u/Known_Order_8519

I have a question for AUDHD folks specifically.

If you’re diagnosed with autism (or in the process, or just have general knowledge), how was it possible if you have adhd aswell ? Genuinely asking.
Because from what I’ve seen, adhd tends to mask autism symptoms.

So my conclusion would be: there are certain criterias for autism that you prolly won’t know you meet if adhd is masking them. So how did it work for you ?

Personally, I am 100% sure I have Adhd and Autism aswell. I am in the process of getting an adhd diagnosis. However, I fear the autism diagnosis process because of the logic that I’ve mentionned above.

Alors :

J’ai 21 ans, je suis une jeune adulte à la fac, et j’aurai ma première séance cette semaine avec une psychiatre spécialisée (Victoire ROFFE de base mais Manon Mazzoleni en remplacement si quelqu’un les connaisse) pour peut-être obtenir un diagnostic de TDAH.

Je ne vais pas mentir, je commence à être nerveuse, parce que je n’ai jamais rencontré de psychiatre auparavant, seulement des psychologues ou des thérapeutes en séance. Jusqu’ici, même s’ils ne m’aident pas tous vraiment avec mes problèmes, ils sont gentils et bienveillants avec moi, ce qui me met suffisamment à l’aise pour partager ce que j’ai besoin de partager.

Mais j’ai entendu des choses sur les psychiatres : qu’ils sont un peu froids, directs, pas très centrés sur les émotions et davantage sur les médicaments, etc.

Je ne sais pas à quoi m’attendre, quoi dire, comment ça va se passer…

J’ai tellement peur d’être invalidée parce que, même si ce n’est pas le TDAH, je sais avec certitude que quelque chose ne va pas chez moi. Et le TDAH (et l’autisme, mais ce sera une autre discussion) est la seule explication qui me permette de comprendre ce que j’ai, sachant que je ne suis pas du genre à m’auto-diagnostiquer. Ça regroupe tout, je me reconnais dans tout.

Donc, si quelqu’un a des conseils à donner, du soutien ou autre, sentez-vous totalement libres de partager !

So:

I (21 F) am having my first session, this week, with a specialised psychiatrist (a woman) to possibly get diagnosed with ADHD.

Not gonna lie, I’m starting to feel nervous, as I have never met a psychiatrist, only psychologists or therapists in sessions. So far, even if they’re not all helpfull with my issues, they are sweet and kind to me which makes me feel comfortable enough to share what I need to share.
But I’ve heard things about psychiatrists: kinda cold, direct, not too focused on feelings and more on medication and etc.

I don’t know what to expect, what should I say, how it will eventually be…

I am so afraid of being invalidated because even if it’s not ADHD, I know for a fact something is wrong with me and ADHD (and Autism but for another discussion) is the only way that I can explain what I have, as I’m never one to self diagnose. It regroups everything, I relate to everything.

So, If anyone has advices to provide, support or else, feel absolutely free to share !

I’ve noticed some similarities between the concept of Rejection Sensitivity (RS) and being avoidant.

So I’m wondering what is the difference between the two.
How do you know if you have RS bc of your Audhd, or if you’re just an avoidant person ?

Can it be both ?

Maybe it’s a « every audhd person is an avoidant but not every avoidant is an audhd person » situation ?

To share personal experience, I had a huge crush on a guy. But the thought of him rejecting me could make me physically ill. I would analyze his behavior and responses to the extreme and anything could be perceived as being rejected. I would feel terrible pain in my body and ruminate a lot, among other things.
Btw just having a crush was like discovering a drug, it would give me so much adrenaline.

What are your thoughts ?

For context: I (21F) suspect I have ADHD and ASD.
I am doing what I can to be diagnosed for ADHD mainly, because this is the thing that affect my life the most currently.
I’m still living with my mom for the rest of the year but I’ve been very discreet about that procedure because I’m still worried that my family won’t take me seriously unless there is a diagnosis, given by a professional, on the table.
When I was a child, I have been tested for giftedness (I think that’s what it’s called in english) and now, after failing a first license, I’m in my 2nd year at law school.
End of context, but if you need more elements I can give it to you in the comments.

Before my appointment with a specialised psychiatrist, I’ve decided to make a list about all the symptoms that I have with exemples. These symptoms are classified according to the periods of my life (childhood, adolescence and young adulthood). I’m doing this because I know for a fact that I have the informations in my mind but as soon as someone asks me something my mind can go blank. Besides, I’m still trying to trust myself and evidences that I’m not crazy help.

Now, my mom who is separated from my dad often compares me to him, as she finds my behavior a lot like his. And recently, I saw that my dad was following an instagram account about ADHD treatment. So obviously I got curious. He is not very present in my life but I’ve learned that ADHD can be hereditary. I texted him, asking him if he had it, to which he responded that he doesn’t think so yet he finds it very interesting and recognize himself in some stuff.

The conversation continued and when he asked me If I had it, I took a leap of faith and decided to tell him what I’m doing. He then starts to ask me questions such as « How many symptoms do you identify with? » and etc.

Finally, he asks me: « How did you manage to get so far in your licence ? » to which I respond with « adrenaline ».
Which is the truth. Deadlines gives me the stress I need to study, but it is killing me in the long run and it won’t be as efficient as it was when I was in high school because the more I move forward the more real deep studies are required for success.

My father just responded « it’s not enough 🤷‍♀️ ».

I feel crushed. Now I’m rethinking the whole thing. I know that women can mask and etc. but what if he’s right and I’m crazy.

This one sentence just erased years and years of struggle on my end. I know I’m not thinking rationally about this because he isn’t very present for me and educated on the subject and yet I find myself so hurt by his words.

On one hand I regret telling him anything. On the other hand my deep fear of my own incompetence and uselessness is resurfacing. What if he is right and I’m just doing all that to avoid looking myself in the mirror and realize that I am indeed useless, lazy, incompetent, inconsistent, unreliable ?

Edit: I can sense myself shutting down. I don’t know what I feel right now, just…pain. I need to be alone. Thank god it was just texting and not face to face conversation.

So:

Haven’t been diagnosed for ADHD yet. I have a meeting with a psychiatrist that might help with it but on the meantime, I’m on my own and without any meds.

I failed my driver’s exam 2 times. The remarks of my teacher is always the same: I’m not enough focused/concentrated. I keep doing careless and inattentive mistakes, and the slightest critic makes me panic, triggering my rejection sensitivity on the middle of the road. Teacher said I know how to drive, I know what has to be done and yet…

I just had a driving course (the 100th, it seems in my head). It was bad. Again, I’m unfocused and the worst is that I do my very best. It’s like my brain voluntarily miss stuff.
My teacher is convinced that at this point, I do it on purpose, which believe me is not the case. Or If it is, it’s unconscious sabotage. I wonder if it’s ADHD. But if it is, then I need medication fast bc I want my driver’s licence. Truly.

Teacher wanted to send me again to the exam anyways (bc for him I just need to make an effort and stop my bs) but I said no. I don’t feel ready.

It sucks so bad.

Very often I will be exhausted wishing so deeply I was on an island, completely alone, doing absolutely nothing, expected to do nothing. Just stay there on a deckchair, resting (not sleeping).

Whenever I feel distraught, or like I can’t understand and/or handle my emotions, I truly see myself being…away.
It’s not even a vacation because a vacation has an end. It’s really like people would stop caring completely about me, I would stop caring completely about them, and I would stay on the island for an unknown period of time.

This is a fantasy because as I stated that would never happen or be possible.

When I envision that soothing image, I instantly want to cut off everyone, disappear entirely from socials, stop talking and start existing only as a concept/idea.

I very rarely act on those feelings. I used to do it for very short periods of time when I was younger because I didn’t necessarily saw it as rude but now that I’m more experienced I get that it would be seen as childish or weird so I never do it.

But oh how I wish I could live that fantasy atleast once.

Anyone share the sentiment ?

Hey everybody ! New here ! (English is not my first language so sorry for possible mistakes).

I’m already sorry for putting you through the embarassment you might feel while reading this.

I’ve been suspected of having ADHD and ASD by my psychologist and I have booked an appointment with a specialised psychiatrist to know for sure if that’s the case.

In the meantime I’m doing personal research (bc rn I’m hyperfixated on both ADHD and ASD) to know how much I relate to the symptoms.
However, there are things that I’m kind of ashamed to talk about with a psychiatrist in case it might not be a trait caused by either disorder and just a weird quirk that any normal person can have.

So I’ve seen that autistic people tend to stim a lot by for exemple touching their skin or their hair a lot and etc.

I can relate to some of it but I think that the thing that soothes me the most is to touch my navel.
I know it’s weird af but I’ve done it since I was a baby. It feels conforting, I like the texture (weirdly enough) and the worst is I know it can be off putting as a thing to do in general so I’ve tried SEVERAL times to stop.

Well guess what: I can’t. When I try to control it, I do it unconsciously (even more disturbing). I don’t even notice myself doing it. I can’t help it. As an adult I can focus enough not to do it on a short/medium period of time but I will inevitably end up doing it.

It’s not compulsive like I don’t do it continually and too much in public (I try to make it discreet as much as I can) but I do it.

So I have two questions:

1. Is it possible that this is an ASD thing ? Or just a very weird quirk that I cannot get rid of no matter how hard I try ? And should I mention it to the psychiatrist ?
2. Do you also have a weird habit such as this one ?

Please feel free to comment and offer perspective !