Member-only story
Why Every Person with ADHD needs an Autistic Friend
We’re the best people to follow behind them, keeping them on track.
Picture the scene:
INT — Autistic person’s living room
The ADHDer stands and walks in the direction of the kitchen
ADHDer: Where did I leave my phone? Maybe it’s in the kitchen.
Autistic: Yep, I remember seeing it in there earlier.
ADHDer exits the living room. Returns five minutes later with a glass of water and no phone.
Autistic: You went to get your phone. And I think I saw your purse in there too
ADHDer: Ugh, yes I did.
ADHDer exits the room once more.
In many ways, Autism and ADHD don’t compliment each other very well. One causes a person to prefer routines, structure, long-term special interests, the other can lead to impulsivity, inability to focus for long periods, and unpredictable communication. All that being said, there are more reasons why these contradictory disorders can be friends.
I’m Autistic, and I have a wife and a friend who both have ADHD. It’s taken until adulthood for us all to receive our diagnoses/confirmations and to experience the validation and relief…
