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/blog.
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.
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. I will explain more about Autism, ADHD,
Anxiety, and Depression in the mental health chapter, because they are often
connected. Many conditions are linked to mental health challenges, not because
the person is weak, but because living with these conditions can affect how
someone feels, thinks, and copes with everyday life. It’s important to remember
that, alongside these difficulties, people also have unique strengths and
talents.
Easy Read: Autism, ADHD, Anxiety and Depression
🧠 Many people live with conditions like:
·
Autism
·
ADHD
·
Anxiety
·
Depression
These can be part
of someone’s mental health.
They can affect how a person feels, thinks, and acts every day.
🧩 These conditions are sometimes linked together.
They can make life harder at times.
💪 But people also have strengths.
You can have a condition and still be talented, smart, and kind.
🌈 It’s important to understand both the difficulties and the strengths
people have.
🧠 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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