ADHD or Anxiety in a Musician’s Life?

Reader’s Question

I am 26 years old. I am a professional musician. More recently when I am on stage I feel like my mind is always racing and I can’t focus. When I am soloing…I have no memory of anything I did during that period of time. I also feel very anxious. My hands get very tight which makes it harder for me to hit notes accurately. On a regular basis I feel like really fast notes are flying through my head and I can’t slow them down. Also I have been feeling shy and timid. I never used to have this problem before and I know that something is not right. I have also been getting a similiar feeling when I am out in public. At clubs and stuff when meeting women or just new people in general. Not usually outside the bars or clubs but inside. When the music is loud I feel like I cannot concentrate on what I want to say. Kind of like the music in the room clashes with the music in my head.

From doing a little bit of reading I see very similiar symptoms in ADHD and also I also feel that I might have social anxiety, but I’m no doctor…what do you think of this?

Thanks

Our Consulting Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

ADHD isn’t a condition we acquire later in life. ADHD is first identified in elementary school (or earlier). If you were not recognized as having ADHD in school, that diagnosis is unlikely. What is likely is stress and anxiety which fit your symptoms better than ADHD. ADHD folks are rarely shy or anxious for example, actually tending to become more hyper in a loud and exciting environment.

Your description sounds like anxiety. Anxiety and stress produce problems in concentration and attention, as well as memory. You may be experiencing a type of performance anxiety as it tends to increase with any situation that requires performance or expectations on your part. Anxiety also produces problems with distractibility and the loud environment would make playing more difficult for you.

Some other things to think about:

• Has your personal stress level increased recently? Issues in family, relationships, finances, etc.?
• Have you been using any substances that might increase your anxiety level, including herbal remedies, etc.?
• Any lifestyle changes such as a diet, additional responsibilities, changes in the music group, etc.?

If your anxiety level is intruding into your career, you may need to consult a mental health professional. You mention that this situation has increased over time, suggesting a gradual increase in anxiety that may be treatable. I’d recommend seeking professional consultation right away as anxiety can become overwhelming.