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WTF is AuDHD?
E28 | Dr Khurram Sadiq: Explaining AuDHD
Dr Khurram Sadiq - renowned psychiatrist and AuDHDer - joins us to help explain AuDHD. In this powerful first half of our conversation, we unpack his own diagnostic journey, what it means to live between ADHD and autism, and why this combination deserves more recognition. We explore how gender, culture, and systemic pressures influence diagnosis, and why many of us are missed or misunderstood for decades. Dr Sadiq also shares his perspective on whether ADHD and autism exist on a shared spectrum - and how we can begin to differentiate between similar traits. Part two of our chat is out next week!
Win a signed copy of Dr Khurram Sadiq's new book - Explaining AuDHD! Head over to our Instagram @wtfisaudhdpodcast to enter.
Key moments:
4:39 – Dr Sadiq shares his upbringing and the early signs of neurodivergence he experienced, including the emotional toll of trying to conform in a neurotypical world
15:04 – The unexpected journey that led him into mental health
17:20 – How Dr Sadiq came to be diagnosed as AuDHD himself
23:15 – What he now recognises in hindsight from his childhood and adolescence
26:13 – Why he chose to specialise in autism + ADHD - and what he's learned from that path
27:15 – How he believes neurodivergence should be diagnosed - and what’s missing in the current system
30:21 – Dr Sadiq breaks down how he defines ADHD, autism, and how they overlap
34:19 – A compelling story of a woman who denied her diagnosis - and what that says about stigma
36:35 – What really “causes” neurodivergent conditions? Dr Sadiq explains what the research tells us (and what it doesn’t)
37:45 – A fascinating hypothesis about genetics and brain development
41:35 – How gender, culture, and hormones all impact how neurodevelopmental conditions manifest - and why women and AFAB people are often missed
44:41 – How societal expectations around women’s roles can delay diagnosis and support
46:07 – How systemic pressure (not just individual traits) influences how autism and ADHD show up
48:45 – Are autism and ADHD truly separate conditions - or part of a shared spectrum?
50:58 – How to tell the difference between autistic “indifference” and ADHD “inattention"
52:58 – Distraction or sensory overload? Understanding how they can look the same but feel different
55:15 – Why some ADHDers speak without a filter, while autistic people often struggle with social nuance
58:30 – Is it over-talking, or talking with passion?
59:56 – The paradoxes of living with AuDHD - where traits seem to contradict themselves.
1:01:30 – Understanding the spectrum of autism: what's the difference between profound autism and levels 1–3?
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73. E73 | The sensory struggles of clothing and societal expectations
44:22||Season 2, Ep. 73We have both struggled with clothing for our entire life - it's a double-prong of sensory icks and societal expectations that really drive us up the wall. For many neurodivergent people, clothes can be a daily sensory battle, so in this episode, we chat about our favourite "safe clothes", why certain fabrics make us want to crawl out of our skin, the emotional side of getting dressed, the societal expectations of gender-based dressing and general social decorum, and why comfort should always win over fashion!SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast
72. E72 | Masking in the bedroom
58:58||Season 2, Ep. 72CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode contains discussions about sex, intimacy, masking, consent, and unwanted sexual experiences. Please listen with caution. It also contains some EXPLICIT language, so be mindful of younger ears.This week we're discussing a topic that many people experience but rarely talk about: masking during sex and intimacy.After receiving a vulnerable email from a listener who described feeling like they were performing through every sexual experience, we wanted to explore the complicated relationship between masking, people-pleasing, sensory experiences, expectations, and intimacy.We talk about our own experiences growing up as women, the messages we received about sex and relationships, and how being neurodivergent can sometimes make it difficult to identify, communicate, and prioritise our own needs. We also discuss the difference between wanting something and feeling like you should want it, as well as the exhaustion that can come from constantly performing for others.As always, we're sharing personal experiences and listener stories rather than diagnostic criteria, and we recognise that everyone's relationship with sex and intimacy is different.
71. E71 | Reasons we didn't think we could be autistic
41:33||Season 2, Ep. 71Before we were diagnosed, Paige and Ellie dismissed the possibility that we could be autistic because we didn't match the stereotypes we'd been exposed to. Even though Paige suspected she was autistic at 15, the environmental voices were so loud she gave up.In this episode, we're unpacking some of the reasons we didn't think we could be autistic and the experiences we later realised were showing up differently than we expected. As always, we're sharing our personal stories and experiences, not providing diagnostic advice. These traits don't automatically mean someone is autistic, but they may help explain why so many late-diagnosed and AuDHD people overlooked autism in themselves for years.Sign up to be a founding journal holder https://wtfjournals.com/signup
70. E70 | ADHD tax, hyperfixations and abandoned hobbies
51:08||Season 2, Ep. 70Before we jump into this week's episode - we have a new Reddit! The other one will be going to the graveyard, so join our new one here: https://www.reddit.com/r/wtfisaudhdIn this episode we chat about the hobbies, journals, activities we swore we'd stick to... only to abandon then a few weeks later.From the feelings of "this is it!" "this is my new thing" to the shame and embarrassment that comes after you've forgotten it even exists. We explore why ADHD brains become so intensely focused on new interests, why that motivation can disappear seemingly overnight, and the guilt, shame and financial "ADHD tax" that often follows. We also discuss your contributions around hobbies and dusty journals from the new Reddit community. Plus, we received a message from our local psychologist Mike Cochrane about scam diagnoses and how to keep an eye out for illiegitimate 'experts'.And speaking of things we've abandoned in the past... Paige brings her latest journal updates - and how she's trying her best to ensure this is a journal that stays with you forever! More info at wtfjournals.com/signup
69. E69 | Why the modern world is kryptonite for ADHDers
34:09||Season 2, Ep. 69Modern life can sometimes feel like actual torture for an ADHD brain - and it really can be! In this episode, we chat about dopamine, procrastination, novelty-seeking, and why so many apps, algorithms, and endless notifications are designed to hijack everyone's brains. Then when you add in the ADHD, we become the perfect target.We look at the ways modern life may be making life harder for ADHDers, and we share some personal examples minor tasks we've avoided, even though it would help us in the long run. If you're struggling in this modern day, overstimulating world - you are not alone.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcastellieonthetelly.comwtfjournals.com/signup
68. E68 | WTF is that feeling of impending doom?
31:33||Season 2, Ep. 68Why do so many autistic, ADHD and AuDHD people experience a constant feeling that something is “wrong” or about to go wrong?In this episode of WTF is AuDHD?, we explore our experiences with the feeling of impending doom. We theorise why it might be experienced more in our community - from anxiety and sensory overload to nervous system activation, interoception, uncertainty intolerance and emotional dysregulation. We also share a few funny stories from the week that was, that include a lost cellphone and a tea kettle #adhdthings SOCIAL @wtfisaudpodcasthttps://wtfjournals.com/signuphttps://ellieonthetelly.com
67. E67 | Why movies feel like homework (for some AuDHD brains)
41:29||Season 2, Ep. 67In this episode, Ellie and Paige reflect on Ellie's recent overseas trip and why Amsterdam in particular was kind to her neurodivergent mind. We go on a few side quests along the way, chatting about Ellie's recent engagement, Paige tells a story about having Tourette's in public and we accidentally end up analysing marriage. In the second half of the episode, we chat all about movies and why we both find it hard to commit to them. Ellie brings some research on why some autistic/ADHD people struggle with movies and we bring our own lived experience. We're curious to know - do you also struggle to commit to movies?Sign up for WTF Journal presales - wtfjournals.com/signupChat with Ellie - ellieonthetelly.com
66. E66 | Neurodiversity and the fear of being perceived
33:22||Season 2, Ep. 66Why does being seen feel so uncomfortable… even when nothing’s actually wrong?In this episode, we unpack the fear of being perceived - something that shows up in many people from the neurodivergent community. From overthinking how we’re coming across, to feeling exposed just existing in public (and private!), to avoiding being watched altogether (lockdown was an interesting time) - we share what this experience feels like for us. Maybe you'll recognise this in yourself too? We talk about masking, perfectionism, shame, and the weird contradiction of wanting to be understood but not wanting to be perceived.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals
65. E65 | Things that dysregulate us (feat. you)
32:07||Season 2, Ep. 65What completely dysregulates you that might seem a bit unusual to someone else? This episode is basically a collection of “why does THIS send me over the edge?” moments.We’re sharing the things that dysregulate us as AuDHDers - from noises, to sounds, to textures, to general demands - we share our own experiences plus read out the ones you sent us on Instagram.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals Book a mentoring session with Ellie ellieonthetelly.comSign up for early access to our journals - wtfjournals.com/signup