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Key Takeaways:
- Anxiety is not classified as neurodivergent because people can have it regardless of whether they have neurodivergent symptoms.
- Anxiety often co-occurs with neurodivergent conditions; however, both anxiety and neurodivergence still have distinct differences.
- Neurodivergence is how an individual’s brain is wired, while anxiety is how the brain responds to stress, fear, or uncertainty in present circumstances.
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Is anxiety neurodivergent? The reality is that living in a neurotypical world can be challenging for neurodivergent individuals. Since they are essentially navigating a world that isn’t built for them, they may deal with various difficulties, including anxiety. However, the answer to this question is more complex than a simple “yes” or “no.” In this article, we’ll go into the details of the more complex answer to the question of whether anxiety is a form of neurodivergence.
What is Neurodivergence?
According to Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D., and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, the clinical definition of neurodivergence is a “concept that regards individuals with differences in brain function and behavioral traits as part of normal variation in the human population [*].”
In other words, neurodivergence refers to how brain differences affect the way individuals and groups think and behave.
Identifying neurodivergent characteristics can be done by looking at the common symptoms displayed by such individuals. These include, but are not limited to:
- Repeating behaviors or routines
- Difficulty organizing thoughts
- Difficulty dealing with external stimuli
- Difficulty with communication and social interaction
- Difficulty following instructions
- Difficulty focusing and concentrating
- Sensitive to processing sensory information
- Intense interest in certain activities or topics
Neurodiversity also encompasses these common conditions:
Defining neurodivergence is necessary to understand its relation to anxiety. Using the clinical definition clarifies the characteristics, symptoms, and examples of neurodivergence. This makes it possible to gain a better understanding of whether anxiety is a form of neurodivergence and whether it requires targeted and personalized support.
Is Anxiety Neurodivergent?
One of the most frequently raised questions in this area of mental health is whether anxiety is or isn’t a form of neurodivergence. The short answer is that anxiety is not typically classified as neurodivergent because individuals can have it regardless of whether they have neurodivergent symptoms or not.
A helpful way to think about it is this: Neurodivergence is how an individual’s brain is wired, while anxiety is how the brain responds to stress, fear, or uncertainty. Anxiety alone doesn’t necessarily make someone neurodivergent, but it often co-occurs as a mental health challenge with neurodivergent conditions [*].
Nevertheless, some symptoms of anxiety still feel similar to neurodivergent traits. Many people with anxiety struggle with sensory overwhelm. They may also feel that they experience the world in an emotionally “loud” way. This feels like neurodivergence, even if the anxiety itself is not causing the main neurological difference.
A recent meta‑analytic study shows that anxiety is very frequent in neurodivergent populations [*]. Other research shows that anxiety symptoms and core features of autism spectrum disorder and ADHD frequently overlap [*]. This combination illustrates how experiences with anxiety and neurodivergence can feel similar and sometimes coincide.
However, this overlap and the use of the term “neurodivergent” online have also caused more confusion. The term “neurodivergent” is inconsistently used in an overarching sense in online spaces. Terms that were developed to describe neurodevelopmental differences were instead widely applied to mental health conditions, including anxiety and stress. Some overlapping experiences include difficulties with attention, focus, and planning, which can manifest as procrastination or disorganization.
Research on online usage of this terminology also shows that neurodivergent people themselves have mixed feelings about the term “neurodivergent” [*], especially when it is used incorrectly. This blurs important distinctions and causes confusion about the term’s actual meaning. As the research says, accurate public use in online spaces matters, while personal language choices should be guided by individual preference.
Correlation Between Anxiety and Neurodivergence
Some of the overlap between anxiety and neurodivergence is due to the correlation between them, which tells us the nature of their relationship.
One of the first things to note when examining this correlation is the co-occurrence of anxiety with neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, ASD, and learning differences, like dyslexia. A study on neurodiversity in children, particularly those with ASD, found that they met criteria for clinical anxiety at higher rates than their non-autistic peers [*].
People with ADHD are also prone to anxiety when facing sensory processing differences, while those with dyslexia may experience the risk of anxiety linked to the stress of having a learning difficulty.
The correlation between anxiety and neurodivergence is also due to the way neurodivergent brains process stress differently. In individuals with autism, heightened sensory sensitivities and a lower tolerance for uncertainty can cause more worry, stress, and, in turn, anxiety [*]. What feels like normal background noise in the immediate environment for many individuals can be overwhelming for some neurodivergent individuals. The result is an anxiety response that is triggered in a direct, sensory-driven way.
Aside from these, neurodivergent people also constantly navigate repeated stressors in daily life. They may deal with executive dysfunction, social misunderstandings, environments designed for neurotypical individuals, and even suppress their neurodivergent traits to fit in. These endless adjustments can raise both stress and anxiety in children, adolescents, or adults [*].
Neurodivergence doesn’t always directly cause anxiety. However, the way neurodivergent brains respond to the world, coupled with external pressures, can make anxiety a much more common companion.
Key Differences Between Anxiety and Neurodivergent Conditions
Even with the co-occurrences of anxiety and neurodivergent conditions, there are still clear key differences and distinctions between the two.
Firstly, there is a clear difference between developmental and mental health conditions. Contemporary reviews classify anxiety conditions as mental or psychiatric in nature, while neurodivergence refers primarily to neurodevelopmental, that is, relating to the development of the brain and nervous system [*].
In other words, neurodivergence is how the brain develops and how it is wired, and anxiety is how the brain responds to stress and uncertainty.
The duration and progression are also different. Neurodivergence is typically a lifelong condition. Anxiety can emerge and fluctuate depending on one’s environment and life circumstances.
When diagnosing neurodivergent conditions, specialists will review the patient’s developmental history and observe their behavior using standardized diagnostic tools. By contrast, diagnosing an anxiety disorder is based on current experiences and functioning. Clinical interviews and self-reported checklists are examined with criteria from diagnostic manuals, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
The Bottom Line
Understanding how anxiety and neurodivergence are related is essential in furthering knowledge on mental health as a whole. It helps clinicians, specialists, and ordinary individuals clear up any misconceptions. With this deeper understanding also comes a better basis for diagnoses, which can help people seek the treatment they need. Mental health education is just as important as its practice, and starting with these topics helps us all in the long run.
Explore our Anxiety Worksheets Collection for digital resources to support young people in managing anxiety symptoms.
FAQs
Is social anxiety neurodivergent?
Social anxiety is not a form of neurodivergence. It is, however, often experienced by many neurodivergent individuals. Conditions such as autism and ADHD are different from social anxiety in that they are rooted in brain differences and neurodevelopment. Social anxiety, on the other hand, is a mental health condition that can develop at any age, regardless of whether an individual possesses neurodivergent characteristics.
Is generalized anxiety neurodivergent?
Similar to social anxiety, generalized anxiety is not a neurodivergent condition. Individuals with neurodivergence do tend to experience some anxiety. However, conditions related to their neurodivergence are different from anxiety in that they stem from innate neurological differences. Anxiety disorders are generally due to combinations of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors that are different from the inherent brain differences that define neurodivergence.
Do neurodivergent people get anxiety more often?
Yes, neurodivergent people tend to get anxiety more often than the general population. They are often at a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders compared to neurotypical people. Part of this increased risk is due to the daily stresses of navigating a world that isn’t designed for neurodivergent individuals. Research has shown that conditions like autism spectrum disorder and ADHD have a high co-occurrence with anxiety.
References:
- American Psychiatric Association. Exploring a Strengths-Based Approach to Neurodiversity. 11 April 2022.
- Sing A & Disha. Neurodiversity and Mental Health: A Narrative Review. September 2025.
- Thiele-Swift, H.N., Dorstyn, DS. Anxiety Prevalence in Youth with Autism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Methodological and Sample Moderators. 18 January 2024.
- Hargitai L, Livingston L, Waldren L, et al. Attention‑deficit hyperactivity disorder traits are a more important predictor of internalising problems than autistic traits. 16 January 2023.
- Grant A, Leigh J, Pearson A. ‘A Lovely Safe Umbrella to Describe Yourself With’ or ‘Meaningless’: An Online Survey of UK-Based Neurodivergent Adults’ Views of Neurodiversity-Related Terminology. 9 November 2025.
- Leachman C, Nichols E, Al-Saoud S, et al. Anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: behavioural phenotypes and environmental factors. 5 October 2024.
- Recio P, Pozo P, García-López C, et al. Autistic Sensory Traits and Psychological Distress: Mediating Role of Worry and Intolerance of Uncertainty. 29 October 2024.
- Otu MS, Sefotho MM. Examination of emotional distress, depression, and anxiety in neurodiverse students: A cross-sectional study. 19 November 2024.
- Ogundele MO, Morton M. Classification, prevalence and integrated care for neurodevelopmental and child mental health disorders: A brief overview for paediatricians. 9 March 2022.
