You are not lazy or broken or a failure.
ADHD
ADHD/Autism/AuDHD
If you have, or suspect you might have, ADHD and/or Autism, you may have received overt and subtle messages throughout your life that you’re not smart enough, don’t work hard enough, don’t care enough, or are not capable of success. The way your brain works is not always compatible with the way the world works, but that doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you.
While it is true that you may have unique struggles, you also have unique strengths. I have found that neurodivergent individuals often possess creative problem solving skills, intense curiosity, and varied skills and interests. Starting from a place of appreciation, identifying strengths, and acceptance, will make any skill-building or emotion regulation we incorporate more effective. We will also to work to identify how masking shows up in your life and any changes you would like to make in order to get you closer to the life you want.
Differences in attention regulation
Novelty-seeking
Impulsivity/hyperactivity
Interest-based nervous system
Both
Autism
Prefer routines and familiarity
Intense focus on single activity or interest
Different social cues/norms
Sensory differences
Stimming and fidgeting
Emotion regulation challenges
Executive function difficulties
Special interests/hyperfixations
Different communication patterns
Creative/divergent thinking
Masking