ADHD vs Autism #3 Diagnosis and Treatment

Part 3 is finally here! To finish off this little 3-part series I go into the diagnosing process of ADHD and ASD and how treatment has personally affected my quality of life.
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Discovering your Masks ADHD & Autism Workbook
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ADHD & Autism Uncovering Your Stims Workbook
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ADHD-friendly Weekly Planner · Helps with Executive Dysfunction
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[@tomaskey6844]

Two years ago my Mom casually mentioned I was diagnosed on the Asperger Spectrum when I was young. It flipped my lid and took months to process but I agree it is much better to know than not know. I finally know why I act the way I do and why the usual methods of success were not working for me. Struggling hard at 60 and am trying to get help but the VA is not cooperating and I find it too complicated to navigate their system. I think my biggest help would be a bookkeeper that can be an accountability partner and coach also. So much of my stress is just not being able to comprehend numbers. I still don’t know my times tables!

[@jclyntoledo]

The VA Healthcare kinda sucks for some things. That's why I'm just trying to do all my mh stuff outside the VA. Although if you just need a diagnosis and medication it should be easier to get an appt. It's harder if you want actual therapy stuff though 😓.

[@tomaskey6844]

@@jclyntoledo I just got out of the Denver VA and got some help. Have a PTSD diagnosis and will be tested further for ADHD but have started taking Effexor which is one of the medications Dr Amen uses for ADHD. I like his book; Healing Your ADHD. The medication is working and I can think more clearly. Got x-rays yesterday at the Pueblo VA of my neck and shoulders because my arms are going numb and two fingers losing sensation. Was also able to tell my therapist I felt I needed someone else and that went well. The VA is hard to work with but I finally got some thing’s moving after three years of frustration. Really appreciate what they do for me.

[@chrstfer2452]

Two years ago? When you were 58? She just didnt tell you thst whole 50ish years? Holy crap i cant imagine that. Not talking bad about ur mum, im sure shes an excellent woman who was just trying to protect you (ik there was a lot of stigma back then) but i simply cant process how one would deal with trying to integrate having been diagnosed as a young child but not knowing into their 50s.....

[@ciaraskeleton]

I studied psychology independently since 15, continued studying it and did half of my psych degree before burning out for the millionth time. I was diagnosed with BPD at 18 and I dedicated years of my life to understanding this disorder. I did DBT alone, I did CBT alone, I did therapy for trauma, I was hospitalised. Then I was diagnosed with C PTSD, which I also researched heavily and took ALL advice on and carried out all the self help I could. I knew in my gut that these things were not adding up. I see patterns in everything, and these were ones that my personal behaviour and experience did not follow. I do have PTSD but it is along with and in many ways due to me being undiagnosed Autistic. I don't think I have ADHD, but with regards to diagnosis I swear that unless you bring a folder of evidence, Psychiatrists will diagnose us as having BPD. It's gross neglect imo. Because the treatment involves 'changing yourself' and in a sense, blaming yourself for something that is not your fault. So many girls are mysogynistically diagnosed with BPD. I call it out to every mental health professional I ever speak to. I study what they preach, so I will correct them and hold them accountable when they are inherently wrong. It hurts to be so very familiar with diagnostic criteria and to be told 'no, silly! It's just trauma, go fix yourself' I swear us Autistic women will change the world.

[@leilap2495]

Psychiatrists don’t usually diagnose neurodevelopmental conditions. That is usually done by psychologists and neuropsychologists. I thought this clarification would be important for those looking to be assessed.

[@avengedprophet1559]

This week I met a psychiatrist who suspects me to have ADHD. She said she suspects a personality disorder on top of ADHD, while I suspect it might be autism instead. It's interesting how autism might show itself more after getting the ADHD symptoms treated. Maybe it would be the same for me, maybe not. Even if I never get diagnosed with autism, I know that I have many autistic traits and that already helps me to understand myself better and decide when something is too much for me while others might tell me that I just have to leave my comfort zone (I did regret that more often than not). Your videos (together with the videos from Jesica (how to ADHD), foster on the spectrum) were the start of my journey towards the realization that I definitely have either ADHD, autism or both. Thank you for your videos. Now it looks like I might get the help I needed a long time ago, to be able to actually function as an adult, which I thought was impossible for too many years. Your videos are so much help for people like me. Thanks for giving us hope :)

[@tashikathomas1093]

The way your process information is so lovely to see. Thank you for sharing.. being myself in others has been the most calming thing about this process..

[@sharonw1956]

Yes same my psychiatrist tried to diagnose me with bipolar. I knew that was entirely incorrect. I later got diagnosed with autism and adhd combined at 26

[@theasianwitch]

Thank you Irene for being so open about neurodivergence...there is such a stigma still in the Asian community and many other communities as well, so it's so important to hear someone like you talking about it. Does anyone know what that cute cartoon is that you shared with the 4 different fun activities? So cute!!

[@Kexeessen]

It's called Shin-chan :D

[@elsik2332]

This is such a wholesome wrap-up, I've really related to this series of videos both myself and seen my sister in it too. We're on different stages of our journey, she's got a diagnosis for ADHD and since getting medicated for it she's become extremely strict in her behaviour and preferences (it was always there but like you said it's so much stronger now), and myself I'm just gathering information and waiting to get assessed for ADHD, which I'm 100% sure I have. Lots of difficult though processes and conversations happening and ahead of me but your videos are really helping me to work through it all, thank you!

[@bloop442]

Great series, thank you for explaining it all so clearly and putting words to that I experience and feel (and struggle with) every day

[@lynncotto371]

Another excellent video Irene, thank you 👍 I can see so much of myself in traits you cover in your videos. Thank you for helping to shed light & bring more clarity ☺️💓

[@shefelilit2921]

i love the way you explain things

[@AHHHHHHHnahi]

man… finding your channel has genuinely been so eye opening. i was diagnosed with adhd n started treatment + meds back in april n i felt so normal pilled then suddenly hit a point where i felt like i was back at square one. these past two months Ive been heavily looking into autism n your videos literally spelled it out for me. every single thing that you said in these past 3 videos was like watching someone talk about me to myself. i felt like you were literally in my brain replaying my life n putting all of my thoughts into words. this convinced me to finally speak to my therapist about autism n im ngl im so scared to look like im just trying to be different/adding diagnoses to my list but hey i guess u don’t know if u don’t try

[@maxbladel]

Great series thank you so much for making the videos you make

[@lilithlilith99]

i loved this series so much! thank you for sharing your personal experiences too it really helps explain things for me 💜💜

[@stevejjd]

I can't thank you enough for sharing

[@nattokki]

Thank you.

[@reginasimonyan]

Thank you ❤

[@TheINFP_Diary]

Love you videos hun

[@Jbaxter736]

that sounds like what happens to me when I was 31 I got diagnosis for ADD and then by the time I was 32, I seek help and got an autism diagnosis

[@CherylJ-vw8yo]

Hi. I have learnt so much from your content. Thank you! I’m newly diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at 59. My psychiatrist (who only specialises in ADHD) is prescribing a stimulant but I’m worried about the negative consequences it will have on my autism. I’m highly sensitive to busy environments and I’m worried the extra stimulation will send me over the edge. Do you have any thoughts on this?

[@MartianGirl347]

Is BPD the new “hysteria?” 🤔

[@thethoughtspot222]

Maybe it seems new because mental health is becoming more normalized so more and more people are going in for assessments & oftentimes being misdiagnosed

[@angelsotired]

I know that I am a year late but are there any tips, tricks, or resources that make it easier to find a therapist after diagnosis to do the work with the medication

[@Alice_Walker]

✨💜

[@alma5747]

💙🦋

[@nattokki]

What do you mean by drawing from emotional energy? I think it's a very interesting concept but I'm kinda confused haha

[@verobutterfly3029]

you are so incredibly beautiful