Autistic:
Nobody noticed I was autistic because I forced myself to smile and laugh, stimmed where no one could see, and mimicked what my friends were doing. Now, I can't work out which parts of my personality are mine and which ones I copied.
ADHD:
| was quiet, daydreamed and doodled, and was told I was over emotional and easily distracted. Nobody thought ADHD because my grades were fine and the only kids anyone tested were the boys who couldn't sit still. Now, I'm barely holding things together and people keep telling me how organized l am.
AuDHD:
I sat through the fluorescent lights and cafeteria noise without a word because I assumed everyone did, needed the same routine every morning and then nagged to go somewhere new every weekend, and was the quiet one who couldn't shut up about Ancient Egypt. Nobody put those together, so I decided I was too sensitive, too much, and not trying hard enough. Now, I'm always burnt out because I need the routine one day and can't stand it the next.