*Edit: I checked some of the stuff more out in detail. While some concepts on this are valid and backed up by sience, others like RSD are not. Use this as a springboard for learning, not as a valid source in itself. Yes it says so in the corner already. But spelling it out might help.
People are more complicated then a diagram from the internet. Never forget that.
I’ve always felt strongly identified with parts of the autism and ADHD symptoms but not with all of either so I always assumed I was just self-diagnosing or was simply a bit too close with both spectrums without fully being into either or something like that. It’s hard to discern also because I’ve been depressed for some time and I’m asexual so sometimes I just attribute some of my non-typical traits to that.
But in the last 5 years I feel like I’m deteriorating at a growing rate and doing even the smallest things is incredibly hard for me, even things that I used to like like reading or playing videogames, not to say things like working or intense socializing. I know that getting an official diagnosis is the way to go but I’m in South America where the infrastructure/system for all this is even lesser than in Europe/USA and I’m broke anyways. My current goal is to work to get enough money to survive and get the diagnosis, even if it feels like am working at 15% capacity.
In the meantime, does anyone know of some kind of scientific test or resource that might help me clear my mind in regards to what I am/have? I promise I’ll get an official diagnosis as soon as I can but I feel like even identifying that I probably have a ton of ADHD or whatever it is and getting some commonly-held tips about my particular condition could help me lots right now.
Shot in the dark, not a doctor yadda yadda
Sounds like it could be burnout. (not only workaholics can get one) You can try some mitigation strategies for that and see if they help you.
In fact, autistic burnout is a thing that can happen to autistic folks (as opposed to occupational burnout)
If you have trauma, it could also be cptsd.
I was formally diagnosed with ADHD in February this year, but due to suspicions I spent a long time (with the help of my family) trying different supplements or diet related things, etc. The thing we settled on is a supplement of Citicoline (which at least where I am is available at most pharmacies/chemists). It took a couple weeks to settle in, but for me it was a night and day difference in terms of emotional/mental stability. Even now I’m on a proper Ritalin regime, I still find the Citicoline helps with that part. To clarify, I didn’t find it explicitly helped with focusing, but that mental and especially emotional stability was life changing, and helped me on the road to getting more formal treatment.
Unpopular opinion, but a great way to treat many neurological conditions is a ketogenic diet. It works great with intermittent fasting/time restricted eating.
Low budget carnivore is very cheap and surprisingly healthy. It’s also guaranteed to be ketogenic and it’s easy to prepare the food.
The ketones that your body produces have a protective effect in your neurons that can help them recover if they are being damaged by inflammation or a host of other things.
Childhood trauma is highly correlated with a host of digestive and inflammatory conditions. So if you had any trauma growing up, it’s even more likely.
If you’re unwilling to change your diet, intense resistance training (weight lifting) and sleep hygiene are also huge.
I personally recommend looking into free lifting programs that are simple like stronglifts 5x5. Melatonin for sleep (start very low dosage and adjust up if it doesn’t work - stop after a week and see if you still need it). Also Sam Harris’s meditation app which is free if you email and ask for access because you’re struggling financially. Meditation is great on it’s own but it will also help with sleep.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the label, just focus on your symptoms. Impulse issues, restlessness, difficulty relaxing, difficulty falling/staying asleep. Emotional regulation issues. Unsafe decisions. Etc.