Thanks for writing this informative article.

It may be worth getting screened for autism, too, as many of the things you describe are autistic traits rather than ADHD.

A family member has been diagnosed with ADHD and is awaiting an autism diagnosis.

(One can mask the other. People diagnosed with ADHD are often diagnosed with autism much later, as the autism only becomes apparent once the ADHD is treated.)

The main differences between me (ADHD) and my presumably-autistic relative:

* A change of plans doesn't bother me at all, but they really freak out

* I'm comfortable just winging it; they need an advanced itinerary

* We both get sensory overwhelm, but they shut down completely

* I overthink and imagine people are thinking negative things about me, but while they do the same, they also find it hard to imagine another person's perspective - such as when reading a book

* While we both have high justice sensitivity, for me it's about wanting to shield others from bullies; I don't give much of a damn about rules and follow them because it's convenient, not because rules are important to me

* PDA is an "autistic thing"; with ADHD, it's more about not having enough dopamine to start the task rather than being actually resistant to doing it. (For example, a quick blast of a favourite song can provide enough dopamine to start)

* If I tell myself "you really don't have to do it today", I won't do it: I trick myself by telling myself that I will only wash one dish to move myself from Not Now to Now. That your trick works again suggests possible autism

* "Spoons" is an autistic thing.

Only a psychiatrist can make a diagnosis, but having a clear understanding of your brain might help you where you're still struggling.

Still, it looks like you've resolved a lot of things for youself, and I'm glad that they seem to be working for you.