I started seeing a psychologist this year because of life stresses. I have been helping take care of my mother with Alzheimer's and her 97 year old husband. In January of this year, they both contracted covid. Thankfully they survived but having to care for them became so much more complex and I became thoroughly stressed out - so sought out the emotional help.
I let the psychologist know I have ADHD in case he thought I was fidgity and then gradually talked about sensory symptoms that I have kept to myself and my struggles to appear like everybody else.
Anyway - go figure - I am now told that I am autistic in addition to having ADHD. And - yes - talking to the psychologist does help with the stress of taking care of my folks and - yes - understanding why I have always felt weird is also a big relief. I have always felt inadequate for not accomplishing as much in my life as other people I respected - now I understand that I need to be more kind to myself.
I let the psychologist know I have ADHD in case he thought I was fidgity and then gradually talked about sensory symptoms that I have kept to myself and my struggles to appear like everybody else.
Anyway - go figure - I am now told that I am autistic in addition to having ADHD. And - yes - talking to the psychologist does help with the stress of taking care of my folks and - yes - understanding why I have always felt weird is also a big relief. I have always felt inadequate for not accomplishing as much in my life as other people I respected - now I understand that I need to be more kind to myself.