What Is AuDHD? A Christian Counselor in Texas Explains

The term AuDHD is a combination of the word “autism” and the acronym “ADHD.” It refers to a neurodevelopmental disorder that doesn’t fit into a single diagnostic category of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While not an official diagnosis or a clinical term, it is commonly used to describe the co-occurrence of both these conditions.

AuDHD Versus Autism and ADHD

Autism and ADHD are separate conditions, each with its own set of symptoms and diagnostic criteria. Autism typically affects the way you communicate and experience the world, whereas ADHD primarily impacts attention and impulse control. AuDHD, on the other hand, influences both and can create an internal clash between your contradictory autistic and ADHD traits that predispose your brain to both want routine and fight against it.

Common traits of autism include:

• difficulty navigating social situations
• trouble interpreting non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, tone of voice, or body language
• taking things literally and not being able to understand subtle nuances, such as jokes or sarcasm
• social withdrawal
• a need for structure and routine
• being stressed by disrupted routines, unexpected change, or transitions
• repetitive patterns of behavior; restricted interests
• intense sensitivity to lights, sounds, textures, and smells
• and feeling overwhelmed in unfamiliar or high-stimulus environments

In contrast, common traits of ADHD include:

• inattentiveness
• having a hard time staying focused on what you are doing
• hyperactivity
• difficulty following through on instructions or completing tasks
• being easily distracted
• acting without thinking
• and trouble regulating emotions or controlling impulses.

The challenges of AuDHD go beyond those of either ADHD or autism alone and can interact in complicated ways. You may feel pulled between two extremes as you try to manage the sensory overload resulting from autism, while at the same time trying to cope with the distractibility and impulsivity associated with ADHD.

That said, there are also some common areas of struggle where symptoms of both disorders overlap, such as executive function challenges like not knowing where to begin a task, staying focused on an uninteresting one, or finding it difficult to shift your focus away from an activity of special interest that you are engaged in.

Living With AuDHD

Living with AuDHD can feel like the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride. At times, you may feel hyper-focused and energized, other times completely overwhelmed, creating an internal clash between your contradictory autistic and ADHD traits, and an internal conflict that is confusing and challenging to navigate.

You may, for instance, have a desire for routine, structure, and predictability (an autism trait), but simultaneously find repetition boring, be susceptible to disruptions, and have difficulty concentrating on specific activities for extended periods of time or following routines consistently (an ADHD trait).

Some other common paradoxes include:

• A craving for new experiences and an urge to try new things, while at the same time, feeling anxious about the unknown and getting thrown off by unexpected change.
• A desire to carefully plan and organize your tasks, while lacking the necessary executive function required to be able to implement and adhere to them.
• Being easily overwhelmed by sensory stimuli and having a desire for a calm environment, while reacting impulsively to sensory overload because it triggers your nervous system’s fight-or-flight response and overrides thoughtful action.
• Having a deep desire for social engagement and relationships, while becoming overwhelmed by group settings; acting in socially awkward ways such as frequently interrupting others or talking over them and interjecting irrelevant comments; having trouble understanding or responding to nonverbal cues; and finding it difficult to initiate, maintain, or engage in reciprocal conversations.

Unique Challenges and Strengths of AuDHD

Having AuDHD is a unique experience filled with nuanced challenges and strengths brought about by these co-occurring disorders.

Challenges

The unique challenges of AuDHD arise from the struggle to navigate conflicting needs, and the mental tug of war created by trying to balance two opposite sets of traits, such as sensory sensitivity versus impulsivity, intense focus on topics of special interest versus inattentiveness, and the desire for novelty versus the need for routine, all of which can intensify emotional dysregulation, feeling overwhelmed, social misunderstandings, and anxiety, and lead to burnout from trying to mask your symptoms and perform socially.

When burnout occurs, it is beyond just feeling tired and requires more than just taking a break to recover. It is an intense physical and emotional crash resulting from chronic stress and sensory overload, and can only be overcome by making lasting changes such as setting boundaries and reducing demands.

Strengths

On the other hand, conflicting traits such as broad, rapid thought patterns and the ability to think outside the box (common in ADHD) and the capacity for intense focus on topics of special interest, along with sustained attention to detail (common in autism), can result in unique strengths as well.

This combination enables people with AuDHD to have an innovative perspective, insightful thoughts, heightened creativity, a talent for approaching and solving problems in unique ways, and the ability to become experts in their area of special interest.

Tips That Can Help You Manage AuDHD

AuDHD can present itself differently in different people. Not everyone experiences the same mixture of traits. Developing an awareness of how your unique symptoms tend to manifest and what your specific challenges are is the first step to take in learning how to manage your particular struggle and figure out what accommodations and coping strategies work best for you.

The following are some examples of coping strategies that can be helpful.

Mindfulness and grounding techniques

Mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing and grounding exercises that use your five senses to center you in the present moment can help with emotional regulation, strengthen your ability to stay focused, and have a calming effect.

Physical activity

Exercise has been shown to help reduce hyperactivity, stress, and impulsiveness and improve focus and executive function.

Routines

Establishing and maintaining routines that support your particular energy and focus level, including time for adequate rest, and breaking tasks down into manageable steps can help reduce burnout.

Take short productivity-boosting breaks

Taking short breaks to refresh your mind that incorporate activities such as deep breathing, stretching, or taking a short walk can help enhance focus and boost efficiency and productivity.

Accommodations

Sensory tools such as noise-cancelling headphones, stress balls, and fidget toys can help regulate emotions, increase focus, have a calming effect, and improve sensory processing ability.

Visual supports

Visual supports such as calendars and schedules can help with planning.

Therapy

Therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and emotionally focused therapy (EFT) can help equip you with strategies for challenging and regulating difficult emotions; improving executive function, social, and communication skills; as well as help you tap into strengths such as creativity and use them to improve focus and attention.

Support groups

Joining a support group for people with AuDHD provides a safe space to connect with others who share similar experiences, support and encourage one another, and gain a sense of belonging, as well as the comfort of feeling understood.

DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) skills groups

A DBT skills group is like a class that focuses on building key executive function skills to help you learn how to manage intense emotions, tolerate distress, and improve the way you interact with others.

An AuDHD coach

An AuDHD coach can help you tackle your specific challenges and develop practical techniques to improve executive function.

If, after reading this article, you feel as though you are dealing with AuDHD, need more help than what it could provide, and would like to set up an appointment to meet with a faith-based counselor at our location who specializes in neurodivergent affirming care, please give us a call. Your first appointment is risk-free.