I took an ADHD test...

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I took the AQ test (and all I got was frustrated): • Autistic Adult Takes t...
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[@YoSamdySam]

For those with both an ADHD and autism diagnosis, did my answers seem familiar to you?

[@AnaMuhlethaler]

Yeeeeeees! You are one of us!!!!!

[@melina9110]

Absolutely. I actually relate to everything you said and have been waiting for you to do a video like this. I have (severe) combined ADHD as well as autism and always thought you did as well. I feel ADHD affects my everyday functioning A LOT, but I also get autistic burnout on a regular basis, so I’m still figuring out what’s what. I especially relate to having opposite needs (e.g. socialising vs. recuperating) as well as symptoms that cancel each other out (e.g. making careless mistakes? Never!) There is about 50% comorbidity between ADHD and ASD (don’t quote me on that) and I agree it could be different presentations of the same neurodiversity. I’ll try to dig up the papers I found on this topic.

[@lovemusic8450]

I am doubting whether I have ADHD, Autism or both of them. But I actually do make careless mistakes when doing things I do not like/simple/boring (because I am not focused on the task I am doing but thinking about other staff). On the other hand I want to do things perfect and well, so I hate it that I do not always work that accurate.

[@lovemusic8450]

I recognise the part of having several special intrests.

[@amybe3]

Hello! Thanks for this video. I believe I have ADD and ASD. I can relate to everything you said. Stay safe.

[@JudyReadsCards]

" 'Instant results'. It's like they know their audience, right?" 😂😂😂

[@nicolabrady2128]

🤣🤣

[@prunedance1]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mhairimacdonald7353]

Had to pause and come see who else loved that hehe

[@MyPammer]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@MagnificentDevil]

Compensating for ADHD: "I need to be there by 7pm, it will take me an hour to get there, so... I should leave by 4pm. Hmmm, its already 2pm... I really might as well just leave now".

[@bjornholmqvist3230]

Ohh man I do that all the time... If its something really important, like catching a flight and such or I know it will go to h*ll.

[@saraH-yu1mx]

I’m the opposite. I underestimate how long it will take and am late everywhere. I also leave later than I want to because I get distracted when getting ready. Being on time is so difficult for me.

[@MagnificentDevil]

@@saraH-yu1mx I used to be like that, but there were painful consequences for that enough times that now I obsess on it to the point I am chronically far too early. I am sitting in my car in the parking lot before hours before a job interview, at an airport bar for hours before my flight. Having an important thing to do for just one hour eats up my entire day.

[@BliffleSplick]

Yep, this is me too. I end up exploring the neighbourhood a bit in the time I have so by the time I get to The Thing I'm actually quite comfortable being there.

[@stellazovak]

I very much do this. I'm Dx ADHD, questioning ASD. Is this more an ADHD thing or ASD thing? This is one of many things that make me feel like I don't really have ADHD. I'm never late. I'm absolutely obsessive about any appointment I have and berate myself horribly if I'm late anywhere (usually because of getting lost/confused/distracted).

[@Avril.]

I hope Jessica of How to ADHD watches this.

[@garyfrancis5015]

Avril I'll link Samdy video to her in her comments section. The last video Jess was about her dog.

[@Stormbrise]

I love Jessica and Totally ADD channels. Dan with TAW is great also. But I love Sams videos because of the female perspective.

[@garyfrancis5015]

Stormbrise TAW no comment on his channel. The ADHD Channel I'm a bit ADD I relate to hyper focus. But that is just past my Autism brain. I more like Samdy than TAW as a person.

[@mariezguitar5029]

I kept waiting for her to acknowledge Jessica in her video, given that she practically did the opening sequence of Jessica’s How to ADHD at the beginning. 😢

[@ScrapySweet]

@@Stormbrise what's TAW? Guess it's an abbreviation, cannot find it on KZbin but I'm interested. EDIT: Nevermind. I just stumbled across the video of Jessica colaborating with him :D

[@Garidez]

The interaction between autism and ADHD is something I've been thinking about recently - I was diagnosed with autism in 2019 and ADHD-PI last month. Starting a stimulant medication has really thrown into sharp relief how debilitating untreated ADHD was for me, and in really unexpected ways. For instance, I was perpetually overwhelmed and exhausted, had nasty intrusive thoughts popping into my head distracting me and making me miserable every few minutes, had treatment-resistant depression for many years and was barely staying afloat day-to-day due to executive dysfunction. All of those things disappeared when I was medicated for the first time. I still can't quite believe it! A few thoughts and theories from my notebook: 1. Perhaps the depression was due to mismatch of goals and apparent capability vs actual capability due to executive dysfunction. I hated myself for not being motivated, passionate or disciplined enough. Treating my ADHD removes that barrier to achieving my goals and cures my depression. 2. I feel “giftedness” in school heavily masks ADHD-PI. Because schoolwork did not exceed my capacity to focus I didn’t realise anything was wrong, and neither did any of the adults in my life. I felt that I must just be lazy and lacking in passion - an idea that really ingrained itself into me and made it very difficult to accept the possibility of having ADHD. Likewise the structure imposed by school masked my difficulties with organisation and self-directedness so they did not become evident until later. I really struggled once I reached university! 3. I think perhaps autistic attention to detail might obscure inattentive ADHD symptoms? I do not make careless mistakes but instead notice small details and expend a great amount of energy ensuring I am accurate in my tasks. 4. Likewise perhaps autistic strict adherence to rules and hierarchies masks ADHD inattention / boredom - I was very motivated to be a respectful and obedient student. 5. Lack of social awareness (theory of mind?) in autism / ADHD makes it very difficult to evaluate what other people’s experiences are and therefore whether one’s experiences are “normal”. For me this resulted in under-reporting of symptoms and indeed failing to seek out help in the first place! I knew I was failing to thrive but could not identify where the deficiency was so blamed myself. 6. ADHD executive dysfunction masks the autistic gravitation towards systemising tasks - the autistic part of me loves organised, efficient systems and wants to create them in all aspects of my life. Meanwhile untreated ADHD meant I “could not bring myself to care enough to organise”, or rather (in hindsight) I lacked the focus and executive functions necessary to do so. 7. Perhaps ADHD and autism both contribute to inflexibility of routine and difficulty adapting to changes made at short notice? I've found since being medicated I'm much less prone to rigid thinking and am able to deal with the curveballs life throws at me. I can also direct my thoughts away from anxious / depressive rumination and towards more productive matters. 8. When I posted about my experiences on the ADHD subreddit, everyone seemed to identify with this particular symptom: I always needed have my phone with me playing podcasts / KZbin videos in the background, no matter what I was doing. I wasn't really paying much attention to them but for whatever reason I needed them. This urge completely disappears when I'm medicated.

[@TobiasHarms]

Have you checked out r/giftedADHD? It's invite only but it sounds like you fit in. I have had an heck of a time getting my diagnosis just because of 2 and probably 4. At age 42 I'm on my fifth day on 36 mg concerta. My doctor who doesn't really believe I have ADHD warned me that if I feel jumped up on the meds, forced and hyper, then that's a sign I don't have adhd. Well I don't feel that much difference though I notice some good sides so I guess she was wrong. Who would have thunk it.

[@Garidez]

@@TobiasHarms Thanks for the heads-up, I've requested membership. We may have got there by a circuitous route but at least we made it - for the first time in a decade I feel hopeful for the future! I hope the diagnosis and treatment has a similar transformative effect for you.

[@TobiasHarms]

@@Garidez yes there's a hope for something different now. Maybe be able to stay put at one job for once. I might need to up my dose but that's part of process I guess. Let me know if there's problems with your application. I feel like it's nice little community with a bit different spin from r/adhd

[@mariezguitar5029]

@Garidez your explanation is so succinct. I really felt understood. Are these reddit channels?

[@TobiasHarms]

BTW regarding number 8, one theory regarding adhd is that it isn't so much a lack of dopamine as it is a higher threshold to activate our brains (overly simplificated). So it makes sense why so many with adhd likes to have sounds on in the background. There's actually some very interesting research from a couple of Swedish researchers on the subject. They tried out the effect of listening to loud white noise. All but people with adhd performed worse. People with adhd on the other produced on a level comparable to medicated persons with adhd. We i really need to work hard I listen to EBM, hard fast music with lots noise and not much lyrics. Preferably in German.

[@mobilebipod]

I agree that ADHD and Autism will eventually be understood better in a... better more comprehensive frame. Somewhere outside of the current norm of pathologizing experiences.

[@turtlecatpurrz]

Sam “I don’t want cookies”. Me (ignoring all context): “I want cookies.” Pretty sure this confirms my ADHD... Also I love Sam cause I live in the world she has described

[@thehorrorfiend23]

Dang it now you’re making me want cookies now too!

[@tiffanychalmers8866]

Cookies....mmmm

[@persephone6896]

I was diagnosed with ADHD years before receiving the Asperger’s diagnosis, so makes sense

[@syleenadawn2038]

I’ve always known I was adhd, and was just recently dx at 32, and it does feel accurate. But there’s more. I have a lot of exhaustion around socializing and social stuff, I’ve always had major Sensory issues and always referred to as a High Sensitive Person, picky eater, I remember so many meltdowns, always getting in trouble, being told to sit still, etc. And much more. So now my mind is blown because I can’t believe how much I related to her Sams “Autism in girls” video. My daughter and I both. My daughter is on a wait list to be evaluated for asd as well.

[@kyotojan]

I really relate to your story, Sam (I believe so many women will), was diagnosed with ADHD this year, didn't respond that well to meds, and have now started exploring autism with my psychologist. It's "textbook" (accounting for all the traits masking each other). I agree with your hypothesis, that the crossover is because they have the same origin (genetic research is starting to bear this out). It's just a phenotype, with various things switched on or off to manifest in what would appear to be contradictory ways (though no less challenging at times). In my case, it's closest to the PDA profile of autism, which is like ADHD and autism overlapping completely on a Venn Diagram to cancel each other out and make me look like a smart, bubbly, obstinate twit. Because people like you are sharing this information, research will eventually catch up. In the meantime, I work in research at a world-class children's hospital and want to bang my head on the wall for the continued misunderstanding and siloed approach to researching, describing and treating these conditions. Also, 11/10 for the How to ADHD connection!

[@YoSamdySam]

Thanks for sharing - interesting that research is starting to back up my wild speculation 😊 I kind of relate to you description of yourself, I think I have some PDA traits too!

[@ruth6833]

? Can you elaborate on what the PDA profile is...this is all so new for me...thanks

[@kyotojan]

@@ruth6833 I extracted this from autism.org.uk "People with a PDA profile can appear to have better social understanding and communication skills than some other autistic people, and are often able to use this to their advantage. However, these apparent social abilities can often mask difficulty with processing and understanding communication and social situations.  The distinctive features of a demand avoidant profile include: resists and avoids the ordinary demands of life uses social strategies as part of avoidance, for example, distracting, giving excuses appears sociable, but lacks some understanding experiences excessive mood swings and impulsivity appears comfortable in role play and pretence displays obsessive behaviour that is often focused on other people. People with this profile can appear excessively controlling and dominating, especially when they feel anxious. However, they can also be confident and engaging when they feel secure and in control. It’s important to acknowledge that these people have a hidden disability."

[@kyotojan]

@@YoSamdySam I never used to trust my intuition, but every time I go to research some facet of these conditions, I am more correct than I could ever have expected. I suspect that you might be the same amount of intuitively correct. We just know, all we need is a few dots and we connect them and then add a constellation of other dots

[@theonlyenekoeneko]

I feel so much what you said about how Autistic traits and ADHD traits can “cancel” each other out (or maybe it’s more mask each other). It’s definitely played into my own experience of not being diagnosed until adulthood.

[@alexba1ley]

This!

[@thedigitalautist]

YASSSS Autie-ADHD Combo Platter Tribe Unite, then get really distracted and wander away! Seriously, I feel like having both, while appearing 'high functioning' (hate that term), is much more disabling than having 'high functioning' versions of either separately. And I take Adderall for the ADHD symptoms, which sometimes works, but sometimes ends up with me just hyperfocusing on my latest special interest, and not getting the actual work I was meant to do done. Brains are just wacky.

[@spaceageflop3974]

On twitter I read the tip to pay close attention to what you do after taking your medication. It increases the focus, but on everything. For example, I try not to watch Netflix after taking it, otherwise I can't get away from it for hours. Since I follow this, it works much better for me.

[@stellazovak]

@@spaceageflop3974 Ok, this is really good advice. I've been wondering what's been going on. I take Ritalin and was considering going off it (am still considering it), because I just don't think it's helping me. I feel like my special brand of ADHD (unless it's not at all ADHD and instead ASD - that's a whole issue I'm trying to figure out) is more about intense hyperfocus all the time on the wrong thing.

[@lucettacole4617]

YESSSSS!!!!!!! Samsies. I feel validated now. 😊

[@arasharfa]

I believe my ADHD and ASD create a lot of unreconciled conflicting needs that can be deeply frustrating. I do identify more with your videos and what you talk about than any other youtuber, so seeing you finally talk about ADHD as well make complete sense to me.

[@literallywhy6162]

I feel you on the balancing out thing, I’m very introverted and need to get away from people but I also have a *burning* need to speak full paragraphs at people whenever I have information to share. I used to be alone for most of the day and as a result when the infodump need would come on I’d make *30 minute long* snapchat stories that only one or two friends would ever manage to sit through because I *needed* to talk

[@ceruleanvoyager1847]

I don’t know if this relates to my autism, or it’s just me being easily distracted; but sometimes if the queue is too long and I engage myself in other activity (like playing with my phone) I may miss my turn or forget what I was queuing for (like at the bank or in government offices).

[@BliffleSplick]

I distract myself by looking around at how the place was constructed. Do they have a sprinkler system? Did they arrange the pipes well? Can I see the structural beams? Can I see hints of the last colour the walls were painted? Did they miss a spot?

[@melaniekincl3496]

I love queues! They mean I get to go on adventures in my head! 😃 Course, I do sometimes missed that the queue has moved because I'm too busy going on adventures.... 🙄

[@katywalker8322]

I did that quick test and it came out “strong”. Last time I tried one I couldn’t do it as I was too bored after a short while. I know the feeling if bees in your head. A few times it has been through the roof. Best way I can explain it was like trying to think with my brain in a liquidiser. As to sounds disrupting me. Depends on the sound. I sometimes use music on loudly to block out disruptions. But the radio with an announcer occasionally destroys my concentration. You do come out as adhd, but then I am watching at 1.5 speed today which emphasises any tendency!

[@mattie1478]

i am pretty sure i don't have ADHD (i've been evaluated by several mental healthcare professionals, all agreed i'm autistic, none thought i had ADHD) but i still scored mild on the test. i also have several friends with ADHD and i relate strongly to many of their experiences. but i think the reason autism and ADHD diagnostic criteria have such a high overlap is because it is described and diagnosed from the outside so to speak? like both me and my ADHD friends may struggle with the same aspects of existing in the modern world, and from the outside our struggles and traits may seem very similar, but when we begin to discuss what it feels like from the inside we start to diverge way more. e.g. ADHDers have social issues as well but the root causes of that are *very* different even though it might seem similar to the social issues autistic people have to a NT observer/healthcare worker

[@sarahschmidt1518]

I think that it’s not so easy to be diagnosed with ADHD if you have the inattentive type. If someone has this, they could have all of the inattentive symptoms but none of the hyperactivity/impulsivity. Which means that lots of questions in simple tests don’t apply- like ones about impatience/ high energy/ boredom. But the struggles with organisation/ concentration can be crippling. I’ve read that this type is more common in women. I’d love to see you do a video on the inattentive type specifically because there seems to be less info out there about this.

[@TobiasHarms]

Totally agree. "Do you have problem staying seated during long meetings?" Nope, I just fall asleep, problem solved.

[@ruth6833]

🙄....'compensatory strategies for adhd also exist......the adhd equivalent for masking' 🤣Brilliant love it!!

[@darrensanderson1031]

I think a really important thing for NT people especially to take away from this on the whole Autism/ADHD traits ‘cancelling each other out’ is that it’s NOT a case of ‘this combination of traits means that I’m neurotypical for this aspect’, or even that they truly cancel each other out. It’s more like being continually pushed at from opposite directions, so therefore you don’t get pushed one way or the other. You’re still getting the pressure on your mind from each ‘symptom’, it’s just that you’re getting crushed between them rather than being shoved off the side.

[@NiennaNeryam]

As a child I've been tested for ADHD and that came out as negative. Only got an Aspergers diagnosis at 24 in 2016. My boyfriend was diagnosed with ADHD in the same year. After watching a lot of videos from HowToADHD and recognizing myself more in it than him and now hearing you talk about how autism can in some cases counteract ADHD, I'm also wondering if I don't have both.

[@Equal_inDeath]

Now that I’m looking into getting diagnosed with Autism (I’m a nursing student and therefore familiar with medical diagnosis processes so after going over the dsm criterion from your video there’s no way that I’m not autistic) I started talking to my grandmother about it and she believes my father is likely on the spectrum as well! Great video as always~

[@amandachapman4708]

Your comment about a link between oestrogen levels and ADHD symtoms is interesting. I should like to know / understand more on that.

[@average_amanda3884]

Great video Sam! I can totally relate. I was diagnosed with ADHD 8 years ago, and I'm actually getting my assessment results this weekend for Autism and learning impairments. I think people can have different combinations of traits from both, which I think is why it's so difficult to untangle whats really going on. I know all too well the curse of fleeing interests. I go through cycles of intense interest. I will be so into something and learn the shit out of it, obsess about it, until I'm burned out. Then I'll usually get bored of it out of nowhere one day, and maybe if enough time has gone by I'll rediscover it again haha. The amount of hobbies (mostly creative) I have deeply dived into over my life, only to abandon them a month later, is insane. I'm like "kinda good" at a lot of things. I have such a hard time sticking to anything long to become "expert" at anything lol.

[@taylorbritt499]

Jack of all trades, master of none lol. I feel you

[@indigobb]

This is literally the process I went through with my diagnosis of asd/adhd this is so validating ah!

[@StealthyGamerGirl2020]

Another really great video. Thank you Sam x

[@brunomoraes9967]

As usual, thanks for your content, no matter the frequency of upload! Be alright first, then aid the world! Best regards from Brazil!

[@neurodivergentdawn]

I relate with everything here. Thank you so much.

[@tiiaj7589]

That makes so much sense! I have special interests but I actually looked into multipodism because my interests are a LOT more wide than a single focus. I cycle through them constantly, can never settle to one of them.

[@lykhra2178]

YES YES! I’ve always thought How to ADHD reminds me of your channel :00

[@garyfrancis5015]

Yes, this is video I and many have been asking for a since the start of his year.

[@sarasassafras3405]

Thanks for this video, this is such an interesting topic to me! Love the intro! 😂 I’ve been diagnosed as an adult with OCD, and now ADHD. The OCD has definitely helped mask the ADHD throughout life, but the challenges of this year made the ADHD very apparent and necessary to treat. I’ve also often wondered if I would meet the criteria for an ASD diagnosis, but where I’m located the resources for adults seem limited, so it’s been easier getting help with the OCD and now ADHD (however, the ADHD was still tough to get treated for as an adult female, the professionals helping with my OCD dismissed it when I brought it up, which is understandable but still frustrating).

[@witchyandbright]

I relate so hard to so much of what you said. No official diagnosis with either, but even down to the PMDD (also long-suspected) and its impact of my ability to function, I feel like you get me. 🤯

[@rosep7367]

I’ve been watching a lot of your videos over this past year. I just wanted to say I relate SO MUCH to everything you say, I feel we are so similar like I’m missing a long lost sister. I have ADHD, PMDD and ASD, and your videos have helped me soooo much. I really can’t express how thankful I am that you make these videos. You’re the best 💕🌸

[@mrkay8160]

Hi just wanted to say keep up the great work . You have some amazing content on your channel. I recently came across a different type of test called a qeeg assessment which many people use for neurofeedback therapy. Something worth looking into 😊

[@niki3722]

Love the hello brains greeting and the blue background nice nod to Jessica's channel (how to adhd)

[@djpaterson]

Thank you for this video! I'm currently awaiting an appointment for autism assessment. To so many of the points you've made in this video I've been like "that's me!" Your videos are really helpful to me, I don't feel like such an outsider listening to you.

[@beccafawnable]

Oh my gosh. It's like my whole life is finally coming together. I thought I just had PMDD because that answered so many questions but still couldn't get a handle on anything. Knowing how much estrogen affects ADHD brings it all together. Thank you so much for all the information!

[@Blue-iv5fv]

Thank you for this video. it has helped me get one step further into understanding me... it's just that as a person who can't really afford therapy or consultation or even a doctor who can help point me in the right direction due to decades of ongoing emotional abuse and control over my life by parents who not only don't believe any of my physical or mental issues (all of which make my life absolute miserable) but also that i act out for attention and am a liar... as such a person... just knowing about myself is not going to help me. i know i need to get up and find help but... i don't know how to do that. i am certain that i have autism and some kind of adhd as i can relate to many people with them in a very specific way. i have taken multiple online quizzes from emotional quotient to autism to adhd and even ptsd and emotional abuse and what not. every test has always pointed it out to me that the chance of me being positive for that thing is big and that i should get help as of course these tests are not actual diagnosis. and i too know that i am in desperate need of a professional person who can not only explain myself to me but also help me find ways to be the person i wanted to be... it's just... i physically can't go do that... even thinking about getting help makes me lose my mind with anxiety and nausea and i know (as i have tried getting help before) that if i say anything like that again it will make my life even more hell as my parents do not agree with "help" at all. getting up and leaving this place is the same... my body stops moving and i can't breathe when i think about leaving... i wish i knew what to do... i have almost stopped being a person in the last couple of years... and i can't even remember who i used to be or what it felt like... and while i know i need help... asking for it is physically impossible

[@pernillatorro2812]

Thank you for these very important thoughts (after 9.00 minutes and til the end of the video) Great channel

[@brokke8388]

Thank you so much for this video. It came out at the perfect time for me - I'm an autistic woman and I've been wondering whether I have ADHD on top of that, but ruling it out when I notice symptoms I'm missing. In hindsight, those are probably cancelled out by my autism. Everything about this video was very relatable and I love your prediction of a more holistic approach to neurodiversity.

[@darkangelprincess101]

One reason I love your videos is because your so much like me and it keeps me from feeling like I'm alone with how I am

[@garyfrancis5015]

Yo How to ADHD Sam brilliant it's funny. Getting the confusion of channels. But also great respect for her channel that you knew her intro. You do make me laugh,

[@robynjoansutorowskimichels7095]

WOW,,, I so much relate to what you explained about not being diagnosed because the traits of ADHD can cancel out those of autism. Thank you for explaining that :)

[@eleonore-8969]

Thank you for never doing long boring intros in your videos, I can't handle that, people need to get to the point. Again I'm a bit shocked from how similar you sound to me. My brain is hyperactive and I can't sleep from it. My body isn't hyperactive as a whole but my feet/toes and fingers and some parts are. For example lying in the couch but always some body part is moving or tense. Also did gymnastics and ballet as a child and supryprisingly many hobbies, I don't understand how I did it while being autistic and overwhelmed. I don't need to do this test, you did it for me haha.

[@theanxiousplanner3516]

Thanks for this video! I'm currently on a waiting list for ADHD assessment through the NHS however this is 2- 3 years! I'm debating going private for around £800 not including follow up appointments. I am also potentially on the spectrum so I can relate to everything you are saying. You sound exactly like me! I also have an almost 2 year old and loved your vlog you did. Would you ever do a video like that again? Xx

[@AnnaMWatch]

I am convinced that ADHD and Autism are the same condition. I have autism, my sister has ADHD, but we are the same person. I mean, obviously we've got differences, I've got crazy sensory processing issues and she's got issues focusing in class and on tests, but we've both got executive dysfunction, hyperfixations (I muuuuch prefer the ADHD terminology over the ASD terminology here, they're the same thing, and the term "special interest" always felt infantilizing), neither of us can stand sitting in chairs, our brains work in very similar ways. I am convinced we have the same condition with slightly differing symptoms.

[@marinak5112]

What you said about the autism and ADHD traits mutually cancelling each other out actually makes so much sense! Thank you for making this video. I also used to do gymnastics as a child, and I remember immensely enjoying the sensation of running at that age too. I’m fidgety and my brain frequently prevents me from falling asleep 😂 So... hmmm... I guess I should start learning more about ADHD!

[@Nora.Frank.]

😂 I loved this! I relate so much to everything you've said (at 2x speed hahaha). Your videos gave me the final push to get my autism assessment in March this year, and there's no doubt I'm autistic. The psych also mentioned that he thought I may have ADHD too. I've just started taking dexamphetamine for a different medical issue, and my god is the difference in my brain difficult to wrap my head around. I'm a different woman; calm, patient, more sociable, the constant whizzing thoughts in my head have slowed down, executive dysfunction lessened dramatically. This reaction to the meds has convinced me that I must also be adhd as well as autistic. If only it hadn't taken 31 years to figure all of this out 🙈

[@hamutalfriedman]

OMG! once again you speak my thoughts. I had ADHD diagnosis a few years ago, results were mild. Many of my friends have either ADHD or Autism, and I found myself wondering many times if I may have one of them (before my diagnosis, but also after, since the borderline results). I took online tests for Autism, and I always get the borderline numbers there as well. After watching and reading stuff about both, I think I relate more to ADHD, although I have some simptoms of both and all simptoms of neither. I also think these two spectrums might be related and maybe parts of the same bigger mechanism.

[@amandagreaves581]

Wow you mean other people feel like I do. At 63 just discovering that my challenges may not have been due to lack of effort but maybe my wiring. Always told focus on this was self obsessed. Here's to acceptance of difference in all its forms. Love and light.

[@AtomBonnieBaby]

Diagnosed with adhd in October and recently started my asd assessments! I absolutely get everything you are saying! When I answered the adhd questions I had many moments of "well I don't experience this... Because I make sure I won't let it happen" in regards to making appointments and silly mistakes. When I caught wind of the autism everything fell into place and made so much sense! I honestly do believe they are one in the same because they counteract each other so often! I like routines and they help so much... But today I want to be spontaneous! 😂

[@ricksb5]

Hi, I’m just curious about where you got diagnosed for ADHD?

[@AtomBonnieBaby]

@@ricksb5 hello, yeah sure! I got diagnosed in Midlothian, NHS Scotland!

[@ricksb5]

@@AtomBonnieBaby Thank you.

[@gojoxsanzo]

Hi, I had the opposite experience: I am diagnosed ADHD for 3 years now, this year I have a therapiste (finally) and he told me during the first hour that I am also autistic. That made so much sens for me, it is like I have known all my life unconciently, he also recommended your youtube channel for me too watch. (I bindgewatched most by now). I am so glad my therapiste saw my autism under the ADHD, and I am so glad you do your videos, it helps me understand myself and understand why I never totally fit anywhere. Well Thanks (sorry I am bad at expressing my feelings, as you say I don't english ^^)

[@garnetleaf8050]

It makes sense that symptoms can cancel each other out! I have both diagnosis and I do feel this way. Also, masking + general anxiety cancels out a lot of things... Like no, I would never forget an important appointment, because I will be so stressed about it.

[@klettari]

Thank you for this. I haven't had a chance to get an official diagnosis yet, but my counsellor says it's likely I have ADHD and/or autism. I've looked a lot into both, and usually some things (from both sides) are either very relatable or not applicable at all. When you mentioned symptoms cancelling each other, I felt like that's exactly what happens to me too. I also have (diagnosed and medicated) depression and anxiety, and I never seen people talking about how it can affect ADHD and autism. For example, "do you like social interactions?" kind of questions on any test. Answering "yes" counts towards being more neurotypical, but my real answer is "yes, because I know being on my own is going to start the downward spiral of my depression". I wish there were more resources for people having several conditions at the same time. Having one can already be complicated to figure out, but having more than one makes it even more difficult.

[@markmuller7962]

You have a good sense of humour 😄

[@ghostange666]

I love your videos they are easy for me to understand. I started watch while waiting for my ASD assessment I was diagnosed January this year. In my assessment I was told my inability to break down tasks and organise things Is not down to my ASD. That I could have executive functioning disorder. So I looked in to how you get assessment for that and it turns out to be part of ADHD. so i research 🤔 and like when I was researching in to ASD it is alot of light 💡 bulb moment of wow that is me and that makes so much sense now. I feel abit silly I did not think I could have ADHD because I am not hyperactive and I don't know you could have both ASD and ADHD together. Thank you for this video I am now waiting for ADHD assessment.

[@bryanmerton5153]

I was diagnosed with ADHD years ago and just now discovering I am Autistic! They do overlap and sometimes are in direct conflict. Super interesting. Thanks for your video!

[@jessicapippen4737]

Thanks so much for this video. I was the same way as a child. I was told so many times to stop fidgeting but I was never considered hyper-active. I actually got my ADHD- inattentive diagnosis years before the ASD 1 diagnosis. We could never figure out why none of the ADHD medications seemed to help. The ASD diagnosis explains this. People with ASD reacted differently to medications than those without. The medications either did nothing, put me to sleep, or made me extremely hyper and what little filter I have completely disappeared. Now I really try to focus on keeping a simple routine that has some flexibility to keep me from getting so bored. :+)

[@ollie3258]

ms sam i would just like to say, as someone with adhd who is really looking into autism, your channel has been SO helpful. especially this video. i know for sure i've got adhd but i do feel like some traits are "cancelled out" by potential autistic traits and vice versa, and i was SO happy to hear you mention that. i lean towards the inattentive type of adhd, which includes missing details, but i tend to be pretty anal about those, lol. so when i was getting my diagnosis, i worried maybe i didn't have adhd because of that (silly for just one symptom, but self doubt is a hell of a drug, haha). but if i had autism it would explain that and a number of other things as well... it's so hard for me to remember what's exclusively autistic or adhd traits though, and autism questionnaire questions often seem so confusingly worded :-( but your videos have helped a ton!!! thank you 💕❤️💞💞💖💖💕❤️

[@01Sumayya]

You got a like from me just for the thumbnail and the intro :D

[@SueLyons1]

11:30 onwards Lovely analogy. The Blind Man and the Elephant. Each man who touches a different part of the elephant feels that it is a very different thing. Neurodiversity is the elephant. Depending on whether you touch its tusk, tail, foot, trunk, side, etc. will depend on whether you think it is autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc.

[@Fledhyris]

Really interesting in the very first pre-test segment of the video (third minute) where you said your symptoms tend to come out less at home, where you have carefully controlled the environment. But I came to this video directly after watching your '5 signs you could have both!' video, and you said the exact opposite there! That because your autism is 'satisfied' by careful home management, that's when the ADHD can rear its head, needing more stimulation, and that the ADHD is more satisfied by being out and about doing things, but that's when issues can arise for the autism.

[@AspieAnswers]

There was a slight chance while I was getting my diagnosis sorted out when I was 16 years old that with the specialist team that I had, balanced that there was a slight chance that besides having some learning disorder as well as Aspergers that it was getting close to having ADHD too. This test just said that I may have a slight bit of ADHD. I did share some of my personal experiences (lived experiences) with this on my channel. Thanks for sharing this, Sammy. I believe that sometimes ADHD and other conditions do intertwine somehow with Autism. I am enjoying your videos and learning more about you and your viewpoint of autism etc. :)

[@saraselmon6642]

Hahaha this is super relatable. As a person with diagnosed ADHD and undiagnosed ASD you're presenting in a very similar way as me but questioning your lived experience from a different angle. I'm also finding myself wondering when ADHD will become integrated diagnostically with ASD and then reminding myself to be humble (Sara you're not a psychiatrist), and then thinking "but yeah, nah it's definitely the same sort of thing". How many dimensions can a spectrum have?! Love watching all your videos. It's really difficult doing life sometimes because I'm quite good at masking and can generally relate to NTs but nobody seems to be able to relate to me. That's pretty isolating and maybe why I feel awkward so often. Also my brain tends to give me 3 very decent responses in conversation all at once and my mouth mashes them together in an incoherent jumble. Hahaha fun and games!

[@NovelNovelist]

So true about compensatory strategies and how that misleads the results a lot! Like "Do I often forget important appointments?" No...because I 5 alarms leading up to it that day and schedule daily reminder emails to myself for the 3 or 4 days leading up to the day. But otherwise, yeah, I absolutely would. "Do I lose things often?" Again no, because I'm rigid about having a set place I keep each item in my life....if I don't have a set place for something -- oh yeah, I have no clue where it is.

[@theminimalmessers9781]

I was diagnosed this year, at 33, with both ADHD and ASD. My diagnoses came after going through the process with my youngest daughter and realizing we had so many common characteristics. I agree with you in the aspect of I feel like my ADHD makes like more of a struggle than my ASD.

[@mariwelch]

wow! something just clicked for me here. i paused the video and took the test just before you began and got a moderate result as well. i never would have guessed it! i'm familiar with ADD because my oldest child has a diagnosis and i have observed him and have done some reading and video watching about it. i myself have an informal autism diagnosis. my middle kid's preschool teacher a few years ago was always talking to me about her adult ADHD diagnosis and hinted that i might look into something like that, but i brushed it off thinking i knew a fair bit, and i never had as much trouble as my kiddo with a diagnosis. i think she knew. this was prior to my informal autism diagnosis as well. she was pointing me in the right direction. i should email her and say thank you :)

[@Lil-Dragon]

Test like this i only look at as guiding if you should look for help from the doctors or an assessment. But I love how vague the answers you can pick from area for any only quiz

[@willemijnkamerling4011]

Love your conclusion that autism, adhd and such all stems from the same place. Definitely agree. As to the adhd questions, I think the easyness of the questions undermines the depth of what adhd is. It's so much more than just can I sit still or am I impatient or do I have difficulty starting or completing a task. Anyway, Ive been watching your channel all afternoon and I love how reflective you are of how and why you do things or don't do them. I'm also so aware of so many things and at the same time I'm oblivious. Add trait for you 😉 hope we can have some tea again sometime, maybe even this year 😄

[@YoSamdySam]

I would love to 🥰

[@lifeaccordingtosian]

Oh my goodness the point about PMDD and bees buzzing. I get that so much. I have a PMDD diagnosis (primary symptoms are HUGE anxiety/overwhelm to the point of paralysis) but got laughed off when I asked my GP about Autism (I feel I have good reasons to suspect autism)

[@JennhasADHD]

Hello! :D So interested to see this video.

[@talisarose480]

This was really interesting. I'm still going through the autism diagnosis process but was starting to question my special interest trait, purely because mine change and i thought it was supposed to be a single one, I guess it can rotate too as well as change to something totally new. I get bored and it changes.

[@kaylamackelprang3827]

this is me SOO much!!! I just got my ADHD diagnosis, but I truly believe that I also have Autism.

[@junebollington6872]

As someone with diagnosed ADHD and self diagnosed autism I can relate to your answers so heavily lol

[@bubblebubble7494]

Hi brain 🧠. I already love this video

[@thislittlehome4508]

i thought this was really interesting so far, and it's only half way through...i was diagnosed with ADD like 10 years ago, but I also think i may need to see about autism too since I often feel so weird and different than anyone in my life :D

[@Leena79]

I went and took the same test before hearing uour answers, and also got moderate indication of ADD/ADHD. I have Asperger's diagnosis, but I've often jokingly said that some things are my ADHD traits. Like my inability to finish something after even the smallest distraction, and getting started with things that are not my personal top priority, such as house chores. Then again, I'm super focused on my special interests (of which I have many). But during classes, listening to someone talk etc., I fidget, play with my writing utensils or doodle, and it helps me concentrate. I don't know where ASD ends and ADHD begins, but I think it's safe to say they go hand in hand in many cases.

[@Stormbrise]

I was diagnosed with both when I got my ASD diagnosis. I sat there and fidgeted constantly, and looked at the bottom shelf of a bookcase. I couldn’t even meet anyone in the eye or look at them when talking about difficulties. I have some post it’s on the door, like remember your keys, wallet, phone, charger and cables plus my shoes. I have been locked out without my shoes several times. It is good that I have neighbors that will let me visit until my husband to rush home to sleep.

[@janedoe678]

I had a similar experience as yours, except I was diagnosed with severe ADHD first, then talked with my doctor and she agrees that I also have ASD, but I didn't really need an official diagnosis so I haven't pursued one.

[@awkwardlysippingtea8571]

Everything you described is me to a T. I do, however, make careless mistakes because I misinterpret the prompt. I've been diagnosed twice as having ADHD but I suspect autism too. Side note, I'm pretty sure ADHD is a disability in the UK but you don't receive any support unless your symptoms are very severe. I think they take autism more seriously.

[@sunnyreid2645]

I am dyslexic and have ADHD and over this past year I have been looking in to autism because I think it would explain a lot of my life. I got diagnosed with dyslexia in the 1st grade but I didn't get an ADHD diagnosis untill I was 20 years old. I decided to get tested for it because I could tell I had the symptoms of ADHD, even though no one else had noticed it because I didn't express the typical outward signs of ADHD. I was always quiet and well behaved and I developed many coping mechanisms to be able act somewhat normally in school. When I finally got the tests done I was told that I could be the poster child for ADHD, which I found to be hilarious because I knew I had it for years and no one really thought I did. I feel like the overlap between autism and ADHD makes it somewhat harder for me to decided if the autistic traits I feel that I have are just an expression of my ADHD or not. I have struggled to find many helpful videos explaining the experience of autism and ADHD and where they overlap and where the differences are. I really enjoyed this video and would love to see more like it!

[@bsbfan4life26nkotb]

I just took the same test and my results say a Strong Indication of ADD/ADHD..... I knew it! (Also am Autistic) self diagnosed. Getting tested for both for support and medicine

[@theanxiousplanner3516]

6 seconds in and I'm confused as I subscribe to you both 😂

[@billgoode1057]

I’ve been diagnosed with adhd and dyslexia. I took the online autism test you took awhile back and scored just a bit higher than you did. I’ve seen coalitions between all of these conditions in my family line and truly believe they are related.

[@elliemitchell3078]

Diagnosed with Aspergers in early 20s, diagnosed with Adhd a few weeks ago. The 'surely we're just looking at different versions of the same thing' hit me hard as I've been wondering this for a while. I feel like it's a seesaw so my traits can flip to more adhd presentation or more Asd presentation.

[@stellazovak]

Ok, basically I've been waiting for you to make this video, LOL. I am a person who was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago after having two children and not being able to cope. I'm now 39. I hunted down that diagnosis. Now, two years later and two years on meds that haven't helped me that much (at least from my own perspective, which may not be great... that's a whole other topic). Recently I've been questioning ASD for myself (for many reasons, won't go into that) and have found that, unlike you, the day-to-day stuff that looks like "typical ADHD" doesn't actually explain my issues that well. Yes, I do lose my phone a lot (maybe not 20 times), but I don't tend to be late, I don't tend to lose things that much (maybe my husband will disagree with that), I don't know if I have time-blindness, but I don't really even think so, I'm not that messy, I'm able to focus intensely on some things that are just boring, I don't have a million hobbies that change all of the time, I don't have trouble waking up in the morning (actually, I'm more of a morning person), I can be intensely (and perhaps compulsively) organized (whether or not I can actually use the systems that I invent to organize things is another thing, and yes, I do tend to change the systems all the time), and I fully acknowledge that even the structure of this horrific sentence and the inordinate number of parentheticals within it is pretty ADHD... wait... how do I end this sentence now? You get the gist. The way I experience life mainly is that I'm always overwhelmed and I'm always "somewhere else" and that somewhere else is the world inside my head that is so much more engaging than anything going on around me. But I've basically come to the conclusion that you have - I think that most likely, if the mental health/psychological community continues to move in the direction of humans being capable of having ownership over their own minds and seeking diagnoses as a way of understanding themselves and their loved ones better rather than institutions deciding that certain humans are inconvenient and therefor must be labeled and put away or cured or medicated (I'm not anti-meds, for the record); then I do believe that ADHD and ASD will fall under the same umbrella. I have what some people would call "ADD" or ADHD inattentive subtype and the way that presents, and even the internal experiences, strengths and struggles that I have personally, may be much more similar to a woman with ASD and a similar set of comorbidities than a young man with highly hyperactive ADHD combined with ODD, for example. So why are he and I under the same umbrella term, but the ASD woman and I who would have a lot more in common are not? I'm still not sure what's going on with me, but I'm hoping soon it won't matter too much and I'll just be able to get on with it and find coping strategies and not care about the labels. I'm not there yet, though.

[@redvelvetcate3569]

Fun fact: watching you videos just out of interest made me consider that I may have ADHD. I’m now on a waiting list to see a psychiatrist for a potential diagnosis.

[@shoshanafox727]

Omg!!! I listen to everything at 1.5 speed! I didn't know other people did that too! LoL 😄👍😁

[@TarenGarond]

I use 2.0 speed often and it would be great if KZbin added even higher speed options... LOL! I often can't concentrate very well when hearing someone talk in normal speed. But for some reason if the person talking have very satisfactory body language(A lot of flailing about with their hands or like very lively facial expressions.) then I have a much easier time concentrating, in that case 1 times speed is the way to go! Sometimes though the person speaking maybe moves their eyebrows in a too satisfactory way and I just kinda think something like "Those eyebrow movements, damn!!! What did you just say?!"... LOL!!! Edit : Just wanted to add that this video is a classic example of 1 times speed video for me.

[@_lil_lil]

I miss stuff at 1.0 speed a lot, I'd get lost immediately. (For the record I don't have a diagnosis for autism but I do have pretty significant ADHD)

[@maya07_11]

@@TarenGarond samee I use 2.0 and I'm not even English, I can't follow what she says when it's at 1.0 and tbh I can't wait THIS MANY minutes to learn the things in the video-

[@ngairepowell2022]

I am currently looking into getting diagnosed with ADHD, I've only begun exploring this possibility this year after struggling for a long time and not knowing why. I took the quiz and got the super high chance 😂

[@galli0]

Also i get a point, i stopped this video to watch another one and came back to it and was surprised one more time by the start

[@melaniekincl3496]

I grew up in a neurodiverse family, and have been self-diagnosed autistic for years. Growing up I was also pretty sure there was *some* amount of ADHD going on with me, though it paled in comparison to my non-autistic family members--my autistic traits definitely compensate for my ADHD traits, and vice versa, and then there was also the question of nature vs. nurture to throw in there! But I've definitely noticed all my neurodiverse traits, but especially my ADHD, becoming more prominent during COVID; basically, though I'm not consciously worrying much, I think that's taking a whole load of subconscious energy and leaving less for coping! One thing I have noticed--I can usually shift my brain's dominant way of thinking somewhat between my more ADHD-dominant and more autistic-dominant thought processes, depending on the type of task I need to do (e.g., brainstorming, socializing = ADHD; analyzing, pattern-spotting = autistic). I mean, I guess it's just getting in the right brain-space for the task, but all the other traits come along with it (i.e. brainstorming in ADHD mode is complete chaos and best done socially and with tons of color, while analyzing in autistic mode is best done alone for hours on end in a very calm and organized work environment). Anyone else switch their way of thinking to the task at hand?

[@markmuller7962]

Strategies and masking can hide a lot of ADHD symptoms so it's important to be aware of that when taking a test

[@sethjg3d]

Lol... that intro got me 🤣

[@viennadesou6546]

hyperactivity can also be related to mental processing. I dont generally have a lot of physical hyperactivity but my mind never slows down.

[@eavsingleton]

Interesting what you said about one day ADHD and Autism might be more linked in terms of diagnosis. I can definitely see that happening. Afterall, ADHD now also encompasses ADD (as inattentive ADHD) and aspsergers is no longer a diagnosis but is diagnosed as autism.

[@himbo754]

As far as I can see, there are autism-only genes, ADHD-only genes, but also _some_ autism+ADHD genes. This article discusses some research into genes that cause both: psychcentral.com/news/2019/11/28/adhd-and-autism-share-changes-in-same-genes/152179.html I am autistic, but either mild or sub-clinical for ADHD - never formally assessed. I do have one funny story where my impatience with queues on a ski slope landed me on the most difficult run - it had the shortest queue for a good reason! Getting down the slope was an adventure.

[@miracle84]

I suspect I have AD(H)D. The test said 'strong indication'. I feel like sometimes my autistic symptoms are somewhat mediated by the AD(H)D ones, for instance I really enjoy trying new things. Sometimes I feel like it's a double whammy though (executive functioning is what I struggle with the most). (On that note, thank you so much for the cleaning schedule. I've been using it for about half a year and it's the first thing that has actually worked consistently.)

[@Sovereign-Prax]

I am autistic level 2, and ADHD combined which is Hyperactive and inattentive. Also like autism ADHD has been put into one category, and then split into sub categories.ADD is now seen as the inattentive ADHD and the other side is Hyperactive ADHD. I am not sure when this change occurred, I took this test just before and I was in the red lol. Great video and great content have been watching for some time now.

[@user-zv9no2my6j]

I always thought any ADHD like symptoms could be c-ptsd related. bc with some people who have only ADHD,/ADD or with the mistakes issues I can not identify, exactly as you describe. and things like this, ie. I have some routines to help me to never forget things bc that is horrible but not as strict routines as people with only Asperger bc it'd be exhausting and boring with all the stuff in my head I think of and want to do. I have problems with learning boring things, being late, getting things done. guess that really makes combined Aspergers and ADHD in women nearly undetectable if they don't come across it on their own, since they on top train to fit in so much, camouflaging. bc like you said, it makes a lot of sense that it interacts and reduces some Asperger symptoms and some ADHD symptoms. like the stereotype for autism they're never late, but if they also have ADHD easily being on time is out the window. ok, some Aspies have orientation problems or other things that could cause them to be late too like OCD or social anxiety, so it's probably a stereotype anyways. it makes sense and I can relate a lot. concentration issues and short term memory problems can be caused by PTSD as well, but not sure if as severely and long-term. it makes sense to only get the Asperger diagnosis and not ADHD as well, if it's enough to get the needed therapy.

[@betopego7756]

we´re on the same wavelenght 🌊☺️