#audhd life

[brightlotusmoon]

[humani-dar-te]

when will people accept that genuinely asking "are you sure you're not forgetting anything? so we're ready to go now?" to an ADHDer doesn't really help?

we can run through our mental, digital and analogical lists, we can try to think of anything else we could be forgetting, we can scan the rooms (that will probably be a mess) but the chances of actually remembering it are so so low that we will either remember 1. halfway there and need to turn all the way back and we will be late 2. only when we get to our destination 3. the moment we actually need the item we forgot 4. several hours after we lose said object

because even if we make a checklist, we can still forget to add items to it WHILE making it and there's a huge chance that we really think we did include everything that is important for that occasion

so thanks for trying to help, but that doesn't really do much for us, so please stop thinking we're ungrateful or that we just didn't listen to you, cause you fucking saw us actively responding to what you said

[chronicsymptomsyndrome]

I sort of hate how much of a hypocrite I am for being really bad at regulating things like tone and body language and facial expression when I communicate but then also being so hypersensitive to that stuff in others

[romirella-96]

Lol 😆 cooking for me is all over the place, I need everything ready to toss into the pan within arms reach in milliseconds or else I’m gonna end up scrambling & burning something. 🫠😭

[pretylittlepothead]

✨ The Things I Do When My Brain Feels Too Loud ✨

when my brain gets loud, it’s not just “a lot on my mind.” it’s AuDHD static, anxiety buzzing, depressive heaviness, bipolar intensity, emotional overwhelm, and sensory overload all trying to talk at once.

i’m learning to meet it with gentleness instead of guilt. these are the things that help me quiet the noise and come back to myself.

🌿 I Smoke a Little Weed

not to escape — just to soften the edges. it slows my thoughts enough for me to breathe and feel grounded again.

🎧 I Put On Music That Feels Like a Hug

i have playlists for every version of my brain: • overstimulated • sad • restless • numb • “i need comfort right now”

music regulates me in ways nothing else can.

✋ I Do Something Repetitive With My Hands

folding laundry wiping a counter brushing my hair coloring fidgeting

my AuDHD brain loves predictable motions. they give me something steady to hold onto.

🚿 I Take a Shower

warm water helps me reset when everything feels too sharp. sometimes i just stand there and breathe until my body loosens.

🌬️ I Step Outside for a Minute

fresh air, a quick walk, the sky — it doesn’t fix everything, but it shifts something inside me. even standing on the porch helps.

💛 I Talk to My Husband

not always about what’s wrong — sometimes just about anything. being around someone who feels safe helps my brain settle.

🌀 I Let Myself Stim

rocking, tapping, humming, fidgeting — whatever my body needs. i don’t fight it anymore. i let myself move the way i naturally do.

🧼 I Clean One Tiny Thing

not the whole house — just one small task. a dish. a corner. a surface. it gives me a sense of control when everything else feels chaotic.

📝 I Brain-Dump Everything Out

i write down every thought — messy, unfiltered, out of order. getting it out of my head makes it less overwhelming.

🔄 I Use the “One Thing” Rule

when i’m overstimulated or depressed, i pick one thing to do next. not five. not a whole list. just one.

🧸 I Use Comfort Items

a soft blanket a hoodie a stuffed animal a warm drink

sensory comfort helps my nervous system calm down.

🎮 I Distract Myself With Something Low-Effort

a cozy game a comfort show scrolling aesthetic photos a simple craft

not to avoid my feelings — just to give my brain a break.

🧘 I Do Slow, Deep Breathing

not fancy meditation — just slow breaths. in for four, out for six. it helps my body tell my brain that i’m safe.

🕯️ I Change the Environment

dim the lights light a candle open a window put on soft background noise

small shifts can make my brain feel less trapped.

💬 I Let Myself Feel What I’m Feeling

i’m learning that i don’t have to fight every emotion. sometimes the loudness is my brain asking for care. i try to listen gently instead of shutting it down.

🌙 I Remind Myself That Loud Doesn’t Mean Broken

my brain is intense, sensitive, creative, emotional, fast, and deeply alive. it’s not always easy — but it’s mine. and i’m learning how to care for it instead of battling it.

[sebs-out-of-spoons]

straying from my usual chronic illness content:

maybe the reason why i find it extremely awkward, horrible, and stressful to be around or interact with little kids or just any kids that are younger than me is because i never knew how to interact with them

growing up undiagnosed autistic (plus adhd) made it ridiculously hard to make friends with kids my age

i didn’t fit in anywhere, i didn’t know how to interact whatsoever, kids would run away from me being very weirded out by me, they’d avoid me as much as possible, and i had to squeeze myself into spaces that i wasn’t meant to be in and that was obvious that i wasn’t meant to be there, add on top of that being a queer kid with zero clue they were queer, having a sibling who was absolutely loved by everyone, and having a chaotic home life due to an alcoholic father

i was very weird and no one liked me, and those that put up with me completely forgot my existence a week or two later after i’d leave

so i never knew how to interact with kids, never had the chance to either, and everyone saw me as odd and peculiar

so now whenever i’m left alone with one or have to interact with one, i’ve no clue how to, no clue what to do, and i honestly feel like i’m in utter complete hell

(also, i think it’s fair to mention that i don’t have any irl friends, only a few online ones that i most likely may never meet up with, and i have zero clue what to do when making friends irl my age now)

[emkwithtism]

Weird Autism Things

I've been noticing a lot of little autistic things that I do. They make sense for me in my brain.

Walking on the sides of my feet.

I've been doing this since I was young. I've worn out the sides of the majority of my shoes. I also sometimes stand on the sides of my feet as well. However, due to my h-eds, it makes the standing part painful. I've noticed I walk on the sides of my feet and on my toes the more anxious/overwhelmed I am feeling.

"No cracks on the floor" walking.

I don't know why I do this. I know when I'm barefoot walking on tile, it feels better to walk on the tiles, not the cracks in between. It also takes my concentration to focus on stepping on the tiles which can help distract me from anything overwhelming.

Pacing to regulate.

I have so many stomach problems. I have since I was born. I developed a coping mechanism for it. Which is pacing, sipping water from a small cup, and playing certain songs to help soothe me. Another thing I noticed I do when I'm feeling extremely nauseated is yawning uncontrollably. I've hurt my neck and jaw before because of yawning so much.

I also pace when I'm overwhelmed, stressed, or overexcited.

Talking to myself.

I like to talk to myself both internally and externally. I also sometimes use a doll or stuffed animal as an external personification of myself to talk things through. I'm aware the doll/stuffed animals aren't alive and can talk back. It helps me work through things that are bothering me. It also helps if I'm feeling lonely. Which is also strange since I'm not good at pretend play with toys.

Safe foods.

I'm sure many people are aware that a majority of autistic people have safe foods that they eat every day and also use to help soothe. I have safe foods that have been the same since I was a kid.

I also noticed that along with my autism saying what I do and don't like, my stomach does the same thing. It honestly makes me think that those two could be linked. Sometimes I wonder if autism isn't just a mental/brain thing but also a full-body thing. My autism can make me have a meltdown from certain textures and flavors, my stomach won't let me eat certain foods without having severe stomach pain, acid reflux, heartburn, and other IBS symptoms I'd rather not get into. 🥲 I also have safe drinks. Most of them are drinks that help me feel better. Examples: Coke and Pepsi (classic and cherry) help me when I'm feeling depressed or have stomach pains. It also helps on hot days. Sweet Tea (sweet tea lemonade too) helps me when I'm feeling like my blood sugar is low. Iced Coffee {Mocha, Pumpkin, Cake, and Vanilla are all so good 🤤)

Compulsive writing.

There are days that I feel that I have to write. Whether that be typing or physically writing on paper. It feels like if I don't write until my hands and wrists are hurting I will combust. That's why I've been writing since I was younger. I need something to write though. It can't be just gibberish or random words. It has to have meaning. Whether that be texting a long message, writing another chapter in one of my books, writing a post about one of my special interests, or practicing a language as if it's a real-life conversation.

Talking with animals.

For me talking with animals is easier and less stressful than talking with humans. I also sometimes feel like I know what an animal would say if they could talk back to me.

Ending bit :)

I discover new things I do as an autistic person every day. I plan on making another part for this in the future. Let me know what y'all do as an autistic/neurospicy person.

Much love!

[yeenobabino]

Okay a few questions for my fellow neurodivergents.

Is it normal for your head to tilt or shake?

And also is it normal to get a persistent crawling feeling on your spine?

Should I get that looked at by a doctor?