Every task feels big.

Whether it’s small transitions like getting out of bed to shower, going into school or work mode from the car, or a bigger transition such as going from summer break to school, starting a new job, this is a super overwhelming experience for neurodivergent people of all ages.

Researching special interests instead of that pile of laundry that’s been staring at you for a week.

Special interests tend to be long term, life long hobbies or topics , such as collecting niche items like coins, action figures, trinkets, maps, history, space, true crime, TV shows, movies. Literally all the best topics, if you ask us!

Hyper focus shifts and changes with no warning or predictability, so something becomes a hyperfocus like taking up a new hobby or topic and then there’s no longer enough dopamine from the source and it’s gone.

We sometimes call this the ADHD graveyard, where short lived hobbies go to die. It’s kind of morbid but it does work as an analogy.

Might crave routine and structure but struggle to establish and maintain it.

Taking on ALL the changes at once where the routine crashes and burns.

This is a big topic on its own but for a quick reference:

-Sensitive to noise

-Visual overwhelm

-Challenges with clothing, textures, food

-Need for pressure/tactile input or avoidance of it

-Fidgeting/self-soothing

-Need for rocking/repetitive motion such as pacing back and forth, swinging in chair