WTF is AuDHD?

In this episode, we dive deep into masking—the conscious and unconscious ways that neurodivergent people camouflage their traits to fit into a neurotypical world. We explore what masking is, why we do it, how it impacts mental health, and the long-term cost of constantly suppressing our true selves. We also share personal experiences of masking and briefly discuss the journey toward unmasking and self-acceptance. Next week we will dive deeper on the unmasking side of things.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcastLINKTREE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the mystery of menstrual cycles and the often-overlooked effects of hormones on mood and energy. Explore the challenges surrounding PMDD, especially in neurodivergent individuals, and hear personal stories of navigating harsh symptoms. Learn about the relationship between ADHD, autism, and hormonal shifts, as well as practical self-care strategies throughout the cycle. Insight into medication experiences and the quest for better mental health enhances this compelling discussion.

This episode touches on some of the differences between autism and ADHD and why it can be rough having both conditions in one brain. We talk about the aspects of AuDHD that can feel contradictory to live with, and further discuss how the AuDHD neurotype is a completely unique and different experience to just having one or the other.It's also Neurodiversity Celebration Week! This week aims to recognise, support and celebrate the estimated 1 in 7 people who think, learn and process the world differently. More info here!LINKTREESOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we finally get to the whole point of this podcast - what is like to be the unique neuro-type of AuDHD? Having only been 12 years since you could diagnose autism and ADHD simultaneously, there’s not a huge amount of research on the combination. We share our perspective on our AuDHD experience, with the aim of adding to the research pool of lived experiences. We mention conditions it can be misdiagnosed as, and touch on the friendship side of things again. Next week we’ll chat more about the contradictions of living with both ADHD and autism.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast | TikTok | Instagram | YouTubehttps://linktr.ee/wtfisaudhdpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of WTF is AuDHD? we explore what Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is. We explain the three levels of autism, and touch on popular theories such as neural pruning, nervous system links and we discuss how autistic brains process differently to neurotypical people. This is from the perspective of two white cis-women born who are reasonably privileged and we appreciate this may not relate to everyone. Remember, if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person! Deeper conversations about autism will be explored in future episodes, with the aim of eventually getting other autistic people on as guests.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook LINKTREE here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into a vibrant discussion about the menstrual cycle and its link to ADHD, featuring insights on PMDD and personal medication experiences. Discover the growing support for ADHD diagnoses in New Zealand and the importance of utilizing university disability services. Explore the nuanced relationship between hormonal changes and ADHD management, emphasizing individualized treatment. The podcast also highlights the unique emotional processing challenges of ADHD, debunking myths and reimagining neurodiversity in a compassionate light.

Disclaimer: we are not medical professionals and this episode is brought to you by Ellie and Paige's personal lived experiences.From a late ADHD diagnosis, to realising we're autistic too, this episode explores our diagnosis journeys to autism - both of which have been very different! We explore how we came to realise we might be autistic, share stories of being denied by medical professionals and emphasise the importance of following your gut. This chat starts to highlight why high masking women end up being missed and why it's important to explore masking and camouflaging in the context of an autism diagnosis.Helpful links:https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests/ - examples of screenershttps://beehyve.health/ - ADHD hub in New ZealandLINKTREE - Feel free to submit feedback on social media about topics you'd like to hear about! @wtfisaudhdpodcast / Instagram | YouTube | TikTok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DISCLAIMER: This episode is based on our personal experiences of being diagnosed with ADHD in New Zealand, with a focus on the private healthcare route. We're not medical professionals, and this isn't a comprehensive guide—so please do your own research and seek advice from qualified experts. In next week's episode, we'll cover more about the public healthcare options available in NZ, including options for University students.In this episode, we (AuDHD sisters Ellie and Paige) chat about how and why we came to explore whether we had ADHD. We touch on our genetics, the difference in our traits, how the assessment process worked and share some of our favourite neurodivergent creators (check out who we're following on Instagram!). Next week we will cover how we came to our Autism diagnoses.Submit a topic you'd like us to cover HERE!Helpful links:https://www.adhd.org.nz/https://acfbfund.org.nz/SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast / Instagram | YouTube | TikTokLINKTREE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning: light mentions of alcohol and substance use. This week, we continue the conversation regarding life before our ADHD and Autism diagnoses. We chat about life after leaving school, what our relationships were like, how we coped in the workplace and how & why our mental health was severely impacted. This episode leads up to the point before diagnosis which we will cover in next week’s episode.Feel free to submit feedback on social media about topics you'd like to hear about!SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast / Instagram | YouTube | TikTokLINKTREE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of WTF is AuDHD?, we go back to our childhoods and observe what we were like as AuDHD kids before diagnosis. Despite being made by the same parents and brought up in the same household, our childhood experiences and behaviours were vastly different. Now in hindsight, we know there was evidence of AuDHD that was missed. This chat starts to highlight the idea that the same condition can manifest completely differently and the stereotypes you've been taught aren't always true for everyone!Feel free to submit feedback on social media about topics you'd like to hear about!SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast / Instagram | YouTube | TikTokLINKTREE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.