Was diagnosed last year aged 50 Autistic with ADHD traits. I now identity with so much ADHD content particularly my inability to focus and constantly seeking excitement whilst craving routine 😂
@mayhamilton6652 I was diagnosed at 49 as ADHD with Autistic traits but I feel like they did a bad job asking questions and I never got to discuss my childhood friendship struggles or special interests or all my sensory issues. I pushed back on them saying I wasn't Autistic enough to be diagnosed as I was REALLY upset by this and they brushed me off and dismissed me while I held back tears and lost ability to speak. I don't think I could endure another 7-8 hours of testing to try again even if we could afford it or convince them to schedule me again for a repeat. I hope more of us with both can get our diagnosis!
Look up the Venn diagram of three overlapping circles marked "ADHD, ASD, Gifted". Many of us may present as an amorphous blob occupying each of those circles to some degree. Enjoy your research. As yet, I have a heavy presentation in one circle and a minor in the other two. So, I have one official label that leaves me uncomfortable, as I've lost my identity by suppressing that aspect of myself to fit in socially. I'm still working out who I am. Thank you for your work on these videos.
I felt a lot more autistic before menopause. I suffered so much with PMDD. I had daily meltdowns, was agoraphobic for 4 years. My 20's and 30's were hard. In my 40's I began to really level out with peri-menopause and in the years since, I feel I've really blossomed. Menopause really set me free. I'm now very ADHD forward now. Maybe I would have always been without the struggle of hormones. As you say, there needs to be so much more research involving neurodivetgent women. None of us deserves to be left in the dark. Another great video!
This is fascinating, thank you so much for sharing, Katie. I'm sorry to hear what a rough time you've been through but I'm so glad you're in a much better place post-menopause 🧡
Our sister, ourself, our grandmother & great-grandmother were all thought to be bipolar. After seeing a video on "The Neurocuriosity Club" talking about AuDHDers being misdiagnosed as bipolar- we strongly suspect that this was also the case for our family. It just makes more sense than bipolar disorder. Plus, the bipolar medication was awful... had to take it for 3 years.😵💫
I don't doubt bipolar is a very common misdiagnosis, and particularly in women and AFAB folks. I may well talk about my own mental health misdiagnosis one day 👍
Yes, indeed to all of this. It is like a big umbrella which houses so much neurodivergence. I have children diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, and, more recently, dyslexia. Despite that, it took me forever to acknowledge the ASD in me and I have only just ventured to consider ADHD as a component in the past year. It took a lot of processing and comparing my story to others to even get there. I don't think much about the dyslexia for myself as I grew up an avid reader, but I do find focus and especially retention much harder than before. The ability to read longer things without the temptation to skim is so hard now, unless it is schoolwork for my son. Not sure what to attribute that to just yet. I was never a social butterfly, but I am finding social situations that much harder to bear. I also find myself craving routine more, desiring anchors again to regulate my days. I have gone through seasons of it in my life from my preschool teaching days to my writing schedule, my art, my online selling, etc. Eventually, each seems to fizzle out over time and I am typically left with loose ends. I think my ADHD and ASD battle one another for prominence. However, I must say homeschooling is proving a more effective anchor than the others at present, but, perhaps, it has to do with the fact that, like my preschool teacher period, another is dependent upon me. And, as one beginning to deal with perimenopause, I look forward to more content on that. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It is so helpful. ❤
Hi Lizzie 💛 The person who assessed me thought I did had Autism and ADHD, but we decided that with my semi-retirement we were not going to go the medication (primary treatment for ADHD in the states) route for it. I think sometimes it is hard to tease out the executive functioning issues with autism. I know I am always working so hard to keep my mind in order! I really resonate with the scale you showed, and the autistic traits being prominent. Thank you for emphasizing how we need to forgive ourselves for how we handled things developmentally and beyond when we didn't know about our autism/ADHD. Sometimes I forget to have compassion for myself, especially around my parenting, and it is always good to be reminded. We are only human after all... Research about menopause... yeah. It would be exciting and meaningful to create a qualitative study (interview based, lived experience of autistic voices emphasized) with about ten menopausal women. I am 61 now and through menopause and I would love to process the experience with others. Thank you as always Lizzie for raising important issues for all of us to ponder. 🧡💛🧡
Thanks for sharing, Lisle! Like you, I'm not interested in taking meds, as I think I'd probably be intolerant to them anyway. For me, a diagnosis would just help to further explain my experience of being weird human being. 😆 And indeed, we are only human. 🧡 Oh, I think you'd be an amazing candidate if research like this were to exist. There's just so much we need to know about the neurodivergent experience of menopause (well, in fact, even research about the neurotypical experience would be a helpful start!) 🧡🧡🧡
A lot of that does resonate with me. I originally suspected autism 15 years ago when I was 42, getting high results in online tests and realising a whole raft of traits the more I researched, but scored only borderline for online ADHD tests. Only more recently, I'm realising that many of the issues I had at school were ADHD traits. A big one for me was procrastination, putting off doing things like homework and revision for exams until the last minute, and doing badly because I just didn't leave myself enough time to do them properly. Procrastination has also meant I've not got round to getting assessed, so am still undiagnosed for both conditions. My short-term working memory is also terrible, which I understand is an ADHD trait, so I've never been any good at mental arithmetic even though I was fairly good at Maths in principle. My hand writing has never been neat, which I've heard is also an ADHD trait. In my adult working life, my autistic perfectionist tendency and sense of commitment to my customers has mostly been able to overpower the ADHD tendency to procrastinate on things that seem important, like replying to emails promptly, delivering projects on time and submitting my accounts, but the seemingly less important things like keeping the clutter at bay, get put off forever. I used to read novels when I was much younger, but now it's much as you described, not being able to focus on large pagefuls of text without constantly losing my place, or suddenly realising I wasn't paying attention for the previous half a page and having to go back and re-read it again. I can listen to audiobooks if I can be doing something on autopilot at the same time. If I lay down to relax and listen, I'll fall asleep within minutes. I also now much prefer non-fiction about topics I'm really interested in, rather than novels.
Happy New Year Lizzie; omg i resonate with your video because I am 34 and have had 30 jobs 🥰🤣😭You are a record holder tho- having the AUDHD presentation definitely impacts life uniquely because the traits do fuluctaute between the two depending on circumstances! really enjoyed this! and I commend you for talking about premenapause and menapause because it is really important for Us as women and Autist; it might help someone figure out their Autistic or even help someone with understanding their symptoms and experiences. The connection is so important
Aww, thank you lovely - and a very happy new year to you too! And you never know, there's still plenty of time for you to catch up with me as you're seemingly on track with 30 jobs! 😆 🧡
15:09 I believe that would have been me asking the question 😅 No worries about taking your time on making that video, as you said, there is still so much more we need to know about the menopause-autism connection, that we can only learn from other women’s comments at the time. I myself started showing ADHD traits when I started peri/menopause, even my husband (ADHD) joked with me saying I was copying him 😂. But then the autism traits also started showing big time, or maybe it’s just that I don’t have any energy left for masking. Thank you Lizzie for making this and all the videos that you do, you provide a lot of valuable information that is helping so many of us out there. Happy 2025 to you and your loved ones! 💙💙
I’m fairly sure I’m not dyslexic, but I do relate to some of what you said about reading. Probably some combination of my AuDHD focusing issues coupled with aphantasia (which is often a problem when reading fiction). When I’m in a flow state, I can read at length (especially non-fiction), but I often struggle to maintain interest in dense books, especially fiction, unless I’m reading aloud to someone else (which I do a lot!). Audiobooks aren’t really any help, as my ‘auditory processing disorder’ makes that a difficult channel for me to absorb information effectively.
I'm fairly certain I don't have ADHD, but it runs in my family. It's fascinating how closely ADHD and autism are related - with a super high morbidity rate and even a possible genetic connection, some people have proposed that they are two sides of the same thing. As for perimenopause, keep talking about it - about half of the population will have to deal with it firsthand at some point, and the other half will have to deal with us. lol
I'm the same age as you, autistic and very probably also adhd. I have the same experience as you with perimenopause and the way it affects me. I have always been too sensitive to lights and smells, and now noises bother me more and more. Now I started to suffer from executive disfunction when I'm in crowded and noisy places, like shopping centres. I don't think I had this problem before, not at least to this degree. Nowadays I enjoy being alone more than before, and when I make plans with a friend, I feel relieved when the friend has to cancel or reschedule our meeting, because often I don't want to go. I like making long walks in the nature alone, but now I dislike taking the train and going to Helsinki, as I feel it is too big, noisy, too many people. Definitely the autism has grown more than the adhd side on me. I have talked to my neurotypical friends, and it seems perimenopause has had these effects on them as well, so it is something that happens to them as well, but for neurodivergents it can feel more overwhelming.
Thank you for the video, Lizzie. Your comments about work and reading speak for me! My wife read more books last year than I had packets of crisps (and I eat too many crisps). I'm so jealous of her ability to just focus on a book. I feel like I'm missing out.
Ah, glad you can relate! It's so frustrating, isn't it? People in my life have always assumed me to be a reader and it's been kind of embarrassing to admit otherwise, but now I know it's not really my fault (and I eat loads of crisps too!)
@@CreativeAutistic I feel embarrassed too. I did an English MA last year, and I studied English Lit for my first degree, but I'm an appalling reader. I find it so hard not to be distracted, and I think this has got worse with age (and the internet).
@Autistic_Not_Alien Oh blimey, this is a brilliant achievement considering you have ADHD (well, it's a brilliant achievement for someone without ADHD tbh) - and yes, the internet *really* hasn't helped 😬 I have to leave my iPad upstairs in the evenings as it's a ridiculous distraction.
@@CreativeAutistic The internet hasn't helped with the ADHD (and holding down a full-time job, which I find really hard) but of course it's been a gift in terms of autism realisation and being part of the autism community.
As I have to read all day, I had to find a time saver. I now read out loud to myself (luckily, I work from home). Try reading out loud, it certainly helps me.
I love graphic novels too (Black Hole's my absolute favourite) - I hadn't considered how useful they might be for ADHD people so thank you for bringing my attention to this as it totally makes sense 🧡
(not sure if i've posted this twice!! sorry.) My daughter who struggles with adhd has found graphic novels to be helpful. I do love to read but only what really grabs my intention, usually on something I am obsessively learning about, otherwise it is an exhausting slog. If I do love it, I'll read things quickly. I read each Harry Potter book in 2 days. I obsess and forget to eat or pee, etc. We gotta do what we love and not beat ourselves up too much about the rest.
Happy new year 😊 yes I think my autistic traits are more pronounced now I am older. I can't mask easily anymore. Thank you for your videos they help me feel less lonely with it all x
Autistic, ADHD and OCD here! (I'm extra spicy!) Seriously tho, since my diagnosis, I learned that I use my ADHD and OCD to help with my Autistic inertia.
Yours is a very similar story to mine, though I was a couple years older. I suspected I was autistic for close to 20 years, but it never quite fit because of the novelty seeking. It wasn’t until I hit burnout that I really started looking into it and trying to rationalize everything that AuDHD showed up on my radar and made sense of everything, and both my doctor and my assessor agreed.
I used to be hyperlexic as a kid but, as I grew older, it became harder and harder to read books because I could read the same page dozens of times and not remember a single word of what I just read. Audiobooks help a bit to keep me focused, but only if I'm also reading along the words on a PDF, if I'm just listening to it while trying to do something else, I will eventually get distracted as well and stop paying attention to the audio reader. It also needs to be the right book and I need to have enough spoons to be able to do it.
Late diagnosed autistic and awaiting ADHD assessment due to my own inkling but my assessors all said the same And can relate to everything you’re saying! Perimenopause for the last five years and I feel like you do in every aspect And the menopause thing - I’ve had several medical appointments where they all know I’m neurodivergent and perimenopausal and they never seem to mention or attribute anything to either! I can’t take HRT either so it’s frustrating Sorry - I had a lot to say and I ran to the comments halfway through my dinner to reply! 😂 xx
Yep, that's me. I look at it as a mind of structured chaos and chaotic structure. I can't stick to anything for very long but when i do I can't think about anything else.
I can relate so much with what you were saying about missing out on getting information through reading. I was diagnosed dyslexic nearly 40 years ago and was diagnosed with autism and ADHD just months ago. I’m wondering if people who have all three look a little different than those with only two of these. I have heard that others who have autism and ADHD feel a little different than those who have only one of those. I believe my sensory sensitivities are more prominent than many autistics especially very sensitive towards vibration caused by movements around me
I can relate.Preliminary assessment for adhd in March last year indicating adhd combined type which I was not expecting at all.The assessor at the time advised me to save my money and not go for a full adhd assessment. October last year diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum after going for a full autism assessment. Novelty,difficulty reading a novel and reading in general.As you mentioned I have to go back and re read things after a few pages.I have never enjoyed reading either.
I'm very different from my 20's and part of my 30's but then i suppose most people are! I wasn't really bothered about health at all and my behaviour was reckless and full of addiction. I mean i've always struggled with concentration and as for me reading books well forget it😅 Now i'm definately more routine orientated and i would say now that i'm health obsessed , so if i am adhd i would think it was definately more prevelent years ago. Where as for the autism, i'm trying to think of the right term but i cant so i'll just say it feels like its harder to manage and cope with the older i get. 🌟🙋♂️
I found my autistic traits (though I didn't know what it was then) got worse during puberty for sure, I didn't notice so much with the menopause, but I had an early menopause at 39 and apart from hot sweats I was lucky. I am diagnosed autistic but definitely see ADHD traits as well but I am not wanting to go down the root of a diagnosis for that as I am content to know I am autistic and have learnt alot from that knowledge to help myself. It's such an individual choice and we just have to do whats right for us as individuals.😊
Thanks for sharing, Sarah. Yes, I think a lot of autistic folks will be content just with the one diagnosis as it's their main neurotype. I think I'm interested in a second diagnosis really because of running this channel - in that if I want to talk about ADHD, I can do so with the knowledge/confidence that I meet the diagnostic criteria 🧡
More study definitely needs to be done concerning women's challenges in the neurodivergent group. A standard of social conformity being a part of our lives, from childhood conditioning in the home and throughout our formal education, has damaged our ability to know our personal identity. This attempt to normalize all of us also affects science and the medical industry. That may be part of the reason women's issues of all kinds are ignored or belittled. No one wants to see a problem and they dismiss difficulty as weakness. Men do it to each other all day. We're socially punished for a perceived weakness. Men are largely in control of research, funding and education involved in women's issues. So, your difficulties will likely be treated in the same manner. Dismissed, belittled and socially punished. You are half of this world. Recognition and respect should be shared. I certainly hope life improves for all of us.
I'm not an autistic person with ADHD, but I have Irlen syndrome where you wear coloured lenses. Mine are blue tinted glasses. You can get ADHD and autism, also Irlen syndrome and Autism. Please let us know how you get on lizzie. I do think neurodivergent people are different than neurotypical when it comes to life situation.
My Autism & ADHD often alternate when I'm at work, but outside any structured day, oh dear my day simply collapses. My Autism needs a structure to make my ADHD happy & not flit around & nose-dive into a 'dopamine-craving-instant-gratification-binge-fest' Edit: I'm 39 & didn't realise is was AuDHD until about 18months 2 years ago.
And I am 56 and am on the end of a 10 year menopause. It was not easy. Much better now though I do wonder if I will ever sleep through the night again.
I've recently started on ADHD meds (stimulant) and i noticed that i was a lot more anxious about certain things like social situations, routine disturbance, etc. I've heard that people can seem "more autistic" when their ADHD symptoms lessen.
thanks for this. it's important to have out there in the ether. don't know if there's an XY variant of (peri-)menopause, but at >50, there's definitely some other traits floating to the top.
Thanks for sharing - I think fluctuating levels of hormones in a person, regardless of gender, plays a significant role in the waxing and waning of neurodivergent traits.
I'm autistic and have ADHD traits. I think its because autism is, essentially, tunnel vision. And ADHD is tunnel vision also. My brain likes to behave as if there is no past or future, there is just a "now." That's the tunnel vision of ADHD. If things aren't right in front of me, I tend to forget about them.
Thank you - hope to get a video out in the next couple of weeks, and I'm sure it'll be a theme I return to (I wish I could have had this information myself ten years ago!) 🧡
Very interesting. I still doubt I have ADHD but I do know in my jobs I have deliberately done things wrong or different during a job because I was bored. I also get angry that a job exists and so yes I want to leave but its never to move on, it's just to escape to my art. I do have a short attention span as well unless it's special interest. So some similarities to yourself there will see how you go and then I'll consider if I should investigate as well haha.
Like if you're an Autistic + ADHD-er 🧡
Was diagnosed last year aged 50 Autistic with ADHD traits. I now identity with so much ADHD content particularly my inability to focus and constantly seeking excitement whilst craving routine 😂
@mayhamilton6652 I was diagnosed at 49 as ADHD with Autistic traits but I feel like they did a bad job asking questions and I never got to discuss my childhood friendship struggles or special interests or all my sensory issues. I pushed back on them saying I wasn't Autistic enough to be diagnosed as I was REALLY upset by this and they brushed me off and dismissed me while I held back tears and lost ability to speak. I don't think I could endure another 7-8 hours of testing to try again even if we could afford it or convince them to schedule me again for a repeat. I hope more of us with both can get our diagnosis!
Look up the Venn diagram of three overlapping circles marked "ADHD, ASD, Gifted". Many of us may present as an amorphous blob occupying each of those circles to some degree. Enjoy your research. As yet, I have a heavy presentation in one circle and a minor in the other two. So, I have one official label that leaves me uncomfortable, as I've lost my identity by suppressing that aspect of myself to fit in socially. I'm still working out who I am. Thank you for your work on these videos.
🙋
@@ProudlyAutistic 🧡
I felt a lot more autistic before menopause. I suffered so much with PMDD. I had daily meltdowns, was agoraphobic for 4 years. My 20's and 30's were hard. In my 40's I began to really level out with peri-menopause and in the years since, I feel I've really blossomed. Menopause really set me free. I'm now very ADHD forward now. Maybe I would have always been without the struggle of hormones. As you say, there needs to be so much more research involving neurodivetgent women. None of us deserves to be left in the dark. Another great video!
This is fascinating, thank you so much for sharing, Katie. I'm sorry to hear what a rough time you've been through but I'm so glad you're in a much better place post-menopause 🧡
Our sister, ourself, our grandmother & great-grandmother were all thought to be bipolar. After seeing a video on "The Neurocuriosity Club" talking about AuDHDers being misdiagnosed as bipolar- we strongly suspect that this was also the case for our family. It just makes more sense than bipolar disorder. Plus, the bipolar medication was awful... had to take it for 3 years.😵💫
I don't doubt bipolar is a very common misdiagnosis, and particularly in women and AFAB folks. I may well talk about my own mental health misdiagnosis one day 👍
I am autistic…I realised at 45. I hadn’t even thought of ADHD until the perimenopause which seems to make me very ADHD. Thanks for sharing 😊
My wife says her ADHD symptoms have gotten worse since perimenopause. She started HRT, and it has helped stabilize things a lot.
Ah, that's interesting. I think perimenopause can *really* affect the neurodivergent experience - thank you for sharing 🧡
Yes, indeed to all of this. It is like a big umbrella which houses so much neurodivergence. I have children diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, and, more recently, dyslexia. Despite that, it took me forever to acknowledge the ASD in me and I have only just ventured to consider ADHD as a component in the past year. It took a lot of processing and comparing my story to others to even get there. I don't think much about the dyslexia for myself as I grew up an avid reader, but I do find focus and especially retention much harder than before. The ability to read longer things without the temptation to skim is so hard now, unless it is schoolwork for my son. Not sure what to attribute that to just yet. I was never a social butterfly, but I am finding social situations that much harder to bear. I also find myself craving routine more, desiring anchors again to regulate my days. I have gone through seasons of it in my life from my preschool teaching days to my writing schedule, my art, my online selling, etc. Eventually, each seems to fizzle out over time and I am typically left with loose ends. I think my ADHD and ASD battle one another for prominence. However, I must say homeschooling is proving a more effective anchor than the others at present, but, perhaps, it has to do with the fact that, like my preschool teacher period, another is dependent upon me. And, as one beginning to deal with perimenopause, I look forward to more content on that. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It is so helpful. ❤
Thank you for sharing, Marisa - there's certainly much I can relate to here! 🧡
Hi Lizzie 💛 The person who assessed me thought I did had Autism and ADHD, but we decided that with my semi-retirement we were not going to go the medication (primary treatment for ADHD in the states) route for it. I think sometimes it is hard to tease out the executive functioning issues with autism. I know I am always working so hard to keep my mind in order!
I really resonate with the scale you showed, and the autistic traits being prominent.
Thank you for emphasizing how we need to forgive ourselves for how we handled things developmentally and beyond when we didn't know about our autism/ADHD. Sometimes I forget to have compassion for myself, especially around my parenting, and it is always good to be reminded. We are only human after all...
Research about menopause... yeah. It would be exciting and meaningful to create a qualitative study (interview based, lived experience of autistic voices emphasized) with about ten menopausal women. I am 61 now and through menopause and I would love to process the experience with others.
Thank you as always Lizzie for raising important issues for all of us to ponder. 🧡💛🧡
Thanks for sharing, Lisle! Like you, I'm not interested in taking meds, as I think I'd probably be intolerant to them anyway. For me, a diagnosis would just help to further explain my experience of being weird human being. 😆
And indeed, we are only human. 🧡
Oh, I think you'd be an amazing candidate if research like this were to exist. There's just so much we need to know about the neurodivergent experience of menopause (well, in fact, even research about the neurotypical experience would be a helpful start!) 🧡🧡🧡
I would love to here from you about autism and menopause. I just seem to have autistic traits.
Thanks, Suzanne! I hope to get a video out in a couple of weeks 🧡
Thanks as always for sharing your experiences lizzie as I think this is really interesting. I hope your assessment isn't too far into the future!
Thank you! Let's hope it's less than 8 years! 🧡
A lot of that does resonate with me. I originally suspected autism 15 years ago when I was 42, getting high results in online tests and realising a whole raft of traits the more I researched, but scored only borderline for online ADHD tests. Only more recently, I'm realising that many of the issues I had at school were ADHD traits. A big one for me was procrastination, putting off doing things like homework and revision for exams until the last minute, and doing badly because I just didn't leave myself enough time to do them properly. Procrastination has also meant I've not got round to getting assessed, so am still undiagnosed for both conditions. My short-term working memory is also terrible, which I understand is an ADHD trait, so I've never been any good at mental arithmetic even though I was fairly good at Maths in principle. My hand writing has never been neat, which I've heard is also an ADHD trait. In my adult working life, my autistic perfectionist tendency and sense of commitment to my customers has mostly been able to overpower the ADHD tendency to procrastinate on things that seem important, like replying to emails promptly, delivering projects on time and submitting my accounts, but the seemingly less important things like keeping the clutter at bay, get put off forever.
I used to read novels when I was much younger, but now it's much as you described, not being able to focus on large pagefuls of text without constantly losing my place, or suddenly realising I wasn't paying attention for the previous half a page and having to go back and re-read it again. I can listen to audiobooks if I can be doing something on autopilot at the same time. If I lay down to relax and listen, I'll fall asleep within minutes. I also now much prefer non-fiction about topics I'm really interested in, rather than novels.
SO much to relate to here, Russ, thank you for sharing 👍
Happy New Year Lizzie; omg i resonate with your video because I am 34 and have had 30 jobs 🥰🤣😭You are a record holder tho- having the AUDHD presentation definitely impacts life uniquely because the traits do fuluctaute between the two depending on circumstances! really enjoyed this! and I commend you for talking about premenapause and menapause because it is really important for Us as women and Autist; it might help someone figure out their Autistic or even help someone with understanding their symptoms and experiences. The connection is so important
Aww, thank you lovely - and a very happy new year to you too! And you never know, there's still plenty of time for you to catch up with me as you're seemingly on track with 30 jobs! 😆 🧡
15:09 I believe that would have been me asking the question 😅 No worries about taking your time on making that video, as you said, there is still so much more we need to know about the menopause-autism connection, that we can only learn from other women’s comments at the time. I myself started showing ADHD traits when I started peri/menopause, even my husband (ADHD) joked with me saying I was copying him 😂. But then the autism traits also started showing big time, or maybe it’s just that I don’t have any energy left for masking.
Thank you Lizzie for making this and all the videos that you do, you provide a lot of valuable information that is helping so many of us out there. Happy 2025 to you and your loved ones! 💙💙
Ah, thank you for reminding me it was you - and for kindly waiting for the video! A very happy new year to you and yours too, lovely 🧡
I’m fairly sure I’m not dyslexic, but I do relate to some of what you said about reading. Probably some combination of my AuDHD focusing issues coupled with aphantasia (which is often a problem when reading fiction). When I’m in a flow state, I can read at length (especially non-fiction), but I often struggle to maintain interest in dense books, especially fiction, unless I’m reading aloud to someone else (which I do a lot!). Audiobooks aren’t really any help, as my ‘auditory processing disorder’ makes that a difficult channel for me to absorb information effectively.
Thank you for sharing and glad to hear you can relate - the struggle is real! 🧡
i'm also autistic and on the waiting list for an adhd assessment via right to choose!
Sending solidarity! 🧡
Happy New Year Lizzie , be lucky yeah!
I am looking forward to your video on autism and menopause. Thank you so much!
Thank you - I'm looking forward to working on it 🧡
I'm fairly certain I don't have ADHD, but it runs in my family. It's fascinating how closely ADHD and autism are related - with a super high morbidity rate and even a possible genetic connection, some people have proposed that they are two sides of the same thing.
As for perimenopause, keep talking about it - about half of the population will have to deal with it firsthand at some point, and the other half will have to deal with us. lol
Ha! I certainly plan to 👍
I really appreciate you talking about menopause in your videos. Glad your not going to stop mentioning it.
Thanks, EmJ 🧡
I'm the same age as you, autistic and very probably also adhd. I have the same experience as you with perimenopause and the way it affects me. I have always been too sensitive to lights and smells, and now noises bother me more and more. Now I started to suffer from executive disfunction when I'm in crowded and noisy places, like shopping centres. I don't think I had this problem before, not at least to this degree. Nowadays I enjoy being alone more than before, and when I make plans with a friend, I feel relieved when the friend has to cancel or reschedule our meeting, because often I don't want to go. I like making long walks in the nature alone, but now I dislike taking the train and going to Helsinki, as I feel it is too big, noisy, too many people. Definitely the autism has grown more than the adhd side on me. I have talked to my neurotypical friends, and it seems perimenopause has had these effects on them as well, so it is something that happens to them as well, but for neurodivergents it can feel more overwhelming.
Thank you for sharing - lots here to relate to! And yes, it's important to remember how difficult perimenopause can be for neurotypical women too 🧡
Thank you for the video, Lizzie. Your comments about work and reading speak for me! My wife read more books last year than I had packets of crisps (and I eat too many crisps). I'm so jealous of her ability to just focus on a book. I feel like I'm missing out.
Ah, glad you can relate! It's so frustrating, isn't it? People in my life have always assumed me to be a reader and it's been kind of embarrassing to admit otherwise, but now I know it's not really my fault (and I eat loads of crisps too!)
@@CreativeAutistic I feel embarrassed too. I did an English MA last year, and I studied English Lit for my first degree, but I'm an appalling reader. I find it so hard not to be distracted, and I think this has got worse with age (and the internet).
@Autistic_Not_Alien Oh blimey, this is a brilliant achievement considering you have ADHD (well, it's a brilliant achievement for someone without ADHD tbh) - and yes, the internet *really* hasn't helped 😬 I have to leave my iPad upstairs in the evenings as it's a ridiculous distraction.
@@CreativeAutistic The internet hasn't helped with the ADHD (and holding down a full-time job, which I find really hard) but of course it's been a gift in terms of autism realisation and being part of the autism community.
Sending solidarity. Working full time is hard for anyone but it's almost impossible at times for neurodivergent folks.
As I have to read all day, I had to find a time saver. I now read out loud to myself (luckily, I work from home). Try reading out loud, it certainly helps me.
Ooh, I'll have to try this. Thanks for the tip! 🧡
ooooh AGREED! A TOTAL Lack of research on Menopause IN GENERAL let alone for neurdivergents. How the world can write off all of us women is sickening
Yep, absolutely agree! 🧡
my daughter is ADHD and loves reading graphic novels. Maybe that could be helpful?
I love graphic novels too (Black Hole's my absolute favourite) - I hadn't considered how useful they might be for ADHD people so thank you for bringing my attention to this as it totally makes sense 🧡
(not sure if i've posted this twice!! sorry.) My daughter who struggles with adhd has found graphic novels to be helpful. I do love to read but only what really grabs my intention, usually on something I am obsessively learning about, otherwise it is an exhausting slog. If I do love it, I'll read things quickly. I read each Harry Potter book in 2 days. I obsess and forget to eat or pee, etc. We gotta do what we love and not beat ourselves up too much about the rest.
Yep, completely agree on that one! 👍
Happy new year 😊 yes I think my autistic traits are more pronounced now I am older. I can't mask easily anymore. Thank you for your videos they help me feel less lonely with it all x
Happy new year, Jenn! And thank you for the lovely feedback - I'm glad you feel less alone 🧡
Autistic, ADHD and OCD here! (I'm extra spicy!) Seriously tho, since my diagnosis, I learned that I use my ADHD and OCD to help with my Autistic inertia.
Ah, that's so interesting - thank you for sharing! 🧡
Yours is a very similar story to mine, though I was a couple years older. I suspected I was autistic for close to 20 years, but it never quite fit because of the novelty seeking. It wasn’t until I hit burnout that I really started looking into it and trying to rationalize everything that AuDHD showed up on my radar and made sense of everything, and both my doctor and my assessor agreed.
Thank you for sharing - I suspect it's a fairly common scenario 🧡
I used to be hyperlexic as a kid but, as I grew older, it became harder and harder to read books because I could read the same page dozens of times and not remember a single word of what I just read. Audiobooks help a bit to keep me focused, but only if I'm also reading along the words on a PDF, if I'm just listening to it while trying to do something else, I will eventually get distracted as well and stop paying attention to the audio reader. It also needs to be the right book and I need to have enough spoons to be able to do it.
Thank you for sharing - lots here to relate to! 🧡
Late diagnosed autistic and awaiting ADHD assessment due to my own inkling but my assessors all said the same
And can relate to everything you’re saying! Perimenopause for the last five years and I feel like you do in every aspect
And the menopause thing - I’ve had several medical appointments where they all know I’m neurodivergent and perimenopausal and they never seem to mention or attribute anything to either! I can’t take HRT either so it’s frustrating
Sorry - I had a lot to say and I ran to the comments halfway through my dinner to reply! 😂 xx
Thank you for sharing and I'm so sorry to hear HRT isn't an option in your case. This must be incredibly difficult 🧡
Yep, that's me. I look at it as a mind of structured chaos and chaotic structure. I can't stick to anything for very long but when i do I can't think about anything else.
Ah, that's a great way of explaining it 🧡
I can relate so much with what you were saying about missing out on getting information through reading. I was diagnosed dyslexic nearly 40 years ago and was diagnosed with autism and ADHD just months ago.
I’m wondering if people who have all three look a little different than those with only two of these. I have heard that others who have autism and ADHD feel a little different than those who have only one of those.
I believe my sensory sensitivities are more prominent than many autistics especially very sensitive towards vibration caused by movements around me
Thank you for sharing 🧡
I can relate.Preliminary assessment for adhd in March last year indicating adhd combined type which I was not expecting at all.The assessor at the time advised me to save my money and not go for a full adhd assessment.
October last year diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum after going for a full autism assessment.
Novelty,difficulty reading a novel and reading in general.As you mentioned I have to go back and re read things after a few pages.I have never enjoyed reading either.
Thank you for sharing. I'd love to be able to read books and I feel like I'm missing out on so much 😩
Would love some autistic + menopause content! ❤❤❤
Good to hear, thanks Lisa 🧡
I'm very different from my 20's and part of my 30's but then i suppose most people are! I wasn't really bothered about health at all and my behaviour was reckless and full of addiction. I mean i've always struggled with concentration and as for me reading books well forget it😅 Now i'm definately more routine orientated and i would say now that i'm health obsessed , so if i am adhd i would think it was definately more prevelent years ago. Where as for the autism, i'm trying to think of the right term but i cant so i'll just say it feels like its harder to manage and cope with the older i get. 🌟🙋♂️
AuADHD, too, is a fun ride. I am in the USA, and they are way behind here!!
Sending solidarity 🧡
I found my autistic traits (though I didn't know what it was then) got worse during puberty for sure, I didn't notice so much with the menopause, but I had an early menopause at 39 and apart from hot sweats I was lucky. I am diagnosed autistic but definitely see ADHD traits as well but I am not wanting to go down the root of a diagnosis for that as I am content to know I am autistic and have learnt alot from that knowledge to help myself. It's such an individual choice and we just have to do whats right for us as individuals.😊
Thanks for sharing, Sarah. Yes, I think a lot of autistic folks will be content just with the one diagnosis as it's their main neurotype. I think I'm interested in a second diagnosis really because of running this channel - in that if I want to talk about ADHD, I can do so with the knowledge/confidence that I meet the diagnostic criteria 🧡
More study definitely needs to be done concerning women's challenges in the neurodivergent group. A standard of social conformity being a part of our lives, from childhood conditioning in the home and throughout our formal education, has damaged our ability to know our personal identity. This attempt to normalize all of us also affects science and the medical industry. That may be part of the reason women's issues of all kinds are ignored or belittled. No one wants to see a problem and they dismiss difficulty as weakness. Men do it to each other all day. We're socially punished for a perceived weakness. Men are largely in control of research, funding and education involved in women's issues. So, your difficulties will likely be treated in the same manner. Dismissed, belittled and socially punished. You are half of this world. Recognition and respect should be shared. I certainly hope life improves for all of us.
So much to agree with here! 🧡
I'm not an autistic person with ADHD, but I have Irlen syndrome where you wear coloured lenses. Mine are blue tinted glasses. You can get ADHD and autism, also Irlen syndrome and Autism. Please let us know how you get on lizzie. I do think neurodivergent people are different than neurotypical when it comes to life situation.
Thank you for sharing, Helen - and yes, there needs to be a lot more awareness about Irlen Syndrome 🧡
My Autism & ADHD often alternate when I'm at work, but outside any structured day, oh dear my day simply collapses. My Autism needs a structure to make my ADHD happy & not flit around & nose-dive into a 'dopamine-craving-instant-gratification-binge-fest' Edit: I'm 39 & didn't realise is was AuDHD until about 18months 2 years ago.
Thank you for sharing 🧡
And I am 56 and am on the end of a 10 year menopause. It was not easy. Much better now though I do wonder if I will ever sleep through the night again.
Glad to hear you're at the end of it. Sleepness nights are just awful so you have my sympathy. 🧡
I've recently started on ADHD meds (stimulant) and i noticed that i was a lot more anxious about certain things like social situations, routine disturbance, etc. I've heard that people can seem "more autistic" when their ADHD symptoms lessen.
Ah, that's interesting. Thanks for sharing 👍
thanks for this. it's important to have out there in the ether. don't know if there's an XY variant of (peri-)menopause, but at >50, there's definitely some other traits floating to the top.
Thanks for sharing - I think fluctuating levels of hormones in a person, regardless of gender, plays a significant role in the waxing and waning of neurodivergent traits.
I'm autistic and have ADHD traits.
I think its because autism is, essentially, tunnel vision. And ADHD is tunnel vision also.
My brain likes to behave as if there is no past or future, there is just a "now." That's the tunnel vision of ADHD. If things aren't right in front of me, I tend to forget about them.
That's an interesting way of framing things 👍
Thanks, Lizzie. 💖
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3rd comment. I am self diagnosed as AudHd and have a diagnosis from a dr. for Cptsd.
It's all great engagement - thank you! And congrats on discovering your truth 🧡
Curious question...what are your thoughts about sensory mapping of environments?
I don't know anything about sensory mapping.
I definitely appreciate the menopause with AuDHD info as there is such a lack of it out there. 💜
Thank you - hope to get a video out in the next couple of weeks, and I'm sure it'll be a theme I return to (I wish I could have had this information myself ten years ago!) 🧡
Very interesting. I still doubt I have ADHD but I do know in my jobs I have deliberately done things wrong or different during a job because I was bored. I also get angry that a job exists and so yes I want to leave but its never to move on, it's just to escape to my art. I do have a short attention span as well unless it's special interest. So some similarities to yourself there will see how you go and then I'll consider if I should investigate as well haha.
Yep, can relate on *always* wanting to escape to art!
@CreativeAutistic I've written a whole play about my struggles with it if you're ever interested in reading.
Consider the elements of higher intelligence and creativity. Easily bored with a need for autonomy and mental stimulation.
It's certainly an area I'll be looking into 👍