For my adhd, slowing down. Taking slower options not always getting there as quickly as possible
this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2026
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Being allowed to do things my way, even if it makes no sense to others. I do lots of things differently to everyone else, because they work for me, and the people I live with are respectful of that. I've had to make lots of changes recently due to being in Autistic burnout, and that has resulted in me doing even more things "my way". Sometimes, when I'm struggling with speaking, it means saying things very briefly - one or two words, like "tea?" instead of "do you want a cup of tea?" or "out" when I need to leave a shop because it's overwhelming me. Other times, it's just being allowed to do my grounding routines, like getting my breakfast in peace, because I get muddled or distracted if someone is hovering round me in the kitchen while I do it.
This comment resonates with me big time.
As far as doing things my own way, I have intentionally taken on some big projects in my hobbies over the past couple years, and I have intentionally avoided getting help on them even if it's offered freely, and even if that means it takes me 5x longer to get it done. The outcome is not only better, but more importantly the process itself is much more rewarding and therapeutic because I did it my way. I redid what I wanted to, I focused on what I wanted to, I took breaks and recharged according to my own body, and I have detailed first principles knowledge of how the entire thing came together.
I haven't really thought about the difficulty speaking and shortening it to single words, but the difficulty getting out those simple phrases sounds like some of my past experiences. Especially as somebody with a very verbose internal dialogue.
Same with sometimes just not wanting another person there while I'm getting shit done, even if they are a loved one with a friendly demeanor.
So, Hi, I stumbled here from all, and now I think I might be autistic.
Like, feeling stressed out and overwhelmed because of a break in routine or not being able to do things my way (because any other way is inferior and this is why...I took the time to find the best way to do it, through repetition and trial and error. Like loading groceries on the conveyor belt at the supermarket...frozen stuff goes on first, then cold stuff, then shelf-stables, then medicine, chemicals, and breads...exceptions for large heavy things like cases of water or soda...those stay in the cart and become the foundation for the packed bags, obviously. That way frozen stuff gets bagged first, and usually has polygonal packaging so it makes a good base at the bottom of the bag. Then the refrigerated stuff is kept cool from the frozen stuff on the bottom of the bag, and now when I go to unload everything, all the stuff that goes in the fridge is in the same bags. Naturally all the stuff that goes in the pantry, medicine cabinet, and under the sink/laundryroom are all together, too. Though sometimes I just don't bag and put all the stuff right back into my cart and load it up into a tote or a hamper in my trunk. Bagging groceries is ultimately a waste of time when you're just gonna unbag them in 10 minutes anyway)
There are some self evaluation tests you can take if you're interested (not hard to find on google), though none are perfect, high scores are a pretty good indication. That whole explanation definitely sounds like something an autistic person would do.
ear plugs. life changing.
Don't think of autism as a disease. It's just your personality. The stigma on autism make people "diagnosed" with it think they're weird.
The truth is: everyone is weird. It's just there's a bunch of weirdos trying to make you think you're weird so they can pretend they're "normal".
So this is silly for me lol. Normal is baseline. What is normal is basically what is most common. Autism is not common. Thus, autism is not normal, and pretending it is is weird for me.
I've seen one person react badly to this notion so I need to add I am not really aiming to make someone's day worse here and I am not one to try and push that as at the end of the day it changes little...but also perceiving autism as personality seems harmful. You can change your personality. You have to work around autism.
But I can see hoe this may help people who feel burdened by it. I am opposite lol, idea I may have autism feel kinda liberating because it means I did best I could given my circumstances.
The truth is, nobody is normal once you get to know them.
No.
When talking to people try to see what they want. Do they wanna hear a story? They want advice? They want an ear to do catharsis? Sometimes just ask even. Sounds stupid to ask but it helps. Using that one as a segway. People just sometimes assume that something is like that if you say it with enough confidence I learned a little bit of acting so I go by the character and pretend I have the confidence. One great example I used loads of time at work is sometimes I go to some people and if I say "ya know I have my stupid question of the week voucher and I'm gonna use it with you" then ask whatever I need to know usually when I think they assume I know something I do not really know. Trick is I totally invented that dynamic and I do not keep track of it and ask away.
That's masking, and it's harmful to you - the energy you have to spend to maintain that will eventually lead to burnout. Speaking frombitter experience here. Your interlocutor has no such energy expenditure, so it's easy for them.
That’s masking, and it’s harmful to you - the energy you have to spend to maintain that will eventually lead to burnout. Speaking frombitter experience here.
Yes and no. If they are straining or pretending, then yes. The first part, about them trying to see what other people want, can be very draining. But the other part, about simply asking questions, can be very healthy.
If a person with red-green colorblindness is constantly straining to try to tell the difference between the colors, that can be unhealthy. If they pretend their eyes are perfect and they can see colors easily, they will have multiple problems.
But asking someone you trust to tell you what the color is, can help everyone involved. And figuring out a no-stress way of asking, can be beneficial.
Explaining it to people. It's hard, but people eventually understand
Headphones and loud music
This is definitely one for me. My flavor of audio sensitivity seems to mean that aural stimulation satisfies some ADHD part of my AuDHD brain. I can be coding at work or doing some very chill tasks in my yard, being present in the moment and acting with intention and being all zen about it, but there is industrial or thrash metal blasting in my ears that nobody else can hear. (with the setting enabled to keep it below damaging decibel levels)
I only speak to people when I'm not upset. If I get upset, I need at least 30 mins alone to calm down and if you try to communicate with me during that, you'll have a bad time. I also need time to prepare for and recover from social situations or overstimulating situations. Just those two have made a world of difference. I should also add that I have AuDHD, so it's a bit different than people with only autism.
Constantly reminding myself that if people do something all the time, I should be able to do it. I just need to figure out how they're doing it as the first step. Yeah I still embarrass myself sometimes but it's taken me a lot further than just avoiding doing things or ducking assignments because I was afraid of the consequences of not knowing what to do.
Leave your phone on do-not-disturb, and inform anyone you give your number to that the phone is always on DND so they shouldn't expect you to answer or have an immediate response.
Never debate anything with strangers on the Internet. It's just a waste of time, as in the best case scenario nothing actually changes. It's not worth the time, frustration, emotional toll or being the target of insults. Just tell anyone looking to argue with you that they're right, that they're always right without exception, and then walk away.
I enjoy debating things online sometimes. I get satisfaction from laying out my argument for what I think, and often it helps me identify and challenge my own hypocrisies. I don't expect to be able to change the other person's mind, but it has helped me change my own beliefs for the better. And I like to think it can persuade others who hadn't given it much thought before.
It really depends on who the Internet randomly assigns you to debate with. Yes, you can get a knowledgeable, polite and pragmatic person who will help you find flaws in your own logic. More often than not, though, you'll face off against people who will call you a cultist, say you're an idiot, question your abilities, and/or tell you to fuck off.
That's why I think debating is better done in person, with people you know at least tangentially. They're less likely to be raging jerks, and if they are, you can avoid them in the future. On the Internet, those jerks will follow you everywhere on the platform and hound you.
Amongst my coworkers we tell each other to "Stay sane".
Sane = smile and nod, escape
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Rejecting society standard about "good living habits" and just do what I can
I look at and treat humanity as if I'm observing and interacting with wild animals.
I also look at and treat all non-human chordates the way other people deal with people
breathe and speak slower, it helps you think about what you’re going to say, avoiding over sharing
I learned this through talking with my 100 year-old grandmother. She can't hear well and I had to learn to speak slower and choose my words better.
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Um, I gave up and went through a period of acute suicidality that required intervention. I didn't die, but the parts of me that worried about stuff sure did.
I am much happier now because I know now that I can check myself literally whenever I want.
So, you know, however you want to clean up the phrasing on that, I guess.
My significant other went through something similar. He said when you have nothing left to live for, nothing really matters. And then nothing really matters, you can do whatever you want. And that freed him from everything that was holding him back.
This is basically optimistic nihilism.
Once you accept that there is no "plan" and nothing you do matters, the only things that matter are the things you choose to do.
You are the master of your own destiny, for all the good and bad that it implies.
That's exactly what he called it lol.
This might be the ADHD more than anything, but making alarms on my phone changed my life. I used to forget important things all the time, but then I started making alarms for the most important stuff, and all of a sudden I stopped forgetting them!
Nowadays I'll make an alarm for everything. I said I'd go get groceries after I finish this episode of my TV show? Better make an alarm for 7 minutes from now. I'm going to the store to buy eggs? Better make an alarm titled "eggs" to go off at the store in case I get distracted by something.
At this point I open my alarms app automatically any time there's anything at all to remember. I have dozens of concurrent alarms, and it's great.
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Wearing exclusively loose/comfortable clothing, and having short hair.
Suddenly I had more mental bandwidth for a lot since I wasn’t constantly stressed by subconsciously processing extra sensory input.
YMMV to personal taste; adjust accordingly.
This is absolutely what I have done and I cannot go back. Short bob cut, looks adorable and quirky and I’ve been sewing my own clothing for a few years now. Oversized clothing is fun as hell to make.
Every morning I listen to a radio program. From monday to friday, the program follows the same schedule so I know without having to look at any watch, what am I doing during my morning routine. I know at what part of the program I brush my teeth, or heat the water for the tea, or do my skincare or leave the house.
Since the program is well structured and punctual, my schedule for the morning is well organized, I don't skip any step of it and am always on time. Something extremely important for me as if my morning routine fails for whatever reason, the rest of the day is guaranteed to be a mess.
I also have a shower playlist. My showers last 3 minutes, 4 tops. Having a playlist of songs no longer than 4 minutes, makes me know if I'm on time or I should already leave the shower.
Also, as others recommended, earplugs for when you need noise reduction. I use the Loop Switch ones as I can switch control the level of noise reduction with a small switch on them without having to take them off.
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Wearing a mask. Oh my god. People finally stopped commenting on my stupid face. No more "why so sad?" Or "it can't be that bad" or "cheer up" or "where's a smile!" Just leave my fucking resting sad bitch face alone! And now they doooooo and its so much better because I don't have to devote brain power to remembering idiots care about my mouth at all.
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Stop catering to the expectations neurotypicals seem to have. You will never do right by them. Accept that they're usually wrong about things when it comes to what you can and cannot do, and do your best to tune them out any way you can. You know what you can and cannot do. Don't let them dictate where your limits lie.
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