Many neurodivergent people (such as people with ADHD, autism/ASC, or giftedness) later say something in therapy that’s strikingly consistent: “I actually knew as a child.” Not as a clear diagnosis, but as an undercurrent. A sense of being different. Of not quite keeping up. Of having to try harder to reach the same things. And most of all: not being able to explain why.

Why are changes so challenging? Changes, big or small, can feel exciting or even overwhelming for many children. This isn’t just true for kids with ASD, but also for highly sensitive children, those who need predictability, or kids who simply find transitions a bit more difficult. Think of a new classroom, moving house, a different teacher, or even a change in the daily routine at home.

Sam the snail and his safe house: a metaphor for sensitive children and kids who need predictability

Do you know that feeling when your emotions hit you like a tsunami, or when you feel nothing at all, even though you know you “should” feel something? If you live with both ASD and ADHD (AuDHD), emotional intensity is often not the exception but the norm. But… why is that?

The energy paradox: why you're exhausted after fun things (AuDHD)

"It's just a computer error," you tell yourself. "Why do I feel like the world is ending?" When you have ASD and ADHD, "small" things are rarely small.

"Why am I like this?" It's a question many people with ASD and ADHD ask themselves daily. One day you need structure to function. The next day, that same structure feels like a cage. You want to do things perfectly, but you can't focus long enough. You're too much and too little at the same time.

Imagine if the label in your shirt feels like sandpaper, whisper-quiet light feels like a spotlight, or the smell of the cafeteria makes you nauseous. For many children with autism, this is daily reality. What feels 'normal' to us can be overwhelming for them.

ASD is a spectrum - from children who are non-verbal to highly gifted children who excel in all areas except socially.

Autism is often recognized late - sometimes only at school, when social and communication challenges become more apparent. But the signs are often there much earlier. As a therapist, I regularly see parents who say: "I knew something was different, but I couldn't put my finger on it." The good news? The earlier you recognize these signs, the sooner you can support your child in a way that fits them.

This is the world of children with ASD, a world where everything works just a little differently, where sounds, light, and emotions have a different meaning than for most people.