The Anxious Achiever ADHD, Anxiety, and the Challenge of Doing What You Know You Need to Do with J Russell Ramsay
Oct 14, 2025
Join Dr. J. Russell Ramsay, a clinical psychology professor and co-founder of the University of Pennsylvania's ADHD Treatment Program, as he delves into the complexities of ADHD and anxiety. He discusses how ADHD generates uncertainty, leading to anxiety and self-mistrust. Learn about practical tools like his three-part time management system and the S.A.P. Action Plan to help transform procrastination into productivity. Discover how to harness last-minute anxiety for focus and create supportive workplace environments to enhance motivation.
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ADHD As An Uncertainty Generator
- ADHD often generates uncertainty which fuels anxiety because people know what to do but doubt if they can do it today.
- This situational variability creates misattributions like laziness and compounds emotional distress.
How Self‑Mistrust Develops
- Repeated ADHD “moments” build self-mistrust and lower approach motivation over time.
- Avoidance temporarily relieves anxiety but reinforces future procrastination and doubt.
Structure Masks Many ADHD Symptoms
- Loss of external structure (like during the pandemic) exposed borderline ADHD by removing scaffolding.
- Many adults only noticed symptoms when remote work eroded routine and cues.
