A simple eye scan can revolutionize the ADHD diagnosis process.

Could a Simple Eye Photo Be the Next ADHD Diagnosis Tool? New Study Says Yes

ADHD, AuDHD, Neurodivergence

If you’ve ever gone through the long, stressful, expensive ADHD diagnostic process (or tried to get your child assessed), you know how exhausting it can be. Waiting lists. Endless questionnaires. Interviews. Conflicting opinions. The overwhelming feeling of “Do I really have it, or am I just bad at life?” Now imagine if one day, all it took was a photo of your eye. Sounds like sci-fi? Maybe. But it’s also real science—and it’s happening right now.

Neanderthal DNA in our brains: An image of a man with Neanderthal features

How Neanderthal DNA Might Be Connected to Autism

Autism, Neurodivergence

Have you ever felt like your brain was wired for a different time? Maybe it picks up patterns no one else sees, or thinks in pictures instead of words? What if some of those traits weren’t just signs of autism, but also echoes of something much older? A new study suggests that some autistic traits might be linked to DNA we inherited from our ancient cousins, the Neanderthals. Yes, really. And it’s giving us a whole new way to understand where our neurodivergence might come from.

Are yyou weak? Are you strong? A photo of superwoman mid-leap.

Why I Stopped Pretending to Be “Strong”

Mental health, Wandering thoughts

Today I’m thinking about weakness and strength.

“I envy you that you can afford to be weak,” a friend told me years ago. It made me think. Probably mostly because of the paradox. If being weak is something enviable, why do people attach a negative meaning to it?

I don’t consider myself weak. I used not to mind people attributing this quality to me because I don’t see myself that way. I’m not weak. I’m open about my feelings. And that’s not very common in today’s society, so much so that people can even find it unpleasant.

I think that calling people “strong” or”weak” is nonsense. I don’t think there’s such a thing as “weak” – it’s the same as trying to define the concept of “normal”. People are more complex than the artificial labels of “strength” and “weakness”.

Being autistic is... for example, being fascinated by the little things, like the woman in this picture, who is watching a violet flower that hides a part of her face.

Being Autistic Is… 

Autism, Neurodivergence

This piece is inspired by the famous blog post by sci-fi writer John Scalzi, Being Poor. Every autistic person is different, so while these are the little things from my everyday life, yours may be something else completely. As they say, when you have met one autistic person, you have met one autistic person. But maybe you will see something of yourself in the following lines. 

Being autistic is holding your breath when you pass a person on the street so you don’t have to smell them. 

Being autistic is pretending that the way you dress is just your style, so intentional, instead of the only clothes you can bear to wear. Pretending that you don’t really want to dress nice.

Explaining ADHD: a chalkboard drawing of a head with squiggly arrows going out if it, and text that says "My ADHD mind".

Explaining ADHD: What I Want My Dad to Know About ADHD

ADHD, Neurodivergence

A while ago, I wrote a blog post titled What I Want My Mum to Know About Autism, and it ended up being one of my most-read articles. In it, I tried to give voice to my struggles and my needs, tried to explain the differences. From the beginning, I intended to do something similar for ADHD. I get ADHD from my mother’s side, and she doesn’t understand my autistic side, while the autism I inherited from my dad’s side, and he needs a bit of help with understanding and explaining ADHD. This blog post is not only for my parents, but for every reader who needs the words to explain themselves to their loved ones. You can borrow this blog post to help your family and friends understand and explain ADHD a bit better. So, here goes:

The times I didn't die: A woman's face part visible through a curtain of leaves

The Times I Didn’t Die

Mental health, Wandering thoughts

I didn’t die. Maybe I should have.

The doctors said I had stopped growing when my mother was pregnant. They said I would be mentally retarded. My parents were proud, so proud, that I turned out to be gifted instead.

Their first child.

My mum was under great stress when she was expecting me. She and my dad lived with my great-great grandma, and she was bossy. When the mother has anxiety during pregnancy, there is a strong probability that the child will inherit that anxiety as well.

What I remember from regression therapy:
I don’t want to be here. Can I go back?
I want to shrink, to disappear.
I don’t want to have this body.
Oh God, do I have to do this? Let me out, let me out, please.
I don’t want to be here.

AuDHD in Women: A smiling woman stands against a bright yellow background, wearing a yellow shirt with small black dots. She holds two colorful, star-shaped straws—one pink and one yellow—up to her eyes, playfully using them like glasses. Her makeup is vibrant, with yellow eyeshadow and glossy pink lips, and her fingernails are painted white and black. The image has a joyful, playful vibe with a strong sense of color coordination and cheerfulness.

Signs of AuDHD in Women and Girls: A Complete Guide

AuDHD, Neurodivergence

Many women and AFAB who are AuDHD (who have both autism and ADHD) go undiagnosed for years. That’s partly because their traits don’t always match the common stereotypes. The symptoms of AuDHD in women may be concealed by social conditioning, masking, and internalized expectations. Instead of being loud or disruptive, they might be daydreamy, overly helpful, or simply exhausted from trying to keep up. They often adapt, mask, or blend in until burnout, anxiety, or a sense of “something’s off” brings things to the surface. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at what AuDHD can look like in women and why it’s so often overlooked.

ADHD food: a smilink Black woman eating cereal and strawberries from a bowl

Autistic and ADHD Food Hacks: Feeding Yourself with a Neurodivergent Brain

ADHD, Autism, Neurodivergence

Eating sounds so simple, right? But for us with AuDHD, it can be anything but. ADHD food struggles are real, and they’re more common than you may think. Shopping ingredients, planning meals, deciding what to cook, remembering to eat… This all may seem overwhelming, and you may find it difficult.

It is pretty common to feel guilt or shame around food when you have an AuDHD brain. Maybe you’ve skipped meals without noticing, lived off snacks for days, or cycled between forgetting to eat and bingeing whatever’s available. Maybe you eat too little or too much. For brains wired for unpredictability, consistent nourishment can feel out of reach. It’s not failure; it’s just part of your wiring.

Neurodivergent sleep: A young asian woman in pyjamas, sitting with an eye mask and pilow on the top of her head. SHe looks frustrated.

Neurodivergent Sleep Struggles: Why Autism and ADHD Make Rest So Hard

Neurodivergence, ADHD, AuDHD, Autism

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m., completely exhausted but inexplicably wide awake, you’re not alone—especially if you’re neurodivergent. Sleep problems are incredibly common in neurodivergent communities, with studies showing that up to 80% of autistic people and around 75% of those with ADHD struggle with falling or staying asleep. And if you happen to be both autistic and have ADHD (hi, hello, solidarity!), then you might know all too well what I like to call the “neurodivergent sleep disaster cocktail”—a potent mix of racing thoughts, sensory issues, hyperfocus, and a body that refuses to wind down when it’s supposed to.

ADHD and money: a a smiling woman with a fan of dollar bolls spread in front of her face

Autism, ADHD and Money: How to Easily Manage Your Finances With AuDHD

ADHD, AuDHD, Neurodivergence

ADHD and money? That is a recipe for disaster. ADHD means impulsive financial decisions, rash judgments, and ADHD tax. (Oh, the ADHD tax!) You may feel in over your head when it comes to finances. It’s chaos! There is always too much of the month left at the end of the money! Luckily, you can call on your autistic side to help.

(But first, to my American readers: Being from Europe, I don’t know the first thing about credit, sorry. No advice from me on this front. But I know a thing or two about budgeting, and that’s what we are going to talk about today.)

Now it’s time for your autistic side to shine. Spreadsheets! Planning!