Confused about potentially having AuDHD

💁‍♀️ seeking advice / support / information

Some general information:

  • 27 years old
  • Male
  • UK
  • Never diagnosed with any neurodivergence until last week (see below)

Over the past few years, multiple people in my life have mentioned that I might be autistic. About a year ago, I started talk therapy (not related to the comments). At some point, I mentioned I was thinking of getting assessed for ASD, and my therapist said I should consider getting assessed for ADHD as well. Last week I had my ADHD assessment (ASD to follow), and I was diagnosed with ADHD. I didn't think hearing that would be emotional for me, but I felt a lot of mixed feelings immediately after; I don't think I could describe them even if I wanted to. I am still processing it, but I keep thinking that I don't actually have it, and they diagnosed it wrong. Mostly because everything they asked seems like it would apply to everyone, not just me. The issue is I have only my experiences to draw from. It also feels like I didn't have a lot of the typical signs of ADHD as a kid.

Today I had my first session with my therapist since my diagnosis. I expressed those feelings to my therapist, and she said that it might be because if I also had ASD, it might present and feel very different than someone with just one or the other. I've done some googling after the session, and a lot of the apparently AuDHD behaviours match me exactly, which I'm not sure how I feel about yet. Some of the ones I found that match me exactly:

  • The individual may regularly come up with new routines to try to stick to.
  • They try to satisfy their craving for new whilst managing their anxiety around change.
  • They may regularly seek out new things, but only with familiar people and want to complete things in a particular way or following a familiar process.
  • They may feel anxious every day about running late or not being early.
  • Their intense/special interests may regularly change theme or topic.
  • You can focus deeply on personal special interests for hours, yet struggle immensely to start or finish basic, everyday tasks.
  • You may need physical fidgeting or sensory stimulation to concentrate, while simultaneously feeling easily overwhelmed by bright lights, loud noises, or crowded spaces.
  • Experiencing rapid mood swings and deep emotional sensitivity that feel very hard to regulate.

So, to my question: When you were first diagnosed, did you immediately accept it? Or is it normal to question it? On one hand, it would explain some things; on the other, if I don't have either of them, I don't want to co-opt it as an excuse for not fixing my problematic behaviours.

Any advice/stories from your experience would be greatly appreciated.

Posted Sep 8, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC

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