“I’ve started hearing more about Autism and ADHD, and I connect with many of those stories, but it feels confusing. Some of the traits and examples I learn about sound similar to trauma, OCD, or anxiety. Is there even a way to tell those things from Autism?“
You aren’t alone in your confusion! Many stories of overlapping experiences and years of misinformation have muddled understandings of what Autism is and how it connects with other emotional experiences. For too long, without good Autistic-informed research to back it up, Autism and ADHD could not be diagnosed together, and some professionals falsely believed that trauma and neurodivergence looked too similar to tell them apart. Thanks to the advocacy of the Autistic and ADHD communities, we now have better quality information and insights to guide us.
So do things like trauma, OCD, or bipolar disorder “rule out” Autism or ADHD?
Nope!
While it is true that many neurodivergent people have been misdiagnosed or denied diagnosis due to misinterpretation of these experiences, they do not rule each other out at all. In fact, being neurodivergent increases risk for mental distress due to factors like experiences of ableism, interpersonal conflict and trauma, and environments failing to adapt to a person’s support needs. This risk is increased for multiply marginalized communities, who experience intersecting forms of stress and harm. If you hear yourself in more types of stories than just those of Autism and ADHD, you are by far not alone!
Previous understandings and examples of Autistic and ADHD traits focused more heavily on behaviors and differences that other people would notice, particularly signs of stress or things that neurotypical people found unusual or bothersome. When the examples of Autistic traits that professionals looked for were signs of stress, of course it was easier to mix up the traits with the stress. Difficulty with transition, upset over unpredictability, or trouble focusing are examples of how neurodivergent traits show up when needs are not met, but they aren’t the traits themselves and there are other reasons someone may have those experiences.
What separates neurodivergent traits is that they are true not just in moments of stress, but also in mundane moments and moments of joy.
Neurodivergence is always present! For example, if you are Autistic, you are not doing things in a certain or familiar way only to keep from feeling bad, but also because it just feels natural or feels good. Arranging your desk in a certain pattern might feel extra satisfying, or it may have never even occurred to you *not* to eat your candy in color order. Because they are present all the time, neurodivergent traits like need for routine, passionate interest, or urgency-based motivation likely will show up in times of stress, but they will also show up in how we plan our day, get fulfillment, connect with others, or pick our hobbies. When we use a more affirming definition of these traits to see them in more areas of life, it becomes much easier to tell them apart from distress.
In an affirming Autism evaluation, of course you get space to share about all the ways life has been hard in a world built for neurotypical people. You will also get space to honor and name the ways your traits support you and bring joy into your life. You will get to see how these traits are not bad and are not a problem, but are just another valid way of experiencing the world, and you should not have to do that alone. At Capital Crescent Collective, we are happy to support you whenever you are ready!
Want to learn more about neurodiversity-affirming therapy or an Adult Autism Evaluation? Contact Capital Crescent Collective today to schedule a consultation.
This post was written by Anna White, an experienced, neurodiversity-affirming independent therapist at Capital Crescent Collective in Bethesda, MD.