Understanding AuDHD: When ADHD and Autism Overlap

I’ve been hearing this more and more in my work:

“I think I might have both ADHD and autism.”

When people share that, there’s usually a mix of curiosity, relief, and exhaustion in their voice. They’ve been trying to make sense of their experience for a long time, sometimes their whole life.

That’s where the idea of AuDHD comes in. It’s a community-created word for people who relate to, or have diagnoses of, both ADHD and autism traits. It isn’t a formal diagnosis, but it gives language to something many people live every day.

What AuDHD Really Means

ADHD and autism are different neurotypes, yet they often overlap. Studies suggest a large number of people meet criteria for both. When that happens, the mix of traits can be fascinating and complicated.

A person with AuDHD might love novelty but find change overwhelming. Some crave social connection yet feel drained afterward. Others lose themselves in deep focus on what they love, then can’t summon the same energy for daily tasks.

It’s not inconsistency. It’s complexity. It’s how a brain with multiple operating systems moves through a noisy world.

How It Can Feel

Many adults with AuDHD describe constantly adjusting the “volume knobs” inside their mind:

• Turning down overstimulation while trying to turn up motivation.

• Wanting freedom and spontaneity but also needing structure and predictability.

• Caring deeply, feeling everything, and needing more downtime than others seem to.

  
  

For some, these patterns were hidden under years of coping. They learned to mask, to perform social ease, to stay busy, to keep up appearances. On the outside they might seem fine. On the inside they’re often tired to the bone.

Why It’s Often Missed

ADHD and autism can look different in adults, especially in women and people who were socialized to “hold it together.” Many were never recognized as kids. They adapted however they could—sometimes by overachieving, sometimes by pulling back—just trying to manage the mismatch between their needs and the world around them.

Eventually those coping strategies stop working. Burnout creeps in. Anxiety grows. That’s often when people begin to ask, “Could this be ADHD? Autism? Maybe both?”

Finding Language for Your Experience

Discovering that you might be AuDHD isn’t about labeling yourself. It’s about finding words that explain how your mind naturally works. It’s often the first step toward compassion—realizing there was never anything “wrong” with you, only parts of you that were misunderstood or unsupported.

If this feels familiar, an assessment can help clarify what’s going on. That kind of clarity can open doors to accommodations, better self-care, and a greater sense of ease in daily life.

Learning More

If you’d like to explore this further, these two resources are thoughtful places to start:

• Neurodivergent Insights compares ADHD and autism traits side by side in a way that feels both clear and kind.

• Embrace Autism offers an accessible introduction to what AuDHD can look and feel like in everyday life.

  
  

Both are great for learning, reflecting, and realizing you’re far from alone.

A Gentle Closing Thought

If you’ve spent years feeling like you’re “too much” or “not enough,” please know this: you were probably just wired differently all along.

AuDHD is one way to make sense of that. Not as something broken to fix, but as a map toward understanding yourself—with more clarity, more compassion, and maybe even a bit of relief.