What were some of the signs you had ADHD and/or Autism but didn’t get diagnosed until adulthood?
What were some of the signs you had ADHD and/or Autism but didn’t get diagnosed until adulthood?
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Struggled with transitions as a young child. For example, didn’t want to get in the bath, but once in didn’t want to get out, didn’t want to go to school but then didn’t want to leave school for the day.
Wasn’t a good sleeper, was either extremely tidy or extremely messy, nothing in between.
Struggled with friends, people liked me, but had superficial friendships, that never lasted long.
I really struggled after high school, especially socially. Without the rigid structure of high school, things fell apart really fast.
I can be too blunt (although improving).
I often felt everyone else got an instruction manual, that I didn’t get.
I have struggled to self regulate which would lead to an emotional explosion or a breakdowns. This has gotten better as I’ve worked out what works for me.
Dating is hilariously bad, I realised I’d learnt a dating script for success, but it only goes to a set number of dates so then they stop seeing me, cause they either see through the script or I have no script to continue on with so …..
Diagnosed ADHD (unofficial Autism Diagnosis as well)
Social struggles - struggled with social expectations, taking turns talking, talking too much and trying "too hard" to fit in, or not understanding why I didn't
Struggling to manage time - getting started on and finishing tasks on time
Special interests - huge focus on lifelong specific interests (to this day) as well as getting caught up learning about new things which were transient interests
Issues with food and eating - struggles with eating too much at times (sensory seeking by eating), and also have a limited number of "safe" foods, but eat enough "normal" foods to pass
Executive dysfunction - finding it hard to do the day to day things that are required for self care or care of home/family, get started on tasks, get out the door on time etc
Sensory sensitivity - to light, excessive or competing noises and noises that send me into a rage. Sensitivity to heat, certain clothing textures and feelings (I can't wear anything too close to my neck, for instance), and sensations like wet hands or skin feeling too dry and being unable to focus when these things are happening
There's probably a bunch more that I'm forgetting.