When Anxiety Medication Backfires: How One Teen's Misdiagnosis Led to Hallucinations—and Recovery

When a child is prescribed medication for one condition but the drug actually makes their symptoms worse, it can feel like a nightmare with no end in sight. That's exactly what happened to Josie, a 12-year-old girl whose parents thought they were getting her help for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—only to discover the medication was causing hallucinations and intensifying her anxiety. After finding the right treatment approach, Josie not only recovered but is now planning to become a therapist herself.

How Did the Wrong Medication Make Things Worse?

Josie's parents, Scott and Rebecca Donia, noticed their daughter was struggling in school, hiding in closets when anxious, and resisting leaving the house. She was seeing and hearing things that weren't there. A doctor prescribed medication for what they believed was ADHD, but the treatment backfired dramatically. "It was the medication that caused her to hallucinate and be more anxious," explained Heidi Mail, LCSW, Josie's therapist at Virtua's CASTLE program (Children Achieving Success Through Therapeutic Life Experiences). "We realized a lot of what she experienced was due to anxiety, but she didn't know half the words to explain it".

This situation highlights a critical challenge in pediatric mental health: sometimes what looks like one condition is actually another, and the wrong medication can amplify symptoms rather than relieve them. Josie's case wasn't about ADHD at all—it was about severe anxiety that she lacked the vocabulary to describe.

What Treatment Actually Worked for Josie?

Once Josie was admitted to CASTLE's partial hospitalization program, the first step was weaning her off the problematic medication. The program provided therapeutic services alongside academic instruction during typical school hours, giving her a structured environment to heal while continuing her education.

After three months in the intensive program, Josie progressed to outpatient care, where she met with a therapist once a week to work on issues related to home, school, and social situations. She also received group therapy and psychiatric evaluations to ensure her treatment plan was appropriate.

A surprising breakthrough came through creative expression. Painting became a powerful tool for managing her anxiety. "Whenever I was feeling anxious, I would tend to hide because I wanted to be in a quiet area," Josie explained. "Painting blocks out everything and helps me feel calmer. I'm at home when I'm drawing, like I'm in a field of roses with no one else there".

Steps to Supporting a Child With Anxiety and Misdiagnosis

• Recognize medication side effects early: If a child's symptoms worsen after starting medication—especially hallucinations, increased anxiety, or behavioral changes—contact their doctor immediately rather than waiting to see if symptoms improve.
• Seek comprehensive psychiatric evaluation: Work with mental health professionals who conduct thorough assessments to distinguish between conditions like ADHD and anxiety disorders, which can have overlapping symptoms but require different treatments.
• Incorporate therapeutic activities: Combine talk therapy with creative outlets like art, music, or movement that allow children to express feelings they may not have words for yet.
• Provide structured support: Intensive programs that combine therapy with academic instruction can help children continue their education while receiving the mental health care they need.

From "Too Far Gone" to High School Graduate

Over more than five years, Josie's transformation was remarkable. She joined her high school marching band, went on the senior trip to Disney World, and earned her driver's license. In June 2025, she graduated from high school—milestones her parents once thought were impossible.

"It's like a weight lifted off your shoulders. It's not long ago that we thought Josie was going to be living with us the rest of her life," said Scott. "I now think Josie is going to be off on her own one day, living her life, not being in my house just watching TV and on the Internet. She's going to live a full life".

Josie's own perspective on her recovery is equally powerful. "When I was in middle school, the only thing I could think of was I'm too far gone, I'm never going to be able to get better. No one is going to be there to help me," she said. "But after I came here, I've been able to fix myself and not be who I was back then".

What's Next for Josie?

With continued care and support, Josie is now planning to attend college and become a therapist herself. "I want to help people who have struggled because they deserve the help that I've been getting," she said. Her journey from a child hiding in closets due to anxiety to a young adult ready to help others shows the profound impact of getting the right diagnosis and treatment—and the importance of questioning whether a medication is truly helping or harming.

If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety or experiencing unexpected side effects from psychiatric medication, reaching out to a comprehensive mental health program can make all the difference. Josie's story is a reminder that recovery is possible, even when things feel hopeless.