The doctor doing my ADHD assessment through Psychiatry UK has asked me for a write-up about how I think my autism affects me, to inform my ADHD diagnosis. This is tricky, because I cannot easily distinguish one from the other – I feel like they blur into one distinct AuDHD neurotype.
Not wanting to accidentally just repeat relatable things other neurodiversity advocates have said about ADHD, I have been trying to cast my mind back to the notes and evidence I gathered for my autism diagnosis back in 2018 (before I even knew ADHD existed). I still have the bullet point list that I gave my GP at that time, which I have later expanded into a longer written piece.
There is tonnes of evidence of ADHD, rather than just autism, both in my own document and in my school reports, and yet (due to some risky behaviours, I reckon) this prompted my GP to refer me for assessment for ASD and Borderline Personality Disorder (which I do not have).
Why oh why was I not assessed for ADHD in 2018, rather than being left to struggle without ADHD meds for another 6 years?
And how many people are being treated for BPD when they are AuDHD? 
Especially women and those identified female at birth. So many of us badly let down, our personalities pathologised, when we could have done with knowing we were Autistic or ADHD or AuDHD!
#Autism#ASD#ActuallyAutistic#ADHD#AuDHD#Neurodivergent#Neurodiversity#BorderlinePersonalityDisorder#MentalHealth
Ausome Charlie 