Has anyone had GAD diagnosed before ADHD or autism assessment?

[Wigglinaround]

Has anyone else’s child been diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder after an ADHD/autism assessment?

Our 12 year old has just been diagnosed with GAD. The clinicians explained that her anxiety is currently so severe that they feel it gets in the way of clearly assessing ADHD-related attention, despite her having longstanding attention and executive functioning difficulties that were present before the anxiety became so severe.

We’ve also been told to consider beta blockers, melatonin and an SSRI, even though her anxiety is almost entirely related to school. I’m trying to understand whether anyone else has been in a similar situation.

Did your child have anxiety that was mainly school-related? Were medication options discussed? Was anxiety treated first? Did your child later have their ADHD reassessed, and if so, did the outcome change? Did your clinician explain what they believed was driving the anxiety?

I’d really appreciate hearing about other families’ experiences, as we’re trying to understand what the next steps might look like. Thank you.

I would be concerned they aren't considering the anxiety is a manifestation on undiagnosed and unsupported autism. Did they consider a diagnosis of it for her?

If it is really severe, I would consider tying beta blockers for her but I'd be cautious about SSRIs as they can have negative impacts on some neuro divergent people.

I would be asking for a plan, the beta blockers will help remove the physical response but they won't remove the thinking, so what is their plan? What support are they going to put in place or recommend for the school?

This is one of my biggest concerns about diagnosis for girls, far too often it's treated as GAD and not the root cause of the anxiety.

She was assessed for autism as part of the assessment and it was ruled out.

I work with neurodivergent adults and all the women were diagnosed with GAD and, or EUPD and given SSRIs before their eventual diagnosis.

My DH did, suggested by the therapist, because treatment pathways are quite different with autism. They're now trying to teach him to live better with his autism and hopefully that will help the OCD and anxiety, which seem to be mostly symptoms of the autism.

Yes that's what I was thinking. OP I would be inclined to doubt the provider if they are saying GAD over Autism. I would embrace any support they will give for reasonable adjustments for school but approach helping her yourself as if she has an autism diagnosis.
I always say that if you put in place coping mechanisms/support and they help, it doesn't matter the label attached to them.