Autism and ADHD Overlap in Ladies: Distinct Options
The sensory world presents its own set of contradictions for AuDHD women. We can be highly reactive to sensory input, yet also seek it out. Our ability to tolerate stimulation can fluctuate significantly from one minute to the next, making it hard for us — and the people around us — to predict our reactions.
We often desire highly stimulating environments, but we need to be the ones in control of the stimulation, since our needs are so specific and dynamic. We might eagerly plan a dinner party, craving the social energy, then spend the evening dimming lights, adjusting music volume, and slipping away to recharge when the sensory input becomes too much. From the outside, we can come across as unpredictable and domineering, when we’re just doing our best to stay comfortable.
Many of us also develop socially acceptable stims that don’t appear “weird” to outside observers. For me, this includes systematically filtering through clothing websites in a ritualized, repetitive pattern that provides visual, mental, and physical regulation. From the outside, I probably just look like someone scrolling through Poshmark. But for me, it’s about quietly managing my nervous system.
[Read: When ADHD Overstimulation Meltdowns Happen, Give Us Grace – and Space]
