Navigating Life with AuDHD: Understanding the Overlap of Autism and ADHD in Adults
What Is AuDHD?
AuDHD is a term used to describe individuals who experience both autism and ADHD traits. While each condition has its own diagnostic criteria, many adults find themselves resonating with both sets of experiences. This overlap isn't just additive — it creates a unique neurotype that can shape how a person thinks, feels, and interacts with the world.
Though still emerging in mainstream clinical spaces, AuDHD is gaining visibility as more adults explore late diagnoses and seek out affirming language for their experiences. Understanding this dual neurodivergence can be a critical step toward self-awareness and meaningful support.
Understanding the Dual Nature of AuDHD
ADHD and autism are both neurodevelopmental conditions, but their expressions can seem paradoxical when experienced together:
ADHD is often linked with novelty-seeking, fast-paced thought processes, and impulsivity.
Autism is associated with routine preference, deep focus (often on specific interests), and sensory sensitivity.
When both are present, the result may be an internal tug-of-war:
A desire for structure — and resistance to it.
Hyperfocus — and distractibility.
Craving connection — and needing solitude.
This dynamic can lead to confusion, exhaustion, and self-doubt, especially for those who were socialized to mask or suppress these traits in order to fit in.
How AuDHD Shows Up in Daily Life
Many adults with overlapping autism and ADHD traits experience:
Difficulty transitioning between tasks or environments
Sensory overload or shutdowns in high-stimulation spaces
Executive functioning challenges (planning, prioritizing, initiating)
Emotional intensity or quick mood shifts
Feeling “too much” or “not enough” in social situations
Trouble maintaining routines — even desired ones
Chronic burnout, especially from masking or people-pleasing
These challenges are often misread as personality flaws, laziness, or poor time management — when in reality, they are expressions of how a unique brain processes the world.
Why So Many Adults Discover AuDHD Later in Life
Cultural, gender, and systemic biases have historically shaped how ADHD and autism are diagnosed. Many women, BIPOC individuals, and LGBTQ+ adults were overlooked in childhood because their traits didn’t match outdated stereotypes.
Late-diagnosed or self-identified AuDHD adults often describe a long history of:
Feeling “different” without having language for it
Being praised for high achievement while quietly struggling
Internalizing shame for burnout or disorganization
Adapting to environments that weren’t built for their needs
Discovering the concept of AuDHD can be a powerful moment of clarity. It helps shift the narrative from “What’s wrong with me?” to “How can I work with my brain, not against it?”
What Personalized Therapy for AuDHD Can Offer
Therapy for adults navigating AuDHD isn’t about fixing or normalizing — it’s about understanding, affirming, and equipping. At Get Psyched Therapy & Coaching, we recognize that each client’s experience with neurodivergence is layered and distinct.
Our therapy approach includes:
Strength-based exploration of your cognitive and sensory patterns
Narrative work to untangle years of masking or self-doubt
Support for executive function — from realistic planning to compassionately adjusting routines
ACT- and IFS-informed strategies for navigating emotional intensity and inner conflicts
EMDR where past experiences have led to trauma responses or overwhelm
This work is deeply collaborative. We focus on what you need to feel safe, seen, and supported — not on imposing generic productivity goals or strategies that don’t fit your rhythms.
Common Themes We Explore in Therapy with AuDHD Adults
Every person’s experience is unique, but here are some of the core issues that often emerge in therapy:
1. Burnout Recovery
Living in a world that expects constant flexibility, speed, and social nuance can be exhausting for AuDHD individuals. Therapy can help you:
Recover energy without guilt
Set boundaries that protect your nervous system
Create sustainable systems instead of chasing perfection
2. Sensory Awareness and Environment Design
We explore how your physical and sensory environment impacts your well-being, including ways to:
Reduce overwhelm in work and home settings
Honor sensory needs without shame
Make your space more regulating
3. Relationship and Communication Patterns
Many adults with AuDHD experience relationship stress tied to misunderstood needs or unspoken expectations. Therapy offers:
Tools for clearer, more compassionate communication
Language to advocate for your needs with partners, friends, or colleagues
Exploration of identity and connection on your own terms
4. Routine Building Without Rigidity
Traditional time management strategies often fall flat for neurodivergent folks. Instead, we co-create structures that:
Prioritize flexibility over perfection
Support your executive functioning style
Work with your energy fluctuations
Therapy Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All — And It Shouldn’t Be
At Get Psyched, we don’t offer cookie-cutter solutions. We build relationships first — and strategies second. Whether you’ve known about your neurodivergence for years or are just beginning to explore it, therapy can meet you where you are.
That might look like:
Learning to trust your intuition after years of masking
Creating transitions that don’t overload your nervous system
Reframing "failures" as signs of unmet needs — not flaws
All of this is tailored to your lived experience, your cultural context, and your goals. No checklists. No "shoulds." Just grounded, affirming care.
You Don’t Need a Diagnosis to Seek Support
Many people exploring AuDHD resonate with the traits and challenges — but haven’t received a formal diagnosis. Whether you’re diagnosed, self-identified, or still wondering, therapy can support your journey.
You might benefit from neurodivergent-affirming therapy if you:
Struggle with follow-through despite your intentions
Feel perpetually overstimulated or emotionally drained
Oscillate between hyperfocus and shutdown
Experience both deep connection and intense social fatigue
Want to build a life that feels more regulated and less performative
What to Expect When You Reach Out
Therapy starts with a conversation. We’ll get to know what you’re hoping for, what’s been hard, and how your neurodivergence shows up in daily life. Sessions are virtual, accessible, and paced to support your comfort.
We serve adults across California and Maine, especially in Redlands, Yucaipa, and Beaumont. Whether you’re parenting, partnering, navigating a career, or healing from years of masking, we’re here to support you.
Reach out today to learn more about working together. Let’s explore how therapy can help you feel more grounded, more resourced, and more like yourself.
[Visit GetPsychedTherapy.com to get started] or [Contact us here] to schedule a consultation.
Tags: AuDHD adults, autism and ADHD therapy, neurodivergent affirming therapy, Redlands therapist, executive dysfunction support, burnout and masking, EMDR for neurodivergence, IFS-informed therapy, ACT strategies, ADHD autism overlap
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for clinical advice. Always consult a licensed therapist for personal care.