You may have heard the term “AuDHD” cropping up online and in support groups. It’s a shorthand way of saying someone is autistic and has ADHD. Because autism and ADHD so often overlap with so many of my clients, it’s only in recent years that professionals have started to recognise that a person can have both – and that this creates its own unique set of challenges and strengths.
Why a Dual Diagnosis Can Feel Confusing
For a long time, diagnostic systems treated autism and ADHD as if they were separate. Many people were diagnosed with one condition and had the other missed completely. This can leave someone feeling misunderstood, getting support that fits one side of their experience but not the other.
When Traits Collide
Some traits of autism and ADHD seem to work together, but others can pull in opposite directions. For example:
Routine vs. Change: Many autistic people find routine calming and essential for managing anxiety. But ADHD can create a need for novelty and change because repetition quickly feels boring. Someone with AuDHD might crave structure but also find it hard to stick to it.
Hyperfocus vs. Distractibility: Autistic hyperfocus can mean deep, sustained attention on a favourite topic. ADHD brings challenges with sustaining attention. The result? Someone may be totally immersed in one task one day, then unable to focus at all the next.
Sensory Differences: Autism often comes with sensory sensitivities to noise, light or touch. ADHD can bring sensory-seeking behaviours like fidgeting or seeking movement. This can mean craving stimulation but becoming overwhelmed at the same time.
Social Dynamics: Autistic people may find social cues hard to read. ADHD can bring impulsivity, blurting or interrupting. Together these can make relationships and group settings more complex.
The Emotional Side
Both autism and ADHD can come with intense emotions and heightened stress responses. Many people with AuDHD describe feeling “contradictory” – shy but also impulsive, craving routine but resisting it. This can impact self-esteem until there’s an understanding of why these patterns exist.
Why Support Feels Patchy
Education systems, workplaces and mental health services are often designed with either autism or ADHD in mind, but rarely both. People with AuDHD can find themselves falling through the cracks of support because they don’t fit neatly into one category. This is why Integrative Psychotherapy can be so useful because each person is treated as a unique individual in which their presentations and needs are explored in a bespoke and tailored way.
It’s Not All Challenge
There are also real strengths that come with an AuDHD profile. Many people show:
Creative, “out of the box” thinking
Passionate focus on topics of interest
Strong sense of justice and empathy
Resilience from navigating a complex inner world
Recognising and building on these strengths is just as important as understanding the challenges.
Moving Forward
If you or someone you love is living with AuDHD, know that your experiences are valid. You’re not “contradictory” or “difficult” — you have a brain that’s wired in a way that combines two different neurotypes. Understanding this can be a powerful step towards self-acceptance and getting the right kind of support.
Support often works best when it’s personalised: predictable frameworks with built-in flexibility, sensory-friendly environments, and strategies that acknowledge both sets of needs. Psychoeducation — simply learning why you think and feel the way you do — can itself reduce stress and self-blame. And just being with someone who listens to you and understands you and helps you to find the best way to navigate the world which best suites your individual needs.
This is what I do when I work with clients – I help you to explore and build up a bigger picture of yourself and your needs, with more understanding, knowledge and tools to help you lead a more grounded and satisfying life.
Bottom line: AuDHD isn’t just “autism plus ADHD.” It’s its own experience, with its own challenges and strengths. With understanding, compassion and the right support, people with AuDHD can thrive.