Autism and ADHD: it's complicated - Unmasking my Autism

It's becoming more and more obvious to myself that I display strong ADHD traits alongside autistic traits, its apparently been obvious to my family, but I'm the last to know! They often mask each other, although in my experience ADHD masks autism more than the other round. And as ADHD often presents differently in women, are many more women not being diagnosed (either through assessment or through self-determination) because we are masking all the time and have become accustomed to masking?
Thank you so much for watching these videos and thank you so much for commenting!
(The photo on the thumbnail does not match what I'm wearing in the video because I had to change outfits to do errands after I recorded and then remembered to take a photo - just in case anyone noticed and its leaving a question mark for them).

[@tracirex]

it will be interesting if adhd becomes the executive functioning subcategory under the autism umbrella

[@ana777]

Thank you! 😻😻

[@isabellammusic]

I'm self identified AuDHD and what you're talking about is my special interest too! I think there are way more people out there with AuDHD than we know because when you are masking heavily you loose your true identity and internalized ableism is making it worse. We are spreading awareness here on TH-cam! You are very important for the ND community and we need more creators talking about this from their own perspective. Thank you for being so brave and talking about your unmasking process!

[@TheGreatReveal]

I am currently diagnosing everyone in my circle of family and friends with either autism, ADHD or both! lol! But seriously, I think there's a reason we flock together....!

[@user-js5et3gc8q]

Thank you for your video Gina. It encourages me to learn more about ADHD even though I am more autistic than ADHD myself. I think your son is on to something. I would not be surprised to see your number of subscribers going well beyond 500. I believe that your viewers are being helped and encouraged by your videos.

[@TheGreatReveal]

You're so kind, thank you so much!

[@Hermitthecog]

ADHD can be challenging to identify in one's own behaviours even if others easily observe it. From a male perspective I can only speak to my own observations of ADHD in women but it seems to me like an undercurrent upon which all thoughts are carried, sometimes gently and at other times with varying degrees of agitation, but always with a noticeable drift rather than a strict linear trajectory, like a school of many small fish as opposed to a single big one. The ADHD_love channel does a great of both explaining and demonstrating the various features (I particularly enjoy the dynamic activity of their recent playground clips.)

[@TheGreatReveal]

I really like the ADHD love channel, they have such a lovely dynamic and have helped me with their videos too.

[@jactkb]

I've been enjoying your videos quite a bit. It is nice to find the perspective of a woman more along in life. I can say that for me perimenopause was physically horrible, but brought a lot of growth emotionally and mentally. I was definitely more open to being my real self and even more so now in menopause. I look forward to your next video.

[@TheGreatReveal]

Thank you!

[@grrrooth]

when my younger brother was diagnosed with ADHD -about thirty years ago-, I knew right away I had it too
it has taken me a while to realise then accept that I also have autism, which shows when I am heavily overloaded

[@TheGreatReveal]

Yes it makes itself fully known to me mostly when I am overloaded. I am constantly masking the rest of the time, although starting to unlearn the masking. Still exhausted all the time though.