“We Were Always Here. You Just Didn’t Have the Words Yet.”
People keep asking:
“Why is everyone autistic or ADHD now?”
Here’s the short answer:
We’re not new. We’re just finally being recognized.
It’s not because of vaccines, iPads, food dyes, or TikTok.
It’s because awareness, research, and diagnostic criteria have evolved.
Especially for women and marginalized folks. The ones who were always overlooked because we didn’t fit the stereotype.
You grew up with autistic and ADHD people all around you.
You just called it something else:
The “shy” girl who barely spoke in class? She was overwhelmed by social expectations.
The “lazy” teen who never turned in homework but aced the tests? That was executive dysfunction. Not lack of intelligence.
The uncle who paced or rocked when stressed? That was stimming.
The friend who wore the same outfit every day and hated loud noises? That was sensory regulation.
The girl who was “too sensitive,” “too talkative,” or “too intense”? She was likely masking so hard she didn’t even know who she really was underneath.
We didn’t disappear. We learned to perform.
Especially those of us assigned female at birth.
We weren’t “missed”. We were dismissed.
Because we smiled, made eye contact (even when it hurt), got good grades, and internalized every meltdown until it came out as anxiety, depression, burnout, or chronic illness.
I know because I was one of them.
For most of my life, I thought being exhausted and anxious all the time was normal.
I thought I had to earn love and safety by being useful, pleasant, and perfect.
I was diagnosed with autism and ADHD as an adult.
It wasn’t some trend I chased.
It was a mirror that finally reflected my reality.
And suddenly… I wasn’t “broken.”
I was neurodivergent. And I wasn’t alone.
💡 Did you know?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a mental illness or a behavioral problem.
ADHD isn’t about being “hyper”. It affects attention, memory, time perception, emotional regulation, and executive function.
Girls and women are often diagnosed decades later (or not at all), because they’re more likely to mask, camouflage, or internalize symptoms.
Masking has been linked to mental health struggles, identity loss, and even trauma.
You can be smart, kind, capable, and still struggle with sensory input, transitions, and daily tasks that neurotypical people take for granted.
So no, autism and ADHD didn’t suddenly “show up.”
They were here all along.
We were here all along.
But now?
Now we’re finding the words.
Now we’re claiming our space.
Now we’re finally being seen. Not as broken, but as whole.
To anyone else who’s just starting to figure it out:
You’re not too late.
You’re right on time.
And you’re not alone anymore.
Keep going — I’m here with you!
Shandy 💜
from Tacoboutwellness 🌮
#LateDiagnosedAutistic #ADHDInWomen #UnmaskingIsHealing