3) Connection vs solitude
ADHD can crave the buzz of socialising – talking, connecting, meeting new people – it feels exciting. Autism, meanwhile, may start pulling toward solitude, finding the sensory overload, hidden social rules and masking overwhelming.
For example: Raj is at a friend’s birthday gathering. ADHD is in its element—he’s chatting with three different people, telling stories, laughing, feeling socially magnetic. Then, the music turns up, the lights feel harsher, and the conversations start overlapping. Eventually, it gets too much and he’s feeling overstimulated and overwhelmed. Even after leaving the party, Raj’s mind replays every interaction - “Did I say something wrong?”, “Was I too much?”. The interaction has left him feeling drained, ashamed and needing to recover.
DEVON ADULT AUTISM AND ADHD SERVICE 13
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