September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and foster conversations that can save lives. While suicide is a complex issue with no single cause, certain populations face an elevated risk. Among these are individuals with undiagnosed ADHD and/or Autism.

Many people are surprised to learn about this connection, but when you peel back the layers of a life lived without understanding your own neurotype, the reasons become painfully clear. For those with undiagnosed ADHD or Autism, the world can be a confusing, overwhelming place. They may spend a lifetime trying to figure out why they feel so different, leading to chronic feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair.

When you think of an autistic person, what comes to mind? For many, the image is still of a young boy who struggles with social cues, has a deep fascination with numbers or trains, and perhaps engages in repetitive movements. While this is one way autism can show up, it’s not the only one. This narrow, outdated view has a significant and unfortunate consequence: it leaves a vast number of individuals—specifically, autistic girls and women—completely overlooked.

Autistic girls and women often present so differently from their male peers that they are frequently missed in the diagnostic process. Their autism isn't less real; it's just harder to see because it doesn't fit the classic stereotype. In this post, we'll explore the reasons why so many autistic girls and women go undiagnosed and what we, as a community, can do to change that.

In adolescence, these symptoms can be easily mistaken for other issues. A girl who is struggling academically might be labeled as "lazy" or "not trying hard enough." Her social struggles might be dismissed as shyness or social awkwardness. The internal turmoil of constantly feeling overwhelmed, disorganized, and misunderstood is often mistaken for anxiety, depression, or a personality trait rather than a neurodevelopmental condition. Complicating things even further, girls often tend to respond more strongly to social pressures to conform, leading to perfectionistic tendencies that also mask ADHD symptoms.

From a young age, many people with ADHD receive feedback that highlights their differences as deficits. The "you're not trying hard enough," "you're so smart, but you're so lazy," and "why can't you just focus?" comments can accumulate over a lifetime, subtly and sometimes not-so-subtly shaping the way we see ourselves.

One of the most common and powerful themes that emerges is the concept of intense interests—what many in the community proudly call special interests or, in some contexts, hyper-focus. These are far more than just hobbies; they are sources of profound joy, deep knowledge, and essential regulation.

For neurodivergent individuals, these interests often run far deeper than typical pastimes, shaping identity, well-being, and daily life. Let’s explore these distinct forms of intense engagement and how they manifest in different neurotypes.

Burnout is a serious signal from your brain and body that something needs to change. For adults with ADHD, that signal is often louder and requires a more nuanced, compassionate approach to recovery.

Have you ever felt like your brain has a million tabs open, or you know exactly what you need to do but can't quite get started? Or perhaps you've struggled to recall a memory that feels just out of reach? These experiences often tie back to something psychologists call executive functions. Think of executive functions as your brain's sophisticated "command center" or its "management team." These are the higher-level cognitive skills that help you plan, organize, manage your time, control impulses, regulate emotions, and remember things to effectively achieve your goals. Essentially, they bridge the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.