_M E T H O D_
  • Hi.
  • Providers.
  • Assessment.
  • SHOP.
  • Neurocomplexity.
  • CONNECT.
  • Hi.
  • Providers.
  • Assessment.
  • SHOP.
  • Neurocomplexity.
  • CONNECT.
Search

Late(r) in Life Diagnosis of ADHD and/or Autism Actually "Gifted" Burnout?

8/8/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
With so much overlap in presentation and subjective experience of what we call ADHD, Autism and Giftedness (all areas of neurodivergence and common labels found in the neurocomplex), I end up spending quite a bit of time with my neurocomplex clients exploring the "what's what?" of these identifiers.  

When I finish peoples' sentences, is this the impulsivity of my recently diagnosed ADHD or speed and overexcitibilities of my giftedness?

Is my disdain for small talk due to the social reciprocity differences of my recent Autism diagnosis or under stimulation due to the complexity of my giftedness?


And so on...

I adore exploring these puzzles with people about their wiring as I do feel it can be important exploration for individuals during the integration process after a newer ADHD and/or Autism diagnosis, especially later in life when they are attempting to rewire longstanding narratives of Self.  These conversations piqued my curiosity about the Why? behind my years of observed common occurrence of later in life Autism and/or ADHD diagnoses in my clients who were identified as gifted as a child (or in a recent assessment), often after a period identified as burnout.

My current working hypothesis is this: 
Gifted (or Neurocomplex) wiring, when under-resourced and/or in a period of "burnout", takes on a similar presentation and subjective experience of Autism and ADHD.  Thus, an individual meets criteria for one or both of these diagnoses later in life after or during a period of extensive burnout that has impacted (temporarily or permanently) their nervous system functioning in areas of executive functioning, verbal capacities, sensory processing, and social abilities. 

With this hypothesis:
​...

Read more on substack
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Method Blog.

    By Lindsey Mackereth, MA, LPCC, LADC
    Founder of Method in Mpls, MN

    Archives

    August 2024
    May 2024
    March 2024
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    November 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020

    Categories

    All
    Adult Autism
    Autism
    Creativity
    Existential
    Gifted Adults
    Interior Design
    Mental Health
    Neurocomplexity
    Neurodivergence
    Neurodiversity
    Seasonal Mood Shifts
    Sensory Care
    Superwell

    RSS Feed


Copyright © 2025.  Method Creative, LLC • Method Counseling, PLLC
Serving clients Worldwide. HQ in Minneapolis, MN
We accept + embrace the COMPLEXITY + INTENSITY of each individual.
We value + provide services to people of all gender identities + sexual orientations, cultures + races, sizes + shapes, abilities + beliefs. 
Picture
  • Hi.
  • Providers.
  • Assessment.
  • SHOP.
  • Neurocomplexity.
  • CONNECT.