ADHD and ASD

Welcome, dear people! If you have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and/or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), whether you're professionally diagnosed or self-diagnosed (or even questioning!), this blog is for you! Sometimes I post about C-PTSD as well • TERFs/zionists/bigots DNI • A little about me: Dandelion × he/they × adult × artist × queer

[han-the-human]

Having rejection sensitivity dysphoria sucks so hard because it's like

Logical: "oh this person rightfully corrected me and I can recognize that I'm in the wrong and they were just doing the right thing and educating me. I should just not take it personally, move on and correct in the future :)"

The gremlin who lives in the back of my brain, twisting my organs so I feel like I'm going to vomit: "they all hate you and want you dead! This was clearly a personal attack on you because you are a horrible person"

[arlyonit]

When i was 14 i tried using aac around my family for the first time. It was low tech, writing in a notebook, and I didn't know it had a name.

My parents accepted me using it, but my dad said that I couldn't use it forever. That i need to be able to talk to have a job and such.

There was no malicious intent, he didn't know what aac was. He's also just really bad at wording things, what he meant (clarified years later) was "you can use it in safe spaces like at home but outside of that you're gonna need to speak because people won't accept using a notebook". Which is only mildly better tbh.

The thing is, aac was (and still is, though less so) unknown. You don't see aac users out and about, most people don't know what it is, that you can, in-fact, live your life without talking. My dad had no clue. How could he? Where were the indications that you could live a full life not speaking?

I wasn't very social as a kid; still aren't. Talking is fun but not all the time. Sometimes it's too hard, sometimes I can't, sometimes I just don't want to. I think little me would've loved aac. Loved it so so much.

I think about it a lot now. People who think disability aids are only for those "who really need it". Why can't it also be for those that "need it"? Why the "really"? Why can't they be for those "who benefit from it"?

I think this is a reason why we need more representation, for disabilities of all kinds. To show that it's ok to ease your suffering a little in ways that harm no-one. So that a little kid can ask for something that helps them, and so that an adult can feel no guilt for using something they "don't need" but benefit from.

So that people know that if it helps instead of hinders it's for them.

[ryan-sometimes]

As an autistic/adhd person going through the job search process I’ve learned to phrase my autistic/adhd traits as corporate friendly things. Here’s some examples:

I have trouble reading between the lines and picking up on implicit information? Actually, I’ve learned the importance of giving and receiving precise, specific instructions in order to avoid time consuming miscommunications.

I’m easily bored with only one task? Actually, I have a curious mind and thrive in places with a wide range of tasks as I prefer dynamic environments where I can contribute to many projects.

I have trouble with white lies that are merely social niceties? Actually, I prioritize a transparent work environment where we can tackle issues head-on.

This way I don’t have to lie, but rather just spin my truth in a way that’s palatable to them.

[respectissexy]

My absolute least favorite type of "neurodivergence" (used colloquially to only ever mean "Autism and ADHD") misinformation is the type that posits that being neurodivergent makes you a better person.

"Justice sensitivity" does not mean "neurologically I am a good person who stands up for what's right." It means you have a strong reaction to perceived injustice. But it does not mean your moral compass is calibrated well. The white dudes who are most obsessed with taking away Affirmative Action likely also have "justice sensitivity" -- their sense of injustice is just triggered by something different from what triggers mine, because we have different values. Some people's sense of injustice is triggered by pretty much any situation ever not working out in their favor. Those people can still be "justice sensitive" even if you wouldn't think of them as good people.

Also, there is no neurodivergent condition that makes you automatically capital-H Honest. Some Autistic people aren't good at intentionally lying or find it very uncomfortable to intentionally lie, but others lie just fine and I've met some who did it all the time. "Intentionally lie" is also doing a lot of work here, as you can be very dishonest without intentionally lying if you are prone to lying to yourself, which neurodivergent people are no less likely to do.

There is no neurotype that confers superior moral reasoning or instincts.

[painkillerscoffeeandcathair]

Neurodivergence does not make you omniscient and unbiased.

[ridafi14]

Theres no form of "actually WE are the inherently superior group and THEY are ontologically inferior" that isnt fashy

[postmanic]

comic about autism and hygiene

[homoquartz]

i’ve warmed up significantly towards the concept of small talk ever since i learned that its sole purpose is to make friendly noises.

as long as you smile and nod, people are satisfied. it’s just to show that you are nice and there with good intentions. we’re small in a big world and have to rely on other people to be decent to us. so we do our little human dance to each other to say, “i’m not here to hurt you. here’s something we have in common, like the weather or sports or itchy sweaters, so we both know we’re on the same team. we both agree on a basic fact, like that it is rainy or that being itchy is uncomfortable, and this proves we can get along. i’m being light-hearted and non-threatening right now.”

small talk isn’t to get to know a person. it’s just a greeting to affirm you’re buddies in the universe.

i am motivated by wanting the other person to know i am friendly, so i have gotten pretty decent at small talk when i used to hate it.

[dissociacrip]

"surely being autistic, a member of a minority, should make you more aware of the impacts of systematic oppression" this is not how developmental disability works, actually, and disability in general does not predispose anyone to developing a leftist ideological paradigm because social location =/= ethics! thanks for playing

[catucino]

late night thoughts (confessions?..)

one of the most disabling and dehumanising parts of being autistic for me is realising how different my cognitive level, abilities and energy are compared to my peers. even though I'm doing more and managing more than I ever used to, it often feels like it's never enough. I carry shame in that difference and it makes me worry l'Il never truly be able to keep up with a friend enough to maintain a friendship.

[rebornofstars-deactivated202510]

ok time to lock the fuck in *opens discord* ok time to lock the fuck in *opens tumblr* ok time to lock the fuck in *opens gmail* ok time to lock the fuck in *opens youtube* ok time to lock the fuck in *opens an unstable vortex in time and space* ok time to lock the fuck in *opens ao3* ok time to lock the fuck in *opens discord* ok time to lock the fuck in *opens tumblr*

[rebornofstars-deactivated202510]

oh this one resonated huh

[rebornofstars-deactivated202510]

thats too much resonating. thats too much. you can stop now

[rebornofstars-deactivated202510]

no. no!!!!! SHUT UP!!!!! lock the fuck in and CLOSE TUMBLR EVERYBODY

[hotcheetohatredwastaken]

Nearly 80k now, bee, have you managed to lock in yet

[dysphoria-things]

shoutout to offputting autistic people

[dysphoria-things]

i am so sick of “social communication difficulties” being painted as like. haha i said something out of turn! haha i talk too loud! haha i was silly when i should’ve been serious! im so weird lol.

shoutout to people who get told they stare and their eyes are too wide and they always look nervous or too intense. shoutout to people who don’t know why the conversation dies right after you interject. shoutout to people who never know how to get your thoughts into words. shoutout to people who need clarification so much no one ever tells you things. shoutout to people who always feel resented. shoutout to people who don’t know how to be in conversation. shoutout to people who struggle with social function in a way that can’t be uwu-ified.

[byc0n3j0]

!

[bebsi-cola]

happy disability pride to the autistic people whose first reaction to getting overwhelmed in any way is anger. angry at something for being new, angry at people for pushing you, angry in general for everything being too much, whatever. there's no right way to have emotional deregulation and you don't have to be sorry that your first response is to get angry.

[incognitopolls]

This is asking only about fruits and vegetables that you'll eat on their own (cooked or raw). Do not include fruits/vegetables that you'll only eat when included in something else (e.g. soup).

This is not asking about how often you eat these, just the variety. For example, if you eat carrots every day but never any other vegetables, and you only occasionally eat grapes, watermelon, and apples, you would select "I eat more types of fruit."

Autistic people who are sensitive to food ("picky eaters"), do you eat a wider variety of fruit or vegetables?

I eat more types of fruit than vegetables

I eat more types of vegetables than fruit

I eat a similar variety of both fruits and vegetables (few)

I eat a similar variety of both fruits and vegetables (many)

I don't eat any fruits or vegetables on their own

Other/it's complicated

Not autistic, show results

Voting ended onJul 7, 2025

We ask your questions anonymously so you don’t have to! Submissions are open on the 1st and 15th of the month.

[rederiswrites]

The real thing with ADHD is not "I forgot", but that forgetting is this ongoing process. I remembered! And then I forgot.

At ten this (hypothetical) morning I remembered that I have a meeting at six. And then from 11 through 3 I worked on other stuff and had zero thoughts about that meeting. Maybe even thought about what I was gonna do with my evening at home. Got attached to the idea of taking the time to make a good dinner, maybe play some video games.

And then at three I said, "Oh! Fuck!" and remembered again, hopefully long enough to set an alarm. And then I went to the bathroom and remembered that I need to clean the counter and spent twenty minutes cleaning the bathroom and went to get a snack and then at five I said, "OH! FUCK!" and had to scramble to dress like a real adult and get out the door.

It isn't one clean forgetting. It's a constant process of forgetting and then, with an exhausting adrenaline spike, remembering. And then forgetting. Baby, I can forget the same thing more times in a day than you ever forgot your parents' anniversary.

[pulsar-ray]

STOP conveying 'bad' behaviours in autism as a child thing . i'm almost 20 & i still hit my head & bite myself to the point marks are visible days later . i push people when they're too close to me . i bite people if they touch me & i don't like it . & i can't control it . body takes over. cannot stop

get that it's more common for level 1s to grow out of it & get better regulation . but ! a lot of us don't !

[transman-badass]

I can't do much but maybe this will interest someone. This cookbook is by a classically trained autistic chef, made for people with sensory issues. It's sold 1/6th of its initial run because apparently no one wants to have an autistic person interviewed on TV.

Apparently it's also very funny.

Color Taste Texture by Matthew Broberg-Moffitt: 9780593538593 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

An accessible family cookbook that offers solutions rather than tricks to empower the food-averse, autistic, and picky eater, with 46 recipe

Spread this around! I bet someone here can use this.

[incognitopolls]

Autistic people, which do you find more annoying: being infantilized or being treated like you have superpowers?

Being infantilized is more annoying

Being treated like I have superpowers is more annoying

Both are equally annoying

I don't find either of these annoying

Not autistic, show results

Voting ended onMay 3, 2025

We ask your questions anonymously so you don’t have to! Submissions are open on the 1st and 15th of the month.

[pigeon-cave]

Spectrum of overwhelm, now in triangle form due to popular demand

[Image description: A triangle chart titled, ‘Spectrum of Overwhelm.’ The three points are ‘404 Error,’ showing a person with an empty thought bubble; ‘wet beast,’ showing a person sweating and sobbing; and ‘rage beast’ showing a person clenching their fists in an outline of orange fire. The peak is the ‘404 error’ vertex, and the inside of the triangle here is coloured beige and labelled, ‘shutdown.’ The lower half is labelled ‘meltdown’ and is red on the rage beast side and blue on the wet beast side. \End description]