What is AuDHD?

Well, it depends on who you ask! It’s brilliant, it’s challenging, it’s outside-the-box thinking and a richness of experience… 

But, if we want to be a little more grounded, AuDHD is shorthand for a dual diagnosis of Autism and ADHD.

Until 2013, it was exceedingly rare to be diagnosed with and supported for both Autism and ADHD in the UK or the USA, because the diagnostic manual (DSM-5) used by most clinicians were using just didn’t support it. This is why we’ve seen an explosion of awareness and dialogue about AuDHD brains in the last ten-plus years: We have the language to talk about it now.

Strengths of an AuDHD Profile

Lateral Thinking

Lateral thinking connects unrelated concepts, drawing complex webs with information inside our minds. It allows us to come up with novel solutions to common problems by drawing on seemingly unrelated knowledge; for example, 

Creativity

In hand with lateral thinking, AuDHD creativity can be amazing. The way our brains pull together concepts and create radically new output is something AI can only dream of, at this juncture. Beyond just thinking creatively, our sensory profiles can help shape us into masterful artists because of the way that we experience colour, texture, and light. 

Jack of All Trades

If you’re an AuDHDer with a six-page CV and a career history that could be serialised for television, you’re not alone! It can be hard for us to commit to one single expertise… and that’s okay! We need deep-dive experts who have spent fifty years refining processes, but we also need people who bring skills and ideas from different industries together, in one package.

Check out this blog by Emma Hinze, Professor Tony Attwood,and Dr. Michelle Garnett for more details on Understanding AuDHD Strengths

Challenges with AuDHD

Black & White Thinking

Black and white thinking feels like it should be easy to understand and avoid, but you might be surprised where it pops up. It can look like a “my way or the highway” attitude, where your brain is simply shut off to the possibility of doing the task (or doing it the way you’re being asked to).

It can also look like hypersensitivity, and a fear that if something isn’t perfect, it’s terrible. 

Now or Never / Time struggles

Personally, this one really gets me! The idea that it’s “now or never” (classic ADHD), combined with my very poor time processing skills (hey, Autism!), means that I’ve really struggled to make future plans if the plan will take several years to come to fruition. This can look like meeting short-term goals constantly, only to fumble or struggle with your long-term goals indefinitely. 

Strategies for Managing AuDHD Needs

Gamify Yourself

Gamifying your needs is one of the most fun ways to rewire your brain into taking care of yourself. There are apps for it, like Finch, but you can also just be a little silly and a little whimsical and do it yourself. Put on some Medieval tavern music when it’s time to clean your kitchen at the end of the night, for example. Set a short timer and race against the clock to see what you can get done. 

Therapy!

In order to best understand your needs, I really believe it helps to understand your past, your family systems, your self-talk… all kinds of things you can cover with a neuro-affirming therapist. Some of us need to do some deep work to rebuild a strong foundation. You are worth taking care of, and your needs are worth meeting. (Here are some resources on finding accessible therapy in the UK.)

Coaching for AuDHD

Coaching can be a powerful part of managing AuDHD, especially when it is grounded in a genuine understanding of how autistic and ADHD traits interact. A good, neuro-affirming coach will not try to squeeze you into a rigid productivity system, but will instead help you understand how your brain works best and build strategies around that. This might look like creating realistic accountability, breaking long-term goals into achievable steps, or unpicking the all-or-nothing thinking that can keep you stuck. Coaching offers a structured but supportive space to explore patterns, build self-trust, and develop practical tools that actually feel sustainable in real life.

Peer Support for AuDHD

As much as I love therapy and coaching, you should also consider peer support. Having all three can help you create a strong foundation for handling all challenges AuDHD throws at you. In some areas, you can find autistic-led organisations that offer peer support groups and events where autistic adults can meet and bond. There’s also an explosion of such groups online, if you find it challenging to find that support locally. Don’t underestimate the power of having people to share your struggles and your successes with!

Blog Author: Sarah Nitchkey – My Experience with AuDHD

This was written from my perspective as one AuDHDer, and I hope it can be helpful to at least one more. As I hinted at above, there’s just no way to explain the depth and breadth of AuDHD in a single blog post.

If this is interesting to you, please let us know so we can explore it further in the future.

Want to understand your own Strengths, Challenges and Strategies for your own Neurodiversity?

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Together you can explore what you actually want, untangle what’s getting in the way, and identify practical next steps that feel achievable and sustainable.