5 Signs You’re A High-Masking Autistic With ADHD

Summary

In this video, Chris, a late-diagnosed individual with both autism and ADHD, shares five signs that may indicate the presence of both conditions. These signs include challenges with social interactions, intense focus on special interests, sensitivity to sensory stimuli, adherence to routines, and executive functioning challenges. Chris explains how these signs manifest differently with ADHD and ASD, and how they can be even more complex when experienced together, often leading to exhaustion. The video aims to raise awareness and provide support for those who might be navigating similar experiences.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Chris shares personal experiences of having both Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• 🤝 Difficulty with social interactions is a common challenge, with ADHD leading to interruptions and ASD causing challenges in reading non-verbal cues.
• 🔍 The combination of ADHD and ASD can result in an intense focus on special interests, leading to starting many projects but potentially not completing them.
• 🌟 Sensitivity to sensory stimuli is heightened with both conditions, causing discomfort in crowded or noisy environments and strong reactions to certain smells or textures.
• 🔄 Adherence to routines is a coping mechanism for ASD, while ADHD craves spontaneity, leading to internal conflict when both conditions are present.
• 🤯 Executive functioning challenges are prevalent, with difficulties in starting tasks, prioritizing, and completing projects due to the impulsive nature of ADHD and the focused nature of ASD.
• 🤔 The script emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own brain and finding personalized strategies to manage the unique challenges of having both ASD and ADHD.
• 💡 Chris encourages viewers to share their own experiences and strategies in the comments to foster a community of support and learning.
• 📈 The video aims to raise awareness and understanding of the co-occurrence of ASD and ADHD, highlighting the need for tailored support and accommodations.
• 📋 Chris's narrative provides insight into the daily struggles and triumphs of living with both conditions, offering a relatable perspective for those who may share similar experiences.

Q & A

What are the five signs that someone might have both ASD and ADHD?

The five signs discussed in the script are: 1) Difficulty with social interactions, 2) Intense focus on special interests, 3) Sensitivity to sensory stimuli, 4) Adherence to routines, and 5) Executive functioning challenges.

How does difficulty with social interactions manifest differently between ADHD and ASD?

For ADHD, individuals may interrupt often, have trouble focusing, and miss body language cues due to distractions. For ASD, they might focus on specific details, have challenges interpreting conversation tempo, and may come across as blunt or disengaged.

What is the difference between how ADHD and ASD affect a person's focus on special interests?

ADHD individuals tend to hyperfocus on a new interest often but may not see projects through to completion. ASD individuals maintain long-term special interests, deep dive into topics, and may become experts, often completing projects they are passionate about.

How does sensitivity to sensory stimuli differ between ADHD and ASD?

ADHD individuals can be overwhelmed by general stimuli like crowds and noise, while ASD individuals have more specific and intense sensitivities, avoiding certain stimuli and being strongly drawn to others.

What challenges does the combination of ADHD and ASD present when it comes to routines?

Combining ADHD's need for spontaneity and ASD's preference for structure can lead to a messy situation. The ADHD brain may crave change and exploration, while the ASD brain seeks comfort in routine and predictability.

How does executive functioning manifest in someone with both ASD and ADHD?

Executive functioning challenges in this combination include difficulties with time management, prioritizing tasks, and breaking projects into manageable parts. There's also a struggle with impulse control and the tendency to start many projects without finishing them.

What coping strategies does Chris suggest for managing the challenges of having both ASD and ADHD?

Chris suggests getting to know one's brain well, understanding personal strengths and weaknesses, and finding what works best for the individual, as everyone's experience with ASD and ADHD can be different.

How does Chris describe the internal conflict between the ADHD and ASD parts of their brain?

Chris describes an internal battle where the ADHD part seeks new projects and ideas, while the ASD part wants to complete tasks and can become overwhelmed and frustrated by interruptions or the need to switch between tasks.

What is the significance of the phrase 'I was born ready' in the context of the script?

The phrase 'I was born ready' is used humorously by Chris to express enthusiasm and readiness to discuss the signs of having both ASD and ADHD.

How does Chris explain the impact of sensory sensitivities on their daily life?

Chris explains that sensory sensitivities can cause physical discomfort and nausea, especially in crowded, noisy, or smelly environments. They also mention that certain smells can be calming, providing a stark contrast to the overwhelming ones.

What advice does Chris give to those who might be experiencing both ASD and ADHD?

Chris advises those who might have both conditions to understand their unique combination of symptoms, seek support, and find strategies that work for them, acknowledging that the experience can be exhausting due to the constant pull from both conditions.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Understanding Social Interactions with ASD and ADHD

In this segment, Chris discusses the complexities of social interactions for individuals with both Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For ADHD, social challenges often stem from a tendency to interrupt, difficulty focusing, and missing non-verbal cues due to distractions. ASD presents with a focus on specific aspects of social cues, such as eye contact, and a need for longer processing times, which can lead to misinterpretations. Chris also addresses the misconception that a monotone voice or disengaged appearance equates to rudeness or disinterest, emphasizing the importance of not making assumptions about individuals' intentions based on these behaviors. The combination of both conditions results in an even more challenging social landscape, where the individual's mind may be scattered, leading to inconsistent eye contact, body language, and potential misreadings of social situations.

05:02

🔍 Navigating Sensory Sensitivity and Routines

Chris explores the sensory sensitivities and adherence to routines that are characteristic of individuals with ASD and ADHD. ADHD is associated with a broader sensitivity to stimuli like crowds and noise, while ASD presents with more specific and intense reactions to certain stimuli. Chris shares personal experiences, such as feeling overwhelmed in college labs due to strong smells, and the contrasting comfort found in certain scents. The video also delves into the challenges of maintaining routines, with ADHD often craving spontaneity and ASD favoring structure. Chris describes the internal struggle between the desire for novelty and the need for predictability, leading to a messy balance when both conditions are present. The narrative includes the impact of sensory overload on social interactions and the subsequent need for retreat to a safe, familiar environment, followed by the ADHD-driven overthinking and rumination about the social outing.

10:03

🛠 Executive Functioning and the Impact of Dual Diagnosis

The final paragraph addresses the executive functioning challenges faced by individuals with both ASD and ADHD. Chris outlines the difficulties in initiating tasks, maintaining focus, and completing projects due to the constant stream of thoughts and ideas. The lack of impulse control is highlighted, with examples of impulsive purchases and the subsequent frustration when projects are not completed as envisioned. Chris also touches on the challenges of time management and prioritization, often exacerbated by the need to switch between tasks or when interrupted during focused work. The dual diagnosis amplifies these challenges, as the individual grapples with both the restless drive of ADHD and the meticulous completionism of ASD. The video concludes with a call for understanding and self-advocacy, encouraging viewers to recognize their unique brain's strengths and to seek support and strategies tailored to their specific needs.

Keywords

💡ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. It is characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. In the video, the speaker identifies as autistic and discusses how ASD manifests in their life, such as focusing on specific details during social interactions and having intense special interests. The video also touches on how ASD can overlap with ADHD, leading to a complex combination of symptoms.

💡ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and sometimes hyperactivity. The video script describes how ADHD presents in the speaker's life, including difficulty focusing, especially when not interested, and a tendency to interrupt or move around a lot. The speaker also discusses the challenges of having both ASD and ADHD, such as the struggle with executive functioning and the intense focus on special interests.

💡Social Interactions

Social interactions are a key area of focus in the video, as they are often challenging for individuals with ASD and ADHD. The speaker explains how they struggle with social cues, eye contact, and conversational tempo, which are common difficulties for those with ASD. For ADHD, the speaker mentions interrupting and having a hard time focusing during conversations. The combination of both conditions makes social interactions particularly complex.

💡Special Interests

Special interests are areas of intense focus and passion that are common among individuals with ASD. The video script describes how the speaker has intense focus on special interests, which is a characteristic of ASD, and how they can hyperfocus on a topic with ADHD, leading to a deep dive into various subjects. The combination of both conditions results in a unique experience of special interests that can be both a source of joy and a potential challenge.

💡Sensory Sensitivity

Sensory sensitivity refers to an increased or reduced response to sensory stimuli, which is a common characteristic of ASD. The speaker in the video describes their heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as noise, crowds, and smells, which can be overwhelming and lead to discomfort or even nausea. This sensitivity is a significant part of their ASD experience and can significantly impact their daily life and social interactions.

💡Routines

Routines are a set sequence of activities that provide a sense of predictability and comfort. Individuals with ASD often thrive on routines, as they provide structure and predictability. The video script mentions how the speaker with ASD prefers routines, while their ADHD side craves spontaneity and can get bored with routine. The combination of both conditions creates a tension between the need for structure and the desire for novelty.

💡Executive Functioning

Executive functioning refers to the cognitive processes that enable an individual to plan, initiate, and monitor tasks. In the video, the speaker discusses the challenges with executive functioning that come with both ASD and ADHD, such as difficulty starting tasks, prioritizing, and completing projects. The speaker provides examples of how these challenges manifest, such as getting distracted and never finishing projects or overthinking and ruminating on past events.

💡Masking

Masking is the act of hiding or suppressing one's natural behaviors to fit in with social norms, which is a common strategy used by individuals with ASD. The video script touches on how the speaker has to mask their autistic traits in social situations to appear more 'neurotypical,' which can be exhausting and require a lot of mental effort.

💡Hyperfocus

Hyperfocus is a state of intense concentration on a specific task or interest, often seen in individuals with ADHD. The speaker in the video describes how they can hyperfocus on a topic or project, leading to a deep dive into the subject matter. However, this can also lead to difficulties in completing projects if they get distracted or lose interest.

💡Sensory Overload

Sensory overload occurs when an individual is exposed to too much sensory input, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed. The video script describes how the speaker experiences sensory overload in crowded, noisy environments, which can cause physical discomfort and the need to remove themselves from the situation. This is a significant challenge for individuals with heightened sensory sensitivities, as seen in ASD.

💡Zoning Out

Zoning out refers to a state of being mentally absent or distracted, which can be a symptom of ADHD. In the video, the speaker mentions zoning out during conversations or social situations, which can lead to missing parts of the conversation or appearing disengaged. This behavior can be misinterpreted by others, but for the speaker, it is a result of their ADHD symptoms.

Highlights

Chris shares five signs that may indicate having both ASD and ADHD.

Difficulty with social interactions can manifest differently in ADHD and ASD.

ADHD can cause frequent interruptions and distractibility in social settings.

ASD can lead to a focus on specific details and challenges with conversation tempo.

Chris discusses how social interactions are challenging due to a restless mind.

Intense focus on special interests is a common trait in both ADHD and ASD.

ADHD can lead to frequent shifts in interests and projects.

ASD can result in long-term, deep engagement with special interests.

Chris describes the internal battle of starting and finishing projects with both conditions.

Sensitivity to sensory stimuli is a significant challenge for both ADHD and ASD.

Chris experiences heightened sensory sensitivities, leading to discomfort in various environments.

Routines are essential for ASD, while ADHD craves spontaneity.

Chris explains the struggle with routines and the impact on daily life.

Executive functioning challenges are prevalent with both ASD and ADHD.

Chris talks about the difficulties in starting tasks and the impulsive nature of ADHD.

Interruptions can be particularly frustrating for those with ASD.

Chris shares personal experiences of executive functioning challenges.

Understanding and managing the unique combination of ASD and ADHD is crucial.

Chris encourages viewers to share their experiences and coping strategies.

Transcripts

do I have ASD or ADHD or both hi my name

is Chris and I'm a late diagnosed

autistic who also happens to be an ADHD

in this video I'm going to share five

signs that you too may have both what

I'll do is I'll break down each sign by

how it looks for my ADHD brain my

autistic brain and then the combination

but keep in mind that the lines of

autism between ADHD can be blurred a lot

and there can be some overlap all right

are you ready for sign number one cuz

I'm ready I was born ready sign number

one difficulty with social interactions

for ADHD you probably tend to interrupt

a lot and have a hard time focusing

especially if you're not interested you

might move around a lot and because your

brain is in all kinds of other spots you

might miss body cues or parts of the

conversation because you were distracted

or thinking about something else for ASD

you might focus on something specific if

making eye contact instead of the entire

face or you might not make eye contact

at all you may have challenges

interpreting the tempo of conversation

need longer processing time and might

miss implied meanings it's also possible

you might come across to other people

particularly non-autistic people as to

blunt monotone or disengaged this can be

a little bit tricky especially in

professional working environments

attention people at work just because we

are monotone blunt or seem disengaged

doesn't mean we are rude or not

interested you might be wrong so don't

do it to us we don't need it tone it it

back slow it down and then stop doing it

yes even you and you my voice is

monotone right now but I'm not rude

don't assume okay so how does this look

for my audhd brain well social

interactions are just overall

challenging because my mind is all over

the place I don't even know where it is

half the time or how it even got there

where's my brain going next your guess

is as good as mine also my eyes might

Dart around a lot I'm not exactly sure

what to look at sometimes because I get

distracted very easily all the time my

body language is a complete mess I have

no idea most of the time what my face

looks like actually sometimes people

will tell me to cheer up or ask me dude

what's wrong after looking at my face

and it startles me because inside I'm

excited what do you mean Shear up

there's a party going on in my brain I'm

bouncing to every good song ever made

like this I mean I'm really really

really feeling it but I'm acutely aware

that my body language beats to its own

drum and I have to try to focus on what

I'm doing but I often miss a lot of the

conversation I learned how to use humor

to deflect from the times when I miss

large parts of the conversation due to

zoning out or my mind wandering

especially if the person I'm talking to

is really incredibly boring sign number

two intense focus on special interest so

for ADHD you hyperfocus on something and

deep dive into the topic you might pick

up on a new interest fairly often but

you really go all in on the interest and

you can become really knowledgeable in

it before switching Focus but let's be

honest if it's a project you might not

see it through to completion adhders

have been known to get bored or

distracted pretty often for ASD you

might have long special interests and

stick with those interests for longer

periods of time when you're interested

you'll also Deep dive into the topic

often becoming experts in them if it's a

project you really really want to finish

it and complete to the point where

you'll forgo eating drinking going to

the bathroom or even sleeping until the

project is completed for the

combination things can get a little bit

tricky what happens here is I will start

a project and possibly get distracted

and then start another project and get

distracted and then maybe another

project or eight or 20

shy and I might not finish all of them

most of them possibly not any of them

but here's what's going to happen I'm

going to come to a point where maybe

some of these projects are connected and

they weren't finished and I'm going to

feel it it's going to hit me right here

and

here and there all of those spots and

I'm going to start feeling overwhelmed

and I'm going to get irritable and then

angry and possibly have a meltdown

because it's all going to be too much

this idea that all of these projects

that I care about that I want to finish

are not finished but they need to be

finished maybe I can't do anything else

until they're finished but in my mind

they all have to be finished so just one

step at a time

mentality it doesn't come so easy to me

and it can get tiring and frustrating

and very overwhelming and then I'll just

need to rest but I don't want to rest

but I'm tired and I'm exhausted and I

can't finish the projects but my mind

really wants to finish the projects so

there's a little bit of a conflict

there's an internal battle going on

inside of my brain and that can suck

okay sign number three sensitivity to

sensory stimuli so for ADHD you can get

overwhelmed by too much stimuli like

large crowds a lot of noise those kind

of things ADH

deer's sensitivity to sensory stimuli

it's on a broader stance than ASD so for

ASD

there's stronger more specific instances

of sensitivity to sensory stimuli you

might avoid certain stimuli while also

having a strong pull towards other

stimuli for the combination I feel like

my sensitivities to sensory stimuli are

much more intense having both ADHD and

ASD I get sick and nauseous around

crowds heat and loud noise I don't do

well with sudden noises or bright lights

and I don't do well with a ton of

different smells and textures when I was

in college

I had to leave my biology lab regularly

because the smells would bother me so

much I remember specifically when we

were dissecting pigs good God it's stunk

but on the flip side certain smells can

also really really calm me down and make

me feel great it feels like warm water

surging through my body it's a very

pleasant and calming feeling sign number

four adherence to routines ADH deers

crave spontaneity and impulsivity why

have a routine when you can just do

whatever the heck you feel like for ASD

it's the complete opposite we like

structure repetition and routines

deviating from a set routine isn't good

we do not like that at all having the

combination of both ADHD and ASD here

can be oh pretty messy my ADHD brain

gets bored especially around the house

when I don't have projects and it'll

tickle my brain and into thinking I need

to leave my safe spot and go out and do

something explore a new place meet up

with friends usually the sensory

sensitivities pop up and gradually my

brain and Battery starts to wear down

one of the biggest reasons this happens

is I can't filter sounds all sounds are

treated equally in my brain so when I'm

engaged in a conversation I have to

spend a lot of brain power focusing on

what's being said and this is assuming

that I'm in a place that's somewhat

tolerable with people I know well and

I'm also not needing to focus quite as

much on masking but I'll still have to

do some so anything related to my senses

like a chair that's uncomfortable or a

smell that's either intoxicating or

unpleasant it's going to overwhelm my

brain if people get too close to

me or touch me it's going to cause

problems with my brain eventually my ASD

brain can't function and I'll start

zoning out and I have to do this because

the battery in my brain is empty my tank

is running out quickly I think where it

gets tricky is is I was just engaged and

funny a few minutes ago so to everyone

else it seems a little bit strange when

I just start zoning out so then I leave

soon after to go home my ASD brain is

very happy to be home and starts to

relax but then my ADHD brain starts to

kick into gear and overthink absolutely

everything that happened while I was out

convinced that I said something

inappropriate or I bothered someone and

I didn't notice it's like replaying the

scenario in my brain of what I should

have said instead over and over and over

again and it takes forever especially if

I'm convinced something went wrong the

ruminating thoughts

swirling constantly and it's exhausting

and it exhausts me even more and

honestly it's really really hard to

relax sign number five executive

functioning challenges so for

ADHD there's a hard time getting started

on tasks nonstop there's so much

happening in my my brain so I don't know

where to start my brain won't allow

enough quiet time that I can strategize

and pinpoint the starting spot and now

that I'm older I'm more hesitant about

starting certain projects because I've

seen the outcome of diving in without

planning properly sometimes it's not

good and you have to go back and redo

everything so it's a combination of not

knowing where to start and also not

being able to close things out getting

distracted and never finishing the big

thing with ADHD is the lack of impulse

control and sometimes when you're

working on something you need to have

control over your impulses so I'll get

this idea in my brain and the next thing

you know an hour later I'm in the store

buying this expensive piece of equipment

without thinking through what I'm going

to do with it fully I bring it back and

then I run into some challenges and

usually what happens then is I'll push

through a little bit but then I'll get

frustrated and I'll put it aside and a

few weeks later I still haven't touched

this really expensive piece of equipment

which I wasted a lot of money on what

happens is I'm bouncing around because I

get another idea or I think hey before I

do that task I should probably do this

other task first and a lot of the time I

need help or I'm in a Zone and I get

interrupted which is when my ASD brain

kicks in when I am working and focused

and I get

interrupted my ASD

brain goes crazy I am a very monotropic

thinker when I get going on a project so

it's difficult for me when I get

interrupted or if it's kind of

complicated and I need to switch between

different parts of the project my

autistic brain gets frustrated I need to

take a lot of breaks when transitioning

between tasks sometimes I don't want to

take breaks though because I want to

keep going but I need a break or else

I'll get more frustrated and I'll end up

quitting or breaking something or

breaking multiple

somethings so for the combination

executive functioning challenges show up

a lot with both being autistic and

having ADHD I often have no concept of

time or how long things will take me or

anything without help of another person

usually Debbie or alarms or other

outside cues I can get very easily

frustrated or overwhelmed by things that

involve prioritizing or thinking through

all the steps of something or breaking

things into multiple days because why

need sleep when you can just keep going

until it's done but if I don't get

things done my brain has a hard time

sleeping because ADHD brain is excited

to go go go go go and autistic brain

wants to finish it and get it done so it

can be a little bit chaotic for me so if

you struggle with social interactions

have an intense focus on special

interests are sensitive to sensory

stimuli have difficulties with routines

or changes in routines and have

executive functioning challenges you

might have autism and ADHD combo like me

that also means you're probably tired a

lot because that pull from the two sides

can be exhausting get to know know your

brain well and figure out what works

best for you it'll be a little different

for everyone and just know there's other

people like you out there who feel that

same pull in our own unique combination

it's just our special brains doing their

thing what are some of the signs that I

missed do you notice the ones I

mentioned I love reading your comments

and questions so be sure to drop one as

you like this video and please share it

with someone who you think could benefit

from better understanding of audhd also

if you found ways to help yourself with

these signs or other challenges drop

those in the comments so we can all

learn from you and as always thanks for

watching and for your

support but I don't want to rest because

I want to finish the project yes