It’s just AuDHD

Amy Arnsten is a powerhouse in the world of neuroscience. She's a professor at Yale, she runs her own lab (aptly called the Arnsten Lab), and she's responsible for discovering guanfacine. This medication is an absolute gamechanger for rejection sensitivity and working memory for everyone with ADHD.  We were lucky enough to chat with her and ask all our most burning brain related questions. In this...

Is it possible to know that someone has ADHD or autism just by looking at them? It turns out, people do seem to have a sixth sense that consistently detects ADHD and autism. In this episode, we explore the physical “tells” that might be giving us away and how this impacts the lives of ADHD and autistic people. Due to character limits, we couldn't paste all the source links, but you can find them i...

Dearest Gentle Reader, rarely is society faced with such a vexing debate over a member of “The Ton”. Could it be that Miss Francesca Bridgerton is autistic? This author will humbly endeavor to set the record straight, not through gossip and speculation, but through science and fact. It is our greatest wish that in your journey to understand Miss Francesca, you discover yourself, for this, dear rea...

You know that “new crush” feeling where your heart is pounding and you've got butterflies in your stomach? It can feel exhilarating! But imagine if you got stuck in a loop where you experience it every single day for years. Suddenly, it becomes a little less fun. This is the plight of people suffering from limerence, where you become addicted to your own fantasies of being in a relationship with s...

We all know people with ADHD are more prone to addictions like gambling, alcoholism, and substance abuse. But what if you could be addicted to your own fantasies? And how do addictions form in the first place? In this two part episode, we’re examining limerence, a condition where you become addicted to compulsive, consuming fantasies about a romantic relationship with someone who does not express...

Diagnosis rates are rising, and people everywhere are being prescribed medications with major side effects. But what if it's actually a misdiagnosis? We're talking, of course, about dementia. Although dementia can look similar to ADHD and autism in older populations, treatment options are wildly different, and very few clinics perform ample screening to distinguish between these conditions. In thi...

Have you ever been completely obsessed with a video game and you can't pull yourself away? Video games have a nuanced and important role in the lives of AuDHDers. In this episode, we'll dig into the good, the bad, and the ugly side of video games. In the right context, they serve as a powerful, therapeutic tool for self regulating and even improving challenges associated with ADHD and autism. Unfo...

What do computers, music, and nature have in common? They are some of the top special interests for autistic people! In today's episode, we look at the research behind special interests to separate the truth from the stereotypes. We also look at some of the possible reasons why so many autistic people have special interests. Join us for this very special episode where we get to talk about our favo...

This conversation delves into the complex relationship between autism and religion, exploring how neurodivergent individuals experience spirituality and religious practices. The discussion highlights various cultural perspectives on autism, the role of empathy in spiritual relationships, and the unique understandings of religious concepts among autistic individuals. It also addresses the impact of...

ADHD obviously impacts a lot of aspects of your life, but did you know it can impact your religious status, too? It turns out, there are fascinating studies that explore the interplay between ADHD and religion (or lack thereof), so for this episode, we're giving you the lowdown on their findings. For our autistic listeners, don't worry! We have a follow up episode coming soon exploring autism and...

Can you diagnose autism by looking at pictures of eyes? That's the theory behind the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), which was recently featured in Season 2 of 'The Rehearsal'. But this autism assessment has a wild history, and its origins are convoluted enough to make Nathan Fielder blush. Today, we're breaking down the story of how the RMET was developed and whether the results are cli...

If you're anything like us, you watched ‘The Rehearsal’ on HBO and immediately became OBSESSED! This show has resonated deeply with the autistic community, and we want to talk about it. In this episode, we are taking a look at showrunner Nathan Fielder's portrayal of himself, both within the show and in interviews, as an illustrative example for how higher masking autism can present in people. In...

Have you seen these ads? “Procrastination isn’t laziness, it’s trauma,” or “Fix your ADHD with one simple quiz.” In this episode, we’re diving deep into the wild world of mental health marketing, especially the stuff targeting folks with ADHD and autism. Tarah sacrificed her algorithm (and possibly her identity) by clicking on every one of those sketchy ads, and John got to react in real time. Fro...

Could a painkiller like Tylenol (also known as acetaminophen or paracetamol) cause autism and ADHD? Some compelling studies seem to prove this link, but there's more to the story than meets the eye.  In this episode, we explore the cornerstone of good research - correlation does not equal causation - as we deep dive into the studies and lawsuits surrounding Tylenol and AuDHD.  We also discuss the...

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but rejection will crush me forever. In this episode, we are looking at rejection sensitivity, or RSD, through a neuroscience lens focusing on this paper to explain what may be happening in your brain when you experience this overwhelming and painful phenomenon associated with ADHD and autism. We'll walk you through the treatments that work and some surprising...

In this follow up episode about the new DEA proposal limiting stimulant prescription via telehealth in the USA, we look at the broad impact that ADHD medications have on society. Spoiler alert! Medications help with everything from reducing crime and the spread of illness to preventing car crashes and accidental deaths. As a reminder, you can post your thoughts on the DEA's proposal until March 18...

Make your voice heard! We break down an upcoming DEA proposal that makes it harder for everyone to access Schedule II drugs via telehealth (aka Adderall, Ritalin, and other stimulants). It's not too late to do something! The opportunity to comment on this proposal ends March 18 , so we've made it easy for you to get involved. If you are ready to leave a comment for the DEA, ⁠do that here⁠ . If you...

Today, we tackle an interesting, and surprisingly complex question posed by a friend: Why can’t we just diagnose ADHD with a brain scan? Join us as we break down the science behind ADHD, discussing how structural and functional brain differences contribute to symptoms—and why a brain scan alone isn't enough for diagnosis. 00:00 - 00:22 – Intro: A fresh ADHD diagnosis sparks big questions 00:22 - 0...

Every day, autism researchers are hard at work studying the most pressing issues that face our community. For example, how much do you need to pay an autistic person for them to consent to kitten murder? In this episode, we're playing a game where Tarah shares the results of some "unusual" autism studies and John tries to channel the mind of a researcher to guess what conclusions they draw. Spoile...

In this episode, we delve into 'The Diagnostic Ladder,' a framework designed to help understand the stages individuals go through when recognizing and seeking a diagnosis for ADHD and autism. We explore the initial rejection of symptoms, the gradual acceptance, the importance of both medical and self-diagnosis, the emotional journey after diagnosis, and the recontextualization of past experiences....

Let's look into our (science powered) crystal ball and bring you a glimpse of your future! What will you see? Revolutionary changes, or more of the same? To kick off this episode, we recap a few highlights (and lowlights) for AuDHDers in 2024, including rising diagnosis rates, changes to the DSM (or lack thereof), and medication shortages. Then, we chat about our predictions for 2025, including po...

What is OCD (the real deal, not just the stereotypes)? Is it similar to AuDHD? How do you even know the difference? We'll explore all these questions and more in this week's 'mini-sode'. Just like ADHD and autism, OCD is tremendously misunderstood in popular culture... but we want to help fix that! First, we take a deep dive into OCD to set the record straight. Then, we'll discuss experiences from...

Do the holidays leave you feeling Grinchier than usual? For this special seasonal episode, John and Tarah explore why such a magical season can be particularly challenging for individuals with ADHD and autism. We'll discuss the impact of things like social expectations, sensory overload, and changes in routine. We share our favorite tips for managing the settings and situations that happen during...

How do depression medications work? What makes ketamine different from every other depression medication? We’re excited to bring you this short bonus episode, diving deeper into a topic we touched on in our last episode: depression and how ketamine works as a treatment. Today, Tarah will take the lead, sharing some metaphors that help to break down this complex topic. So, settle in for this quick...

In our first episode, Tarah and John talk about why getting a diagnosis for Autism and ADHD can be so challenging. There’s great content about what it feels like to have ADHD and Autism, and great content breaking down the research, but not a lot out there that really hybridize the research in context to lived experience. That’s what we’re here for. Wanna be featured on an upcoming episode? Send y...