turns out I don't just have adhd/ocd/anxiety/depression/arfid, lol

....I found out this month that I also have autism! I got diagnosed recently and it explains so much that I was initially blaming (unfairly) on my ADHD. I now realize that my OCD probably began initially because of what's called "autistic preservation" and that a lot of my sensory issues are more autism than ADHD. It also gives a better explanation for why I have ARFID and why antidepressants haven't helped my severe depression--my depression has stemmed ultimately from a combo of ADHD-caused chronic low dopamine and autistic burnout. After spending most of my life trying to figure my brain out, I feel like I finally have the right answers!

It's kind of odd (although becoming increasingly common) to get diagnosed as an adult, and because I'm really high-masking, I don't plan to tell many people for now. I've just told my immediate family and a couple of close friends. My therapist gave me the book "What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic" by Annie Kotowicz, and that's been a really relatable, informative resource for me post-diagnosis. I plan to lend it to some friends to help them understand how I meet the criteria but present subtly (unless you're familiar with how autism often looks in late-diagnosed, high-masking women, in which case, I feel like I fit that stereotype a lot xD).

Anyway, I just wanted to give that update xD Thankfully with my most recent med combo I haven't been feeling as suicidal as I was last year/as I typically am, so I haven't been on this forum in a while, but I'd like to keep posting every now and then even if I'm feeling okay. Right now my biggest issue is sensory overwhelm and feeling burnt out, but learning more about how autism affects sensory processing has been helpful.

Good news to me, its always valuable to know what one suffers from.

definitely good news! it's been kind of weird to process a diagnosis as an adult, but I'm really glad I know now!

Can relate, in the sense that I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. My therapist saw it in me and suggested that we should do the screening to see if a diagnosis is warranted. I totally resisted because I thought I was just lazy and had no willpower.

Turns out that I am actually easily bored without any novelty to hold my interest. The lack of willpower is more accurately described as impulsiveness. Both of these are traits common in people with ADHD. As I have learned more, I have had many “lightbulb moments” where I think, “oh, so that’s why I do that!”

So, I don’t imagine you are delighted to have another acronym on the list of diagnoses, but I am glad you are starting to understand your own traits as they relate to your experiences.

That's how I felt when I got diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago! I definitely feel that way now in terms of having those lightbulb moments, but because I was attributing all my autistic traits to ADHD when I first got diagnosed with the latter, I think I had more "how did I not know sooner" grief back then as compared to now (although I definitely have those moments). In a weird way, that's made accepting this diagnosis a smoother process

Hey @silver-watercolors good to hear you found some answer(s)! It looks like the jigsaw pieces fall into place with this diagnosis.

[I have autism and experience OCD & anxiety at times too]

- Have you had any treatment for specifically OCD, like cognitive behavioural therapy, exposure therapy or medication?

With sensory overload, changes and overstimulation ~ these will affect OCD too in my experience ~ and always in a negative way. (Causing fatigue and such, like you describing feeling burnt out)

Anyway, glad you have some confirmation & clarity with regards to this diagnosis.
Take care!

Thank you for sharing

Hi Silver-Watercolors. I have autism as well. I was also diagnosed as an adult. People usually don't believe me. However I was diagnosed at the age of 48 with a rare condition called chd8 syndrome. It causes autism and many other medical complications. Lol I found out it's the cause of everything from depression to my height and pointy chin.

I can definitely relate. Anyway if you would like I'm a very good listener. you can message me any time if you need to talk.

I've done CBT (which didn't seem to help much) and meds (which do help) for my OCD! I definitely think my OCD is worse whenever I'm overstimulated.

It's so crazy getting diagnosed with autism as an adult, isn't it? It's like my whole life makes sense now, and I can't believe I didn't know until now. And that's great that you got some clarity on the chd8 syndrome and that tying everything together, although I imagine it was hard going so long without knowing! I don't have that, but I definitely wish I'd known about my adhd/autism sooner.

Have you every had any kind of occupational therapy for sensory issues, or any other type of therapy that helps that? I know not every autistic person struggles with sensory issues, but I definitely do and have found a hard time finding any occupational therapists who do sensory integration with adults. No worries if not, I just figured I'd ask in case!

Hi again. I did have occupational therapy when I was young. Unfortunately all of the therapies were still either unknown or in there infancy. Luckily my mother is a special education teacher and speech therapist. She knew about the therapies while they were still being developed. She either did them with me herself or provided the info to my teacher to do them with me.

I still have problems with sensory issues but not to the degree it once was.

I know it sounds weird but I have gone to a pediatrician as an adult for these issues in the past and they were able to refer me to the correct therapy providers. Maybe they could do that for you too.

Don't go by labels go by how you feel

I totally get what you're saying, but in this case I feel like the label helps me a lot! Before my diagnosis I still got labels--like "weird" and "socially awkward"--and now that I realize I actually have a disability, I can begin to accommodate it The diagnosis has put a word to what I've been feeling my whole life, which is a relief!