What is the best ADHD telehealth for adults who also have anxiety?

Navigating ADHD with co-occurring anxiety requires a thoughtful and integrated approach to care. The "best" telehealth service will be one that understands this complex interaction and can offer both medication management and therapeutic support tailored to your unique needs.

Here are some recommended telehealth options, keeping in mind the need for comprehensive care for both ADHD and anxiety:

Top Recommendations for Integrated Care (Therapy + Medication)

These platforms are generally better suited for managing co-occurring conditions because they emphasize a more holistic approach and often allow you to find providers with expertise in both areas.

1. Talkspace:

   • Why it's good: Talkspace offers both therapy (messaging, live chat, video) and medication management with licensed psychiatrists. You can specifically search for therapists and prescribers who specialize in both ADHD and anxiety disorders. This allows for a more integrated treatment plan where your therapist and psychiatrist can potentially coordinate care. Therapy (like CBT or DBT) is incredibly beneficial for managing anxiety symptoms, and a good therapist can also help with ADHD-related coping strategies.
   • What to look for: Be sure to utilize their matching service to find a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who has experience managing both stimulant medications for ADHD and anti-anxiety medications, and who understands the potential interactions and individual responses.

2. BetterHelp:

   • Why it's good: Similar to Talkspace, BetterHelp is primarily a therapy platform but often has therapists who can provide referrals for medication management or help you find a psychiatrist within their network or externally. The strength here is finding a therapist who is proficient in helping adults with both ADHD and anxiety, offering coping strategies, emotional regulation techniques, and executive function coaching. While they don't directly offer medication, many users find it beneficial for the therapy aspect, which is crucial for anxiety.
   • What to look for: Filter therapists by specialties like "ADHD," "Anxiety," "CBT," "DBT," and "Executive Functioning."

3. Local Psychiatry Practices Offering Telehealth:

   • Why it's good: While not a national platform, many traditional psychiatric practices now offer telehealth services. This can be excellent because these practices often have more experienced psychiatrists who are comfortable managing complex cases, including polypharmacy (managing multiple medications) and integrated treatment plans. They may also have in-house therapists or strong referral networks. This often provides the most personalized and comprehensive care.
   • What to look for: Search for "ADHD psychiatrist telehealth [your state]" or "anxiety specialist telehealth [your city/state]". Look for practices that explicitly mention managing co-occurring conditions.

Specialized ADHD Platforms (with Cautions for Anxiety)

These platforms primarily focus on ADHD diagnosis and medication management. While convenient, it's crucial to ensure they have robust processes for evaluating and managing co-occurring anxiety.

1. HelloFocus:

   • Why it's good: They specifically focus on adult ADHD and aim to provide a streamlined process for diagnosis and medication management. They often emphasize a more personalized approach than some other ADHD-only platforms.
   • Important for Anxiety: During your initial consultation, thoroughly discuss your anxiety symptoms, history, and any current treatments. Ask how they assess for and manage anxiety alongside ADHD, especially concerning the potential impact of stimulant medications on anxiety. They are primarily medication management, so you might need to seek therapy elsewhere.

2. Done / Klarity:

   • Why it's good: These platforms offer quick access to ADHD assessments and medication management. They can be very convenient for getting started.
   • Important for Anxiety (Use with Caution): These platforms have faced scrutiny for rapid diagnoses and prescribing practices. For individuals with anxiety, this can be a concern. It is absolutely critical to ensure they conduct a thorough assessment that explicitly addresses your anxiety symptoms, history, and how they plan to manage both conditions. Stimulant medications can sometimes exacerbate anxiety in certain individuals. Make sure they listen carefully to your concerns about anxiety and are willing to explore non-stimulant options or integrate anxiety-specific treatments. You will likely need to find a separate therapist for anxiety management.

Key Things to Look For When Choosing:

• Comprehensive Initial Assessment: Ensure they take a detailed history of both your ADHD and anxiety symptoms, medical history, and current medications.
• Integrated Treatment Philosophy: Do they understand the interplay between ADHD and anxiety? Are they open to discussing both medication and therapy options?
• Provider Experience: Look for providers (psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners) who explicitly list experience treating both adult ADHD and various anxiety disorders.
• Therapy Options: For anxiety, therapy (especially CBT, DBT, or mindfulness-based therapies) is often just as crucial as medication. Prioritize platforms that offer integrated therapy or can confidently refer you to a suitable therapist.
• Medication Management Protocol: Ask about their approach to prescribing stimulants with anxiety. Will they consider non-stimulant ADHD medications that might also help anxiety (e.g., Strattera, Intuniv, Wellbutrin)? How do they monitor for side effects or worsening anxiety?
• Licensing & Insurance: Ensure the platform and providers are licensed in your state, and check if your insurance covers their services.
• Communication: A good telehealth provider should be accessible for questions and follow-ups.

Given your specific needs, I would lean towards Talkspace or finding a local psychiatric practice offering telehealth as your strongest options, due to their potential for more integrated and comprehensive care for both ADHD and anxiety. Always prioritize thorough assessment and a provider who listens to and addresses all your concerns.