Instagram: instagram.com/understoodorg
Facebook: facebook.com/Understood
TikTok: tiktok.com/@understood.org
Pinterest: pinterest.com/understoodorg
#ADHD #CoOccurringConditions #ADHDandAnxiety #ExpertsAnswer
