Let's talk about teens with ADHD and anxiety/depression

Are you a parent that has a teen with ADHD and anxiety? 

or...

Are you a parent that has a child with ADHD and depression? 

or...

Are you a parent that has a child with another learning difference such as dyslexia or a learning disability - and they are struggling with their emotions in some way?  

We are here to say - first of all - that you are not alone. Anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions have a high comorbidity (existing alongside) ADHD and learning disabilities. These are much more common than most people realize. 

Let’s look at some different studies: 

• In a study completed in the United States, a survey found that 3 in 10 children who had ADHD also had anxiety 1 

• In a Canadian study, they found that people with learning disabilities were twice as likely to report high levels of distress, depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts, visits to mental health professionals, and poorer overall mental health than were persons without learning disabilities2

• In a UK study, they found that for those with learning disabilities, the prevalence of mental health problems was much higher than the general population. They estimated that 30-50% of adults with learning disabilities also have mental health problems3 

• Having ADHD increases by four times your risk of depression4

These are just a few statistics and research studies that show that ADHD and other learning disabilities are not just limited to struggling within the learning realm. These learning differences can also mean that there are other mental, social, and emotional challenges our kids are facing. 

Kids with learning differences do not have different emotions than other children. They may, however, feel those emotions more intensely, more often, and for longer periods of time. 

Imagine for a moment that you are a child with ADHD trying to stay caught up in school, trying to stay on task, and trying to be organized. In today’s fast-paced world, this alone would be a struggle. However, let’s also add in some of these coexisting conditions such as anxiety, depression, and distress. I can imagine that life could feel pretty lonely and overwhelming at times. 

And...since this is not a topic that is talked about very often, it can also feel very isolating. So our kids may start off with…

1. Struggles in specific learning areas

2. Add in some anxiety, emotional and/or mental health challenges

3. Then maybe pile on feelings of shame and stigma 

4. Top it off with feelings of isolation (all the while not realizing that many others are experiencing exactly the same thing).

It sounds like a lot for anyone to deal with, doesn’t it? 

So what do we do? How do we start to help our kids with ADHD or learning differences who are experiencing lots of different and big emotions? 

Listen. Support. Understand. 

We believe that support and understanding are great initial steps to solving a problem. That is why we have created a Youth Support Program - an online group to support our kids on various topics that are NEEDED - topics that are not talked about nearly enough. Topics that will support their emotional and mental health as they navigate life with a learning difference. 

We know that there are limited supports available for kids in an online group setting that focuses on learning differences. So, we are working to create a community where teens can come together to talk, share, and learn with and from each other.  

This month we are focusing on emotions and what they are trying to tell us.  It is a shift in how we have been taught to view emotions.  Kristina Buk will discuss how there are no negative emotions - they all serve a purpose. She will walk through these emotions in a group setting to help kids understand their emotions, and look at their emotions with a new perspective. 

This is not therapy, this is a safe space where we are sharing knowledge and fostering community...which we feel is powerful and something that can create some real positive SHIFTS. We would love for your child to join us! 

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1 CDC Report

2 Wilson, A., Armstrong, C., Furrie, A., & Walcot, E. (2009). The Mental Health of Canadians With Self-Reported Learning Disabilities. 

   Journal of Learning Disabilities, 42(1), 24-40.

3 Pearce L. Learning disability and mental health. Nurs Stand. 2017 Mar 1;31(27):15. doi: 10.7748/ns.31.27.15.s16. PMID: 28247780

4 Additude report