u/Cabian

Does anyone else with AuDHD recognize this kind of 1–2 year cycle?

I become completely obsessed with a certain topic or project. In the beginning I’m super enthusiastic, friendly, humble, and everyone seems to appreciate my energy. I fully dive into it, analyze everything, and immediately see endless ways to improve or build things.

But at some point it flips.

I completely lose myself in it and develop tunnel vision. My brain moves very fast and deeply, and in my head I’ve already logically connected everything and figured out what should happen next. But I forget to bring the people around me along with me. I get frustrated by resistance or slower thinking, and it slowly becomes “my way or the highway.”

At that point I stop leaving much room for other people’s input or feelings, conflicts start happening, and eventually everything blows up.

Does anyone else recognize this pattern?

I (m38) have been newly diagnosed with AuDHD.

It's mostly my ADHD symptoms that are wrecking havoc in my life.

I will soon go through the process of also adding medication to my toolbox to alleviate some of these struggles.

I've been doing a lot of research and am wondering what other AuDHD people are taking.

I don't struggle too much with things like task initiation (I think).

The things I would like medication to help me with are mostly:

- Emotional regulation. (RSD and feeling and reacting to everything so intensely)

- Impulse control. (the continuous urge to have to act on any thing that pops into my mind. Also during conversations).

- Dopamine chasing behaviour.

I've understood that typical ADHD medication like methylphenidate and dexamphetamine isn't always fit when there's also autism in the mix. Things like increased anxiety wouldn't do my autism well.

I've read people also benefitting from medication like

Vyvanse, Strattera, Guanfacine and Clonidine.

What are other AuDHD people using, for what symptoms?

What has and hasn't been working, and why?

I have been newly diagnosed with AuDHD.

It's mostly my ADHD symptoms that are wrecking havoc in my life.

I will soon go through the process of also adding medication to my toolbox to alleviate some of these struggles.

I've been doing a lot of research and am wondering what other AuDHD people are taking.

I don't struggle too much with things like task initiation (I think).

The things I would like medication to help me with are mostly:

- Emotional regulation. (RSD and feeling and reacting to everything so intensely)

- Impulse control. (the continuous urge to have to act on any thing that pops into my mind. Also during conversations).

- Dopamine chasing behaviour.

I've understood that typical ADHD medication like methylphenidate and dexamphetamine isn't always fit when there's also autism in the mix. Things like increased anxiety wouldn't do my autism well.

I've read people also benefitting from medication like

Vyvanse, Strattera, Guanfacine and Clonidine.

What are other AuDHD people using, for what symptoms?

What has and hasn't been working, and why?

I (m38) have been newly diagnosed with AuDHD.

It's mostly my ADHD symptoms that are wrecking havoc in my life.

I will soon go through the process of also adding medication to my toolbox to alleviate some of these struggles.

I've been doing a lot of research and am wondering what other AuDHD people are taking.

I don't struggle too much with things like task initiation (I think).

The things I would like medication to help me with are mostly:

- Emotional regulation. (RSD and feeling and reacting to everything so intensely)

- Impulse control. (the continuous urge to have to act on any thing that pops into my mind. Also during conversations).

- Dopamine chasing behaviour.

I've understood that typical ADHD medication like methylphenidate and dexamphetamine isn't always fit when there's also autism in the mix. Things like increased anxiety wouldn't do my autism well.

I've read people also benefitting from medication like

Vyvanse, Strattera, Guanfacine and Clonidine.

What are other AuDHD people using, for what symptoms?

What has and hasn't been working, and why?

Curious to what statistically works best... 🤓

Not enough options for the AuDHD, so pick your predominant one.

View Poll

I (m38) was recently diagnosed with autism and suspected ADHD that is being further investigated. Not really needed honestly, it's become painfully obvious. 🥲

I'm going through a chaos cycle where it feels like my whole life is falling apart around me.

My partner is also at the point where she says: "I just can't do this anymore. I'm so tired. I can't deal with your chaos anymore. You're just living in your head most of the time"

And to be honest, neither can I. The ADHD part keeps throwing a wrench into the needs of the autistic part. I'm exhausted. :/

In true hyperfixation fashion, I've dived into everything autism and ADHD since our crisis a few weeks ago. Never waste a good crisis, right?

Now that I'm digging deeper into ADHD and autism, the light bulb is finally going off! What an amazing sense of recognition. So much is finally becoming clear. It's like someone has finally handed me my own manual.

Fortunately, I'm starting one-on-one guidance with a psychologist soon, and the ADHD diagnosis will also happen, with an eye toward medication as an extra tool in the toolbox (thankfully, I'm already familiar with meditation and mindfulness).

I'm also looking for ways to continue learning in my relationship. If there still is any hope. Since my diagnosis, there have also been suspicions of my partner being ND. (She's aware of here intense need of predictably and we've come across the concept of RSD which is massively standing between us.)

What's the best way forward? Do you have any tips for good relationship therapists, practices, etc.? What should we do, where can we go?

What has helped you the most in this?

I’m (m38) newly diagnosed autistic (and indications of ADHD), and one thing I’m struggling with is noticing how I’m actually doing before everything crashes.

I can function for months while slowly getting more stressed, overstimulated, emotionally disconnected, physically exhausted, or absent in my relationships/work… but I often only realize it, and then can clearly analyse why, once I hit full burnout or crisis mode.

I want to get better at regularly checking in with myself:

- How is my body doing

- My stress levels

- Whether I’m overstimulated or under-stimulated

- My emotional state

- Whether my relationships are healthy

- Whether work/life balance is slipping

- Whether I’m withdrawing from people or becoming less in-sync with others

The difficult part is that I often don’t feel things clearly in the moment, I only notice it when everything around me is on fire.

Do any of you have systems, routines, apps, trackers, questions, habits, or “warning signs” that help you monitor yourself and catch problems early?

- Routines that work for you

- Check-in systems

- Burnout prevention

- Body awareness

- How to notice stress earlier

- Ways to track life balance without it becoming overwhelming

Would really appreciate hearing what works for other people out there. 🙏

I’m (m38) newly diagnosed autistic (and indications of ADHD), and one thing I’m struggling with is noticing how I’m actually doing before everything crashes.

I can function for months while slowly getting more stressed, overstimulated, emotionally disconnected, physically exhausted, or absent in my relationships/work… but I often only realize it, and then can clearly analyse why, once I hit full burnout or crisis mode.

I want to get better at regularly checking in with myself:

• How is my body doing
• My stress levels
• Whether I’m overstimulated or under-stimulated
• My emotional state
• Whether my relationships are healthy
• Whether work/life balance is slipping
• Whether I’m withdrawing from people or becoming less in-sync with others

The difficult part is that I often don’t feel things clearly in the moment, I only notice it when everything around me is on fire.

Do any of you have systems, routines, apps, trackers, questions, habits, or “warning signs” that help you monitor yourself and catch problems early?

• Routines that work for you
• Check-in systems
• Burnout prevention
• Body awareness
• How to notice stress earlier
• Ways to track life balance without it becoming overwhelming

Would really appreciate hearing what works for other people out there. 🙏