Is It ADHD, PTSD, or Both? Understanding Symptom Overlap

Have you ever wondered why your mind feels scattered, yet your body feels like it's on a "high alert" that you can't quite turn off? In my clinical practice, one of the most common points of confusion for adults is whether their restlessness and difficulty concentrating stem from ADHD, PTSD, or a complex blend of both.

While the outward behaviors—irritability, distractibility, and sleep disruption—look strikingly similar, the "why" inside your nervous system is very different. Is your attention wandering because of executive functioning differences, or is it scanning for safety? In my latest article, I explore how we can use frameworks like Polyvagal Theory to understand these patterns and, more importantly, how we can begin to regulate a nervous system that has been shaped by both neurodivergence and adversity.