All disabilities,
learning difficulties, and neurodivergent conditions can be linked to mental
illness in some way.
At the same time, many people face mental illness without having any diagnosed
disability or condition.
However, we do know
that anxiety and depression are especially common in people with ADHD and
Autism. Why that is, exactly, may still be unknown. But it could be related to
how the nervous system works in these conditions—something I’ve already touched
on in this book.
This might include
how a person reacts to stress, sensory overload, change, social pressure, or
emotional experiences. Many people with Autism and ADHD describe feeling “wired
differently,” and this might play a role in how they experience mental health.
Autism, ADHD, and Mental Health: Why Anxiety and Depression
Are So Common
Many
people think of Autism or ADHD as simply a learning or behavior issue. But
what’s often forgotten is that these conditions also affect emotions, stress
levels, and mental health.
In
fact, people with Autism and ADHD are much more likely to experience anxiety, depression,
and other emotional difficulties—sometimes from a very young age.
But
why is that?
The
exact reason isn’t fully known. It’s likely a combination of brain wiring, the
nervous system, the environment, and life experiences. Let’s break that down:
🧠
Brain Differences and the Nervous System
Autism
and ADHD are neurodevelopmental conditions. This means the brain is weird from
early development, especially in areas that control:
·
Emotional regulation
(how we manage our feelings)
·
Sensory processing
(how we react to noise, light, touch, and more)
·
Social communication
(how we understand and connect with others)
·
Executive functioning
(how we plan, focus, and organize tasks)
These
differences affect how a person processes the world around them—and that can
lead to stress.
Many
autistic and ADHD people have a highly sensitive nervous system, especially
when it comes to:
·
Sensory overload
(e.g. loud sounds, bright lights, scratchy clothes)
·
Changes in routine
·
Social demands (like
small talk, group work, or eye contact)
·
Feeling misunderstood
or judged
The
body’s fight-or-flight response may be triggered more easily or more often,
leading to chronic stress, burnout, and mental fatigue.
🌀
Emotional Struggles That Come With Everyday Life
Living
in a world that isn’t designed for you can be exhausting.
Imagine:
·
Being punished at
school for “daydreaming” when you have ADHD
·
Being laughed at for
“acting weird” when you’re autistic
·
Trying to hide
stimming or masking how overwhelmed you feel
·
Wanting friends, but
not knowing how to join in or explain your needs
·
Working twice as hard
to understand instructions or follow conversations
Over
time, these things build up. They can chip away at your self-esteem,
confidence, and sense of belonging. That emotional weight can turn into:
·
Social anxiety
·
Generalized anxiety
disorder
·
Depression
·
Low self-worth
·
Suicidal thoughts in
some cases
💡
“Is It Me, or Is It the World?”
Sometimes,
the problem isn’t just the condition—it’s the lack of support, understanding,
and acceptance.
Many
young people and adults with Autism or ADHD have said:
“I
thought something was wrong with me.”
“I was always told I was lazy, rude, or difficult.”
“I was masking my true self to fit in, and it made me depressed.”
This
is called internalized ableism or masking—when you feel you must hide who you
are to be accepted. This can seriously affect mental health.
🧘
What Helps?
Understanding
the links between Autism/ADHD and mental health is a key part of support.
Things that can help include:
·
Being diagnosed early
and accurately
·
Getting mental health
support from professionals who understand neurodiversity
·
Having
sensory-friendly spaces and flexible environments
·
Learning
self-regulation and coping tools
·
Being accepted by
family, teachers, friends, and employers
📘
My Personal Reflection
As
someone who lives with these conditions, I know how it feels to carry both the neurodivergence
and the mental health struggles it can cause. Anxiety and depression aren’t
always obvious to others, but they’re real. They grow when we are unheard,
unsupported, or expected to “just be normal.”
That’s
why I’m writing this—to help people understand what it’s really like and how we
can make things better together.
Easy Read: Autism, ADHD, and Mental
Health
Why do people with Autism and ADHD often feel anxious or
sad?
🧩 What are Autism and ADHD?
- Autism
and ADHD are neurodevelopmental conditions.
- This
means the brain works in a different way.
- People
with these conditions may think, feel, or learn in ways that are not
typical.
🧠 ➡️ ❤️
Brain differences can affect feelings too.
😟 What is anxiety and depression?
- Anxiety
means feeling very worried, nervous, or scared.
- Depression
means feeling very sad, low, or tired for a long time.
- These
are mental health problems.
😰 Anxiety
😢 Depression
🔍 Why does this happen more in Autism and
ADHD?
People may feel anxious or sad because:
- The
world is too loud, busy, or confusing 🏙️🔊
- People
don’t understand or accept them 🧍❌
- They
are told they are “naughty” or “lazy” when they are not 😞
- They
have to hide their true self to fit in 🎭
- They
get tired easily from sensory overload 🌀
All of this can be too much. It causes stress and sadness
over time.
🧘 What can help?
✅ Being listened to and supported
✅ Having quiet,
calm places to go
✅ Talking to a
mental health worker who understands Autism or ADHD
✅ Knowing that
it’s okay to be different
✅ Learning ways to
calm down, rest, and feel safe
💬 “I am not broken. I just need the right
support.”
✍️ A Note from the Author
I know what this feels like. I have Autism, ADHD, and
mental health struggles too.
I want you to know:
You are not alone.
You are not bad or broken.
You are different, and that’s okay.
Together, we can help people understand what it’s really
like.
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