Hi NKO
I'm wondering if you're thinking about seeking a formal diagnosis of AuDHD, with some tests involved. With your therapist mentioning autism as being 'likely', is autism or AuDHD something you're interested at looking into or looking at considering (in the way of possibly gaining a better understanding of how you tick)?
As a mum to a 20yo son who's been diagnosed with level 1 autism and a 23yo daughter who's been diagnosed with ADHD, I fully acknowledge the challenges that can come for them. The way certain executive function related challenges are computed or processed is not so straight forward every time, which can be incredibly challenging and even stressful for them at times. Something else I fully acknowledge and try to get my kids to acknowledge too involves the incredible abilities they possess that can make life feel a little like hell on earth at times...
With the sensitivity aspect of ADHD and autism, their sensitivities can give them advantages and certain disadvantages. For example, while my daughter's sensitive enough to able to 'read' or get a sense of just about anyone's nature (even when meeting them for the first time), she can also feel other people's stress quite easily and has to manage that. While she has an amazing sense of touch, she's also sensitive to certain skin care products, as well as being sensitive to certain food textures or drinks which can stress her nervous system (based on how they feel and the chemicals in some that don't agree with her). While my son has an absolutely mind blowing ear for sound, a high volume of sound stresses his nervous system. And while he has one of the most incredible imaginations on the face of the earth, it messes with his ability to focus at times and can create some OCD issues which can also impact his nervous system. The reason I mention all this is based on the idea that great natural abilities can come with a heck of a lot of challenges for some people. Some of those challenges can become anxiety inducing, depressing and more, especially if we can't find anyone who can relate to them and help us work through them.
The thing about incredibly sensitive people (people who can sense really easily) is...so much of what we sense is done so through our nervous system. Whether it involves our thoughts, our internal chemistry, our imagination, certain foods or products our body doesn't like, other people's words towards us, our own inner dialogue, sensing other people's feelings and a whole stack of other things, the nervous system senses and processes it all. Wondering whether your therapist has explored a whole number of possibilities in regard to what is leading you and your body to feel such incredible overwhelm. If it's rarely given a chance to relax out of constantly processing so much, no wonder you're feeling burnout. My heart goes out to you so much.❤️
