Wondering about your brain?

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Epicardiectomist@reddit

I am now beginning to understand that I'm probably on the lower end of the spectrum. The obsessive thoughts, anxiety, inability to read social cues, emotional disregulation, the fact that I'm seemingly unable to fit in anywhere (I'm a misfit even in the misfit generation), crippling level of intelligence (yes I'm tooting my own horn), my compulsion for complex and virtually unlistenable metal, a seemingly endless stream of internal questions about "why am I like this, why can't I fit in anywhere, why can't I just think like everyone else", all of it points to a brain that's just not like the others.

I can't say it's a good thing. I'm in a constant state of turmoil. My thoughts are an endless parade of chaos and disorder. My inability to read social cues combined with a loud mouth has gotten me in trouble many times.

I'm fucking exhausted.

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FluffyButtSilkie@reddit (OP)

I'm sorry it's been so hard. Sending virtual hugs.

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killer_sheltie@reddit

Daily and twice on Sundays.

I'm pretty darn sure I'm some sort of neurospicy. I have a half-brother who has two children (this is important for the maternal link). My brother and his children have ADHD. I'm diagnosed with hypermobility, and I'm 100% positive his children have it too as I can feel their joints pull apart like mine do. My mom W sat into her 60s when an ortho finally told her to knock it off and has plenty other issues indicative of a collagen disorder (like she now has neuropathy in her feet from life-long B12 insufficiency despite being a healthy omnivore). My mom is classic ADHD too but never diagnosed (for example, I couldn't play with the dog in the living room when she was trying to watch the news or she couldn't concentrate on the news) and we know neurospicyness runs in families. My brother and I and his kids are also diagnosed with various dys-is (calcula, lexia, etc).

Well, what all goes hand-in-hand with each other? All the above. Us bendy people with collagen issues also overwhelmingly are neurospicy. I probably should have been diagnosed as a kid, but I'm not surprised I wasn't; I'm female and it took them until I was in 8th grade to even diagnose my dys-is. I'm not stupidly intelligent, but I'm high enough that I was able to mask a lot. I think I tested at like a post college level in some comprehension score and 4th grade levels in spelling. I'm pretty sure if I had been a boy sticking pencils up my nose in class, I'd have been evaluated for ADHD though.

However, I have pretty much zero chance of ever getting diagnosed now as an adult as I also have depression and anxiety (see above about all the fun crappy collagen co-morbilities) and some childhood trauma. So, my inquiries about being neurospicy are completely brushed off as some combination of mental health issues.

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FluffyButtSilkie@reddit (OP)

I definitely relate on the childhood trauma part of it. I hardly spoke until I was 3, but that could have been a result of abuse. Not sure.

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trexcrossing@reddit

I’m so tired of this term being thrown around like this. Just because you aren’t a clone of those around you does not make you neurodivergent.

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FluffyButtSilkie@reddit (OP)

I respect that. Also, I have had younger people with diagnoses of neurodivergence ask me if I had any just recently. I also barely spoke until I was 3 and had what I now believe is dyscalculia in school.

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New_Stats@reddit

I'm just trying to navigate the brain fog Idk if it's from COVID or menopause or both but holy hell, it's so bad

I need to write everything down or I'll forget to do it. Everything. Showering. Other stuff that I can't remember right now

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After_Preference_885@reddit

The brain damage from covid can be longer lasting than people think and is cumulative

But we're supposed to pretend it's not a thing

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New_Stats@reddit

is cumulative

I was really bad for like 6 months after I got COVID but then I was getting better, and now I'm just back to being just as dumb as I was after I caught COVID.

Like it's getting really bad. I spent 16 hours cleaning my bedroom and it didn't get any neater. I'm such a mess, I was never like this before. I'm so thankful that I can still figure out how to actually keep up with my kitchen, bathroom and laundry. But I can't figure out how to tidy my bedroom, it's so frustrating to not be able to complete such a simple task, I'm about ready to say fuck it and throw everything out.

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FluffyButtSilkie@reddit (OP)

Hang in there. If you do decide to reduce the clutter, be gentle with yourself and take it slowly. If you want someone to talk with while you work on it, send me a message.

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azakd@reddit

Look into POTS for the brain fog after covid.

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HipHopGrandpa@reddit

Try fasting. Helped wife with peri. Helped me with brainfog and weightloss.

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New_Stats@reddit

I do intermittent fasting, 16 off, 8 on. I count calories and do portion control and I still gain weight, it's so frustrating

How do you fast?

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EternalSunshineClem@reddit

I've been losing weight through tracking calories and I don't do fasting, and losing weight hasn't helped with brain fog. I think it's just peri.

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bluemitersaw@reddit

I'm just here to complement you on your username! I hope your ladies are fluffy and laying many eggs!

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FluffyButtSilkie@reddit (OP)

Aww thank you. Sadly I no longer have chickens (currently living in a condo). But maybe someday I will again!

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GasStationChicken-@reddit

Yes. I was finally diagnosed with ADHD at 40. It got worse and worse after I was put in to chemical menopause during breast cancer when I was 35. I ended up having to have a full hysterectomy and thought that after I was done with chemo and the adjuvant chemo I would feel better. I didn’t. Since then I have discovered many other women experience their symptoms get worse during peri and menopause. I didn’t really think it was adhd at first, but the more I looked up symptoms I was experiencing it was listed on almost all of them. I finally went to a psychiatrist 3 years ago and she agreed with the symptoms and put me on a trial of meds to see if I felt better. Instant night and day difference. I still struggle at times, but it is markedly better than before.

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Perfect-Agent-2259@reddit

Oh man, the hormone swings with peri are making it so much more obvious how much I've been masking and over-compensating for 44 years.

Like, I used to be able to hold it together and get stuff done, but now hormones are like, "Not today, honey! Today you're going to forget where you put your wallet at least three times, only to find it later in your purse! You're also going to get so bored at work that you will eat everything in the snack cupboard, and then realize you have a terrible stomach ache! And don't even think about trying to respond to that email from your college friend - you won't be motivated to do that for MONTHS!"

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Jarkaikinfen@reddit

Preach. Seriously. I've been on meds for ADHD just in the past 6 years and at nearly 43, the peri symptoms have hit me HARD. I'd not really put 2 and 2 together on my ADHD symptoms being worse bc of peri though, so thanks for that!

Mine has manifested most as forgetting the words for basic things that I know but can't pull out of the brain bank to save my life...constantly low level RAGE that I do my best not to let escape my brain vault...and a complete inability to respond to anyone about anything. The idea of trying to have a conversation with anyone not in person is EXHAUSTING.

I feel bad about it and want to fix that but then my body/brain say NOPE....we've got nothing to give.

Ok... we'll try again next week. Haha

Sending best wishes and hopefully helpful faeries to find your keys instead of hiding them!

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Turbulentshmurbulent@reddit

HRT has been a life saver if you’re able to use them.

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Available-Maize5837@reddit

Diagnosed two months ago at 43 all thanks to peri. I was looking up early dementia symptoms and such. Came across some info about lots of women being diagnosed in peri because of the hormone fluctuations make all your previous masks and coping mechanisms fall to bits. Currently trialling my second type of medication with minimal success so far.

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GasStationChicken-@reddit

I very seriously thought I had early onset Alzheimer’s. My grandma had it and a lot of the same symptoms. ADHD in women is downplayed as being silly or ditzy but it is real and scary at times. I have to managed my brain every single minute of every waking hour so that I can function - even with the meds.

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Available-Maize5837@reddit

My grandmother was the same. Alzheimers. That's why I looked it up. It is crushing when I prided myself on my vocabulary to have it diminished overnight.

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DrLongivan@reddit

Thanks for posting this. I’m 46 and over the last couple years I have started to wonder if I have ADHD. I recently went into surgical menopause and I swear symptoms are worse.

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syntax_sorceress@reddit

You've been through a lot! 🩷

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tevamom99@reddit

I didn’t until my son got diagnosed ADHD combined earlier this year and a lot of his behaviors have always reminded me of myself… working on figuring that out for myself (with a doctor).

And yeah I still sometimes go up the stairs on all fours lol. Use it or lose it right?!

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Persis-@reddit

I was diagnosed at 34 with ADHD. At 47 now, I truly believe that there’s autism, as well. The adhd diagnosis helped, but I’ve still never felt like it was the whole picture.

Understanding autism better, and seeing various signs in my young-adult children, I can now see it in me, and also my mother.

I don’t feel like there’s any point in seeking a Dx at this point in my life, it’s just nice to feel like I finally understand myself better.

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Ineedavodka2019@reddit

My daughter told me yesterday that I was neurodivergent. I was like what? She said that all of my kids agree that I definitely have OCD maybe more. Then said where do you think we get it? She’s ADHD and my oldest is OCD. Idk though.

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elphaba00@reddit

My oldest was officially diagnosed in elementary school, and I see so much of his traits in me. The (weird) obsessions. The struggle to fit in socially. The anxiety. The stimming. There’s always been this overwhelming thought of “What the F is wrong with me? Why can’t I be like everyone else?”

I also suspect my dad has it. His older sisters said he didn’t talk until he was 3. He becomes overly obsessed with hobbies and interests, to the point where he shuts everyone else out.

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HalfFrozenSpeedos@reddit

Well it is genetic I have it, my youngest brother has it, my dad is undiagnosed but DEFINITELY has it - object impermanence "where the hell has x object I just had in my hand vanished to", the non existent frustration tolerance i.e. thermonuclear temper, addiction issues - tobacco and alcohol, perfectionism to counter anxiety, lack of aboloty to bite your tongue (though I suffer the opposite problem due to anxiety)

My mum is very likely undiagnosed autistic and my other younger brother displays many of the signs of autism

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MardelMare@reddit

I’m not wondering, I know! 🤣

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HalfFrozenSpeedos@reddit

Knew all my life that something was different about me, always the one pointed out for "negative" traits, struggled to focus, never given any help and criticised for being idle

Told by mental health I was - depressed, anxious, autistic, borderline personality disorder - first 2 are due to not being treated for years and the last 2 are just plain wrong

I have ADHD with severe rejection sensitive dysphoria, which masking and feeling in danger for years on end led to complex PTSD.

Diagnosed around 40, 3 years later I finally am getting my meds sorted properly , cut down Zoloft from 200 to 25 and feel way more myself, but the last 25 is hellish to come off of.....so liquid formulation prescribed to make it easier to cut the dose more gradually.

Taking 60mg elvanse a day and it helps a lot with my focus and thinking processes, though I can tell when it wears off though.....really feel the symptoms return

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Icy_Hippo@reddit

ADHD and Autism found out at 45, my dad at 75 then questioned himself...he has ADHD too lol It was a big year for us both!
My daughter is for sure but not at a medication level, im monitoring it and supporting her, she functions well at school, socially etc

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AytumnRain@reddit

I was diagnosed Autistic, ADHD, and OCD as a kid.

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AdelleDeWitt@reddit

I don't think most people are. Life would have been a lot easier for me if most people were also autistic.

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MartinMerten@reddit

Life would be easier if most people could actually “Think” past their first thought and impulse. But… alas… here we are.

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sak3rt3ti@reddit

You mean like proof read?

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Old-Engineering499@reddit

yeah for real, it definitely feels isolating sometimes when you’re different like that

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Nottheadviceyaafter@reddit

Me too. Of you think most are autistic you ain't autistic. Man I had a shut down myself just yesterday they don't have a fin clue what it is like to constantly mask for social expectations.

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Checktheusernombre@reddit

Yeah if someone thinks most people are chances are high they've not lived life with an autistic brain. I sure as hell know that I'm the outlier and the way I experience life is not what most people experience.

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sevalle13@reddit

See I feel most people are, that's why it's a spectrum and not a definitive point on a scale. Me and my wife have come to this conclusion together

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HermioneMarch@reddit

In my 20s I went to a therapist who recommended me a book called the Highly Sensitive Person. It really helped me and I began calling myself an HSP. My kiddo was diagnosed with autism in second grade and although we have different degrees of symptoms, after learning more about the research ( or lack thereof) in women, im pretty sure HSP is just “autism lite.” Being on the spectrum explains so much of my mental health issues, and a bunch of other “weird” habits I’ve always beat myself up for. Raising my kid has taught me to be kinder to myself.

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Dramatic_Prior_9298@reddit

Me and me 😄

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soopirV@reddit

I’ve suspected I was autistic and ADHD my whole life but remained woefully undiagnosed until 45- I switched careers and my coping strategies for adhd weren’t cutting it, and boy, what a difference some meds made! Thanks, mom and dad! I then took some online tests for ASD, and learned I had a 92% chance of being neurotypical, which surprised me- the site said a self-diagnosed ASD suspicion is usually correct, so if you think you are but scored lower than expected, they suggested a test focused on masking behaviors- I got 135/150 on that, so must be masking quite a lot. Was very interesting.

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fromthedarqwaves@reddit

So masking isn’t a normal thing? I feel like I’ve been in a play most of my life with real moments here and there. It’s interesting the part about practicing social interactions. As a kid I would stare into the mirror and watch myself talk and practice different voices. So much that I don’t have a southern accent like my entire family does. People often comment that I don’t have an accent despite being from where I’m from. I say “I chose not to.” I got a 136.

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soopirV@reddit

Hello fellow misfit friend! Do you also reenact conversations (both sides) afterward to assess?

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fromthedarqwaves@reddit

Not out loud but I’ll think about past conversations a lot and imagine doing/saying things differently. I’ll do this for years and decades later. I’m cursed with good memory. My short term memory is actually getting worse but I can watch the past like a TV in my head.

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soopirV@reddit

Same! Frustrating because my gf will say something and my brain says, “did we know that?” and she says, “yes, we talked about it yesterday”

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fromthedarqwaves@reddit

Dude you have no idea. Now I’ll just go with the flow if she says something that I’m supposed to know or we need to go somewhere we’re supposed to be and I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’m hearing about it. What sucks is when Im certain beyond a reasonable doubt that I’ve never heard some information before and her mom says “yeah we told you yesterday.” Maybe there’s another me here while the first me is at the guitar store.

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soopirV@reddit

you don’t watch the oompa band?

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akm1111@reddit

Got a link for the masking test?

I scored higher on the "possibly" test than my diagnosed AuDHD kid.

Mom making comments about we had to set timers for me in kinder to keep me on task, and all the "you talked too much" throughout school.

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Mmeeggggss@reddit

CAT-Q test

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frostatypical@reddit

Dodgy tests at a sketchy website

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soopirV@reddit

Is it? I felt it was a really insightful resource. Is it a medical diagnosis? Of course not, but if you read how to use and interpret the results it offers reflection.

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pregnantandsober@reddit

I kind of wonder sometimes. I don't feel the need to be diagnosed, and I'm not going to diagnose myself just because I have similar traits. My mom does say she thinks I might be on the spectrum because I was a "little different" when I was growing up. She worked in elementary schools for 30 years so she's seen plenty of neurodivergent kids.

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Intelligent-Camera90@reddit

In the past few weeks, both my therapist and dietitian have asked if I’ve ever been assessed for ADHD, so there’s that.

I just looked them and said, I’m a female that grew up in the 80’s. All they did back then was tell my parents not to give me sugar or get me wet, else I’ll turn into a gremlin. Also, I forgot to pay literally every bill last month.

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sunsetandporches@reddit

I decided it was either perimenopausal or that it was always there. And what it is could still be a few things.

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HipHopGrandpa@reddit

That’s wild. I can’t think of a bill that is not on auto-payment for me, and I run 2 businesses also. Otherwise, I probably would forget.

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Intelligent-Camera90@reddit

I have multiple reminders! I had the money, so it’s not like I was scrambling to find couch pennies!

And, I’m not so far removed from the days where I had to do the money shuffle to pay bills that I trust autopay.

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Bourbon-No-Ice@reddit

I'm going Friday to get assessed... After a podcast and reading... Reflecting on my life, im pretty certain I'm in the combined version.

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MartinMerten@reddit

All your posts are of cigars…

Someone was looking for you

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Bourbon-No-Ice@reddit

Yours is all swords and supper. I bet with my username I may enjoy bourbon, my posts also have a car on it as well, and my comments have stuff too!

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tylenol3@reddit

I have been diagnosed and treated in the last six months and it has made a world of difference. Going from extremely poor executive function to average executive function feels like a superpower.

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InfidelZombie@reddit

No everyone is a little weird. As long as your quirks don't regularly interfere with your daily life then you're just on the normal spectrum.

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EternalSunshineClem@reddit

I agree. Never met anyone normal the more I got to know them.

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spookyaction7@reddit

Every so often I wonder if I have ADD but then I realize it's not that I'm easily distracted; it's just that I'm bombarded by so. Many. Damn. Distractions. The feeling is definitely a symptom of the outside world rather than my brain.

Otherwise, I think awareness of neurodivergence is so much higher today than it was when we were growing up, so I'm sure some of us struggled and are still struggling undiagnosed.

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otherwise10@reddit

I protected a colleague from getting fired for their poor behaviour due to ADHA. (They had not been diagnosed). Later she reported me for a joke and I had to quit. Oh well.

A colleague gave them a "ADHA" pill (Ritalin) one day (she has three kids on the spectrum)... total mellowed them out for 24hrs. But the after-math of the chemical brain imbalance was a seen to behold I was told.

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drkittymow@reddit

Many of us missed the era of over diagnosing things like ADHD. We were just called “odd” or “rowdy” or “a daydreamer.”

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Kitchen_Ad6227@reddit

Neuro-what?

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Puffyfugu8@reddit

Yes to all you said!

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Expensive-Day-3551@reddit

I just recently got diagnosed with adhd and am now realizing all these things I’ve had to do to be “normal” are in fact, not normal.

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Alarmed_Drop7162@reddit

I did a neuropsych test in maybe 2010 once I’d saved enough money after grad school.

The numbers suggested adhd. They prescribed long acting Ritalin, the punding was terrible. They prescribed an adrenaline based drug and I was unable to sleep more than two hours a night.

I’m just this way and trying to “fix” it makes it worse. So I quit trying.

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iheartruiner@reddit

Got dx just over a year ago, both my kids are ND. :)

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CalliopeKB@reddit

I knew I had ADHD. Undiagnosed but I have so many of the markers I figured why bother getting diagnosed plus it might involve making a phone call (if I even remember to do so) but the past few months it’s gotten so much worse to just get through a day so I’m getting tested. Seeing you guys say perimenopause was exacerbating everything really helps me feel like I’m doing the right thing.

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MsGMac13@reddit

I’m 47, got diagnosed with combined type ADHD in April and suddenly my entire life made a lot more sense - especially when I learned about rejection sensitivity dysmorphia.

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Possible-Tangelo9344@reddit

If most people are then isn't the divergent the norm.

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Merkela22@reddit

Yes I was diagnosed late. Because girls in the 80s didn't have ADHD.

Also of course I still go up the stairs on all fours sometimes. It's hilarious. My dog hates it.

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Affectionate-Cut4828@reddit

After getting a diagnosis for my youngest son, I'm sure I would have been too when I was younger. I think I grew up thinking that a lot of it was just my ADHD and it's mild enough that after all these years, I've just adapted to it.

I joke about trains because I play simulators on my computer, and that's the meme, but seriously, get me going on WW2 airplanes or firearms (just general knowledge, I'm not an Ammosexual). It also puts into focus why I've always had difficulty holding down jobs or being comfortable in social situations.

There's a decent amount of crossover between ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and the line gets blurred. I'll lose an entire day without realizing it playing a video game, researching a topic, binging a TV show and I just put that to the ADHD because I have a diagnosis for that, but every time I wonder what diagnoses I'd have if I'd been born in a different time.

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anakusis@reddit

Been seeing professionals since I was 8. Hospitalized for over a year at 13 and I didn't get diagnosed with ADHD until I was 35 and autism a couple months ago. The depression and anxiety are result of trying to manage.

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slademccoy47@reddit

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I have a tiny bit of something.

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Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit

I've been asked. But then every test comes back negative. One kid has ADD, the next autism. Checked again. Still no.

Definitely got depression though. I get 100% every time. Gold star for me.

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upnytonc@reddit

Sometimes I think I may have adhd. But as a woman in her late 40s it seems every symptom I have is also perimenopause. Anxiety over the last couple of years has been through the roof and I can not concentrate at work for the life of me.

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animus218@reddit

Yup. I will still go up on all fours. And I'm undiagnosed and have developed my own, good enough, coping mechanisms, but I'm definitely some kind of left of center.

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MyNameis_bud@reddit

I was diagnosed in elementary school. But I think the term back then was gifted.

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oldmamallama@reddit

I was “gifted” as a child and when I did struggle in school early on or forget things I was heavily punished or criticized for it. So I masked. Hard. And therefore was never diagnosed. So hard I never figured out I had both adhd and autism until my now 5 year old started showing symptoms and I recognized bits of myself. Took lots of online screenings. Did a lot of soul searching. Said “wait what if”. My brother was diagnosed adhd as a child and autistic later in life. Found out my dad was also adhd but never told me (and is also probably autistic). When I finally started using those terms to describe myself everyone I knew was like “yeah, and? you just figured it out? We’ve known the whole time” So right now my son and I are figuring out our brains together.

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Ok_Land_38@reddit

It makes me frustrated because back in the 90’s and shit even the 80’s teachers wanted to test me but my mother refused to let them test me because she knew better. She told the teachers that if I zoned out to just snap their fingers in my face like she did to get my attention. Dad just kept his mouth shut because mom is such a crazy bitch.

I got good at masking and playing it off that I’m a ditzy Aquarius.

Thanks mom.

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LastCallKillIt@reddit

Definitely beginning to wonder about myself after my ex mentioned it on multiple occasions. I suppose it would explain a lot. It's not something that was ever on the radar until the last couple years since there's so much more awareness and understanding about it. Younger i just always assumed i was undiagnosed ADD or something, but the social issues, obsessive hobbies and everything else make since too

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strongcoffee2go@reddit

My spouse was lately dx with ASD. It turns out that I'm surrounded by autistic adults, but I grew up with an autistic dad so even though I'm neurotypical, I think I gravitate towards the neurodivergent folks.

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like_shae_buttah@reddit

Diagnosed in 1st grade with ADHD 🥴

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malibuklw@reddit

I was diagnosed with adhd at 43 after my kid was and I started learning more about it.

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FoppyRETURNS@reddit

I know I don't "have all 52 cards in the deck" but I'm married, have children, good career, investments, house, why hold myself back with a diagnosis? I confronted my demons ans won. I like finally winning at something for once in my life. 😂

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imlikewhoaa@reddit

No, because thats not a real thing.

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hallowdmachine@reddit

Almost certainly ADHD, possibly ASD, and I don't have stairs in my house but I do sit down on the floor to put my shoes on.

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PhiloLibrarian@reddit

I’ve been diagnosed and in-diagnosed since my late 30s… stress, aging, lack of sleep, grief, depression, PTSD… all conditions that impact attention and focus…

The “spectrum” is only a fraction filled in at this point but yeah, I’m on it somewhere!

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FromMyTARDIS@reddit

I asked chat gpt if i was autistic, it was like oh ya 100% definitely. This was after i told it every autistic test ive ever taken say 99% likely. It's not just your brain though its your nervous sytem too. Explains all the gastro probelms i have 😞

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GutsAndBlackStufff@reddit

I’m wondering about my Pinky

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ladyzowy@reddit

Are you Pondering what I'm pondering?

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GutsAndBlackStufff@reddit

Right Brain, but what are we doing up this early?

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ladyzowy@reddit

The same thing we do every morning Pinky, trying to take over the world.

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MartinMerten@reddit

Snarf

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yayoffbalance@reddit

I love you!

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ladyzowy@reddit

The older I get, the more people I see with ND, diagnosed and undiagnosed. I think our generation is still in the mindset as many of our parents. People go get tested (if you can, have access, and are able to get support).

I'm diagnosed with ADHD, a form of dyslexia and cPTSD. Yay!

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Fydron@reddit

I don’t really think about these things to be honest.

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SpeedyDragonzcales@reddit

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 32 or something. When I was a kid, my parents and the professionals were certain that I was 100% “normal”.

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This_hoe_dumb@reddit

I got diagnosed at 41 with adhd. It triggered a grief for who I could have been, and I still think about that a lot. And yes, I do go up the stairs on all fours sometimes. Lmao

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BlueGorgonArt@reddit

I found out I have adhd in my early 40s and it explains SO much

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jinxes_are_pretend@reddit

I’m wondering about my brain, but not due to any neurodivergent reasons. I worry because I’m pretty confident I have CTE.

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bcentsale@reddit

Yes on the stairs. Never actually stopped, but now with aging knees I've come full circle to it being a necessity again. ADHD but I had masking and management beat into me growing up.

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farmley0223@reddit

Perimenopause did it for me. Once that shit hit, boy my ADHD traits were starting to take shape. Sure enough, at 42 tested for inattentive ADHD (impulsive behavior) type.

And then my whole life started to make sense!

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Moxie_Stardust@reddit

No, I don't think everyone is. We started thinking I was autistic about 15 years ago, I haven't pursued an official diagnosis because I don't see a benefit in my personal situation for it, but my therapist agreed it seems likely for whatever that's worth.

I do still go up the stairs on all fours sometimes...

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Omgkimwtf@reddit

I'm officially diagnosed autistic with ADHD.

Sadly the only stairs in my life are at the office, so no, I do not go up on all fours anymore 😪

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Caliyogagrl@reddit

Yeah I’ve been thinking about that for the last few years, I’ve been super burned out even though I “had so much potential”. There were signs in childhood that something was up, I found out after taking to my mom. She did her diligence with the system that existed at the time I think. There’s so much clear language these days about how brains work and how people describe their inner experiences compared to when we were young, I think it’s opening a lot of eyes.

I don’t have stairs but I do like to open my arms wide and spin around.

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IndomitableAnyBeth@reddit

No, I've had reason to know exactly why my brain is weird. What happens when a highly verbal, mechanically-mind, well-educated, well-read person who maxes out the WAIS gets dozens of lesions spread throughout their brain? Nothing at all... until th brain can't reroute and everything goes down at once, cascading failures at best. My brain damage makes my brain weird. Usually people with my condition can four or fewer lesions on diagnosis. I had over two dozen of various ages. My brain being such that it took that much damage for me to notice, that makes me very unusual for someone with this level of damage. Which means my brain can be wild in all kinds of interesting ways while I remain unusually function for symptom type and level of damage. I don't wonder about my brain, I know. I've had 3 neuropsych exams as an adult and I've had to get regularly MRI scans for years. Gonna get some more nice black and whites within the month, thanks for the unintentional reminder.

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CariniFluff@reddit

Just curious, what is the cause of your brain lesions?

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IndomitableAnyBeth@reddit

Multiple sclerosis. My blood likes to eat my brain when it has a chance. When I was diagnosed the average number of lesions at diagnosis was two or three. When you couldn't be diagnosed or treated with fewer than 2. My diagnosing neurologist was somewhat an MS specialist and about to retire he'd nver seen half as a many lesions at presentation. It's weird to be tod that then have the doc go on about average outcomes when I clearly had precious little in common with an average case.

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AppropriateAmoeba406@reddit

I’ve learned to deal with my “divergence” by now. Sink or swim.

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beggsbanner@reddit

When I was 6 my 1st grade teacher and principal said that I had add and possibly autism. They even had the school counselor/psychiatrist asses me and she agreed. My parents told them to chill. I was a 6 year old little boy and always moving and sometimes causing trouble. I also had and still have concentration "issues " that I have to overcome everyday. I am also very glad that my parents didn't let them put me on drugs. A doc could easily say I am on the spectrum. But here is the thing. If it is a spectrum it automatically has room for error and many times purposeful fudging. Im sorry, I don't buy it. I overcome and keep going.

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bassman314@reddit

I was diagnosed with ADHD well before it was cool.

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Push-bucket@reddit

Diagnosed at 43 and it makes SO MUCH SENSE. Trying to have compassion for myself after being told my whole life I just wasn't trying hard enough (when I really was, with everything in me.)

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beggsbanner@reddit

I not only go up the stairs on all 4s, I also turn on music and boots dance

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beggsbanner@reddit

Sick of the term honestly

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iheartpyrex@reddit

I went through this journey two years ago. Things got incredibly difficult for me for a bit, but I’m in pretty good place now, mentally and emotionally, and I’m out of debilitating burnout.

I don’t think most people are neurodivergent.

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Verbull710@reddit

I'm just glad there is more understanding about neurotransmitters and methylation disorders these days. My oldest had adhd and a well known pharmaceutical and life coach until we found out he just has an extremely common methylation mutation.

Once we got rid of everything in the house that had folic acid and started giving him a methylated b vitamin and some magnesium a few times a week, he doesn't have adhd anymore. Science!

https://i.redd.it/dlzddjtjdc2g1.gif

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moissan2nite@reddit

I’m “diagnosed” (I’m not sure it’s an actual diagnosable condition?) by my therapist as a highly sensitive person (HSP). I read the book about this by Elaine Aron, and yeah, that’s definitely me.

I’ve seen a lot of online discussion about HSP being a more sociably acceptable name for high-functioning autism in women. I don’t know what the official research says these days, if there even is any. I’m OK with it either way.

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canisdirusarctos@reddit

I have strong suspicion that I have autism (probably level 1, with very effective masking due to higher intelligence) and ADHD. My kid was diagnosed with both and my family is packed with people that are similar, but no others are diagnosed (for numerous reasons - poverty, era, etc). I also suspect my wife and her mother have ADHD, but neither of them have autism.

My wife enjoys describing us all as “neurospicy”.

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Golden_Enby@reddit

Yup. I envy people around our age that we're diagnosed in childhood. Might've helped me understand my behaviors and thought patterns better. My whole family is on the spectrum, which makes sense since it's hereditary. I wonder if my father had it, too. I've only just started the process at 43 to get diagnosed. My therapist says I meet the criteria.

And for those wondering: much like with most things these days, we're only seeing an "uptick" in people being diagnosed on the spectrum because awareness is at an all time high. Back in our day, you were lucky to get diagnosed early, as it wasn't a well known diagnosis yet. I remember kids in middle school and high school that, looking back, were definitely on the spectrum, but had to suffer because they weren't being given proper treatment. I will never forget this one guy in high school who used to cry and have meltdowns whenever he didn't understand what was being taught. It was heartbreaking. Teachers didn't know how to handle him. My older brother is like that, only way more violent and has a hard time communicating. He has the mind of a 10 year old.

It's actually a very good thing that people are finally getting properly diagnosed. Those of us who had to wait decades for it have learned how to mask and adapt. I still have trouble with certain things, but I'm incredibly relieved to finally have a reason why. My fiance is also on the spectrum.

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Nottheadviceyaafter@reddit

Child of the 80s was non verbal until well after my 5th birthday sign number 1. Two was considered a hyperactive, naughty, non responsive kid....... no i was just autistic. Got diagnosed after my children both were, my boy is literally mini me...... my wife loves how I can get the best out of him as I and him have a very similar thought pattern.

I have always struggled with social interactions for my whole life, social events are a learnt behaviour for me it don't come naturally. But with all the struggles there are also positives, my pattern recognition is off the charts and I can pull outliers out of raw data before actual analysis due to this. Handy for what I do for a living.

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Jets237@reddit

I’ve been diagnosed with add since I was 7. My parents convinced me it meant I was dumb… or bad… didn’t believe in medication and so on.

In my 20s I figured out how to navigate it. Crushed college and ended up at an ivy for grad school.

My son is high support needs autistic and.. through him and his struggles… I’m realizing that what I’m dealing with is not just adhd.

But… I’m more just embracing who I am. My executive function blows… but I’ve adapted. Turns out I’m a well adjusted and pretty smart guy fully equipped to raise an autistic kid.

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pawogub@reddit

I thought maybe I was, but I was recently diagnosed with ocd so I think that’s what made me weird my whole life.

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RachelPalmer79@reddit

My son was diagnosed with ADHD. Most of what I see in him, I see in myself. Getting assessed.

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ButterscotchAware402@reddit

I (41f) had been highly suspect that I was on the spectrum for the last decade, give or take. A few things happened around Covid that really made me start thinking about ADHD so I started educating myself. Whudduh-ya know? I've got some AuDHD going on. Looking back, so much about my life makes sense now and I'm very much having to work through the anger I have knowing a lot of things could have gone differently for me if I had been diagnosed earlier.

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SpaceAdventures3D@reddit

Not just you. I occassionally do go up the stairs of my parent's house on all fours.

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sevalle13@reddit

I don't wonder, I found out I was on the spectrum after my middle daughter was diagnosed as an aspy and at the time the docs said Asperger's was genetic whereas autism was not and that's how I found out that I was on the spectrum. It hasn't changed my life in anyway just helped explain my ticks and whatnot...I am fully functioning, was in the military, hold down a full technical white collar career and family etc. I don't see it as defining or anything to overcome. I'm not non verbal or anything so I recognize I am lucky

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usernames_suck_ok@reddit

I more so wonder why everyone and their mama all of a sudden is "neurodivergent."

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MartinMerten@reddit

Our Dopamine is being hacked.

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Crafty_Accountant_40@reddit

Covid damages executive function and dopamine receptors and can look like or worsen ADHD...

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Deep-Ad4351@reddit

Hi, clinical psych PhD student doctor here! That's pretty easy to explain.

We're now seeing the results of years of research that has expanded our understanding of how autism and ADHD actually present, particularly in populations that were systematically excluded from early diagnostic criteria. The original research was conducted predominantly on white boys, which created a narrow template that missed a huge portion of the neurodivergent population.

Females, and BIPOC females in particular, have been masking symptoms for decades, often without even knowing they were doing it. Masking isn't a choice so much as a survival mechanism when you're taught from childhood that your natural way of being is "too much" or "not right." So people learned to suppress stimming, force eye contact, script social interactions, and exhaust themselves performing neurotypicality just to get by.

What's changed isn't that more people are suddenly neurodivergent. What's changed is that clinicians finally have better diagnostic tools, researchers have documented how symptoms manifest differently across genders and cultures, and there's less stigma around seeking evaluation. People who spent their whole lives thinking they were just "bad at being normal" are finally getting answers.

The surge in adult diagnoses isn't a trend or a fad. It's a correction. It's what happens when medicine finally starts looking at the people it ignored for fifty years. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

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RoyalZeal@reddit

Because we can better diagnose neurodivergent conditions now and we have more understanding of how it works, especially in regards to autism. It's like being left-handed. We've always been there, we just called ND folk 'quirky' or 'eccentric' in years past.

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garden__gate@reddit

I got diagnosed with ADHD at 31 and it quite literally changed my life. Highly recommend getting assessed if you think that might be an issue.

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pinchenombre@reddit

Yes. All the time.

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MartinMerten@reddit

11 comments… and not one about going up the stairs?

I see you sister. I’ll howl at the moon and cry bout a little orphan mouse with you all night long.

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Rubik842@reddit

Nope, not at all. I know I'm autistic. A small side of inattentive ADHD as well.

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GenXMillenial@reddit

Audhd diagnosed earlier this year and it makes so much sense now. So many childhood experiences and behaviors make sense

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OnlyFranks-@reddit

Never thought I was until I found i have adhd. (No, and thank the gods everyone isn't) but yes, sometimes, for funsies.

I describe having adhd as two squirrels, trapped in a box, fighting over three nuts. It can be a lot sometimes, but my brain meds help. When I remember to take them that is 😬

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No-Gas5342@reddit

lol yeah I have ocd and I’ve had it since I was a tiny kid in the 80s. For years I heard that ocd people are considered neurodivergent and I thought no, nah, I’m neurotypical, not me at all.

Then I spent a week with a family member who has pretty severe adhd and I realized how much closer I am to his reality than to basically anyone else I know. He articulated things I had felt but couldn’t put into words, especially the mental NOISE.

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