Is it Autism, ADHD, or Complex PTSD? Untangling Your Inner World

Autism, ADHD, or Complex PTSD: Have you ever wondered…

• Why do I feel so emotionally overwhelmed all the time?
• Why does noise or change send me into a spiral?
• Why can I be high-achieving at work, but totally melt down at home?
• Is this trauma… or something else?

If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. So many of the clients I work with (especially highly sensitive, perfectionistic women) come into therapy saying something like:

“I think I might be autistic. Or maybe it’s ADHD? But also, I’ve been through a lot… so maybe it’s trauma?”

The answer? Maybe yes to all of the above.

Let’s explore the overlapping threads between Autism, ADHD, and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), and how to tell them apart.

First, a quick breakdown

• Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference; it’s something you’re born with. It’s not a disease or disorder. It’s a unique way the brain processes information, emotions, and the world.
• ADHD is also a neurodevelopmental difference, affecting attention regulation, executive function, and energy levels.
• Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) develops from chronic trauma, especially in childhood. It’s a nervous system adaptation to survive ongoing emotional pain, neglect, or unsafe environments.

Each one affects how we think, feel, connect, and cope, but for different reasons.

Where Autism, ADHD & C-PTSD Overlap

This is why it can get confusing. All three can include:

1. Emotional Dysregulation

You feel a lot. It can feel like too much, too fast, or too often sometimes.

• Autism: Emotional flooding from sensory overload or difficulty processing emotions.
• ADHD: Intensity of feelings, especially frustration, rejection, or boredom.
• C-PTSD: Emotions swing between numbness and overwhelm due to a constantly triggered nervous system.

Regardless of the root cause, it’s exhausting to constantly regulate your emotions while also pretending you’re “fine.”

2. Executive Dysfunction

Struggling to get started, stay focused, or finish things.

• Autism/ADHD: This is part of the neurological wiring, especially with transitions or tasks that feel unstructured or boring.
• C-PTSD: Trauma can hijack your focus. Your brain is scanning for danger, not filing taxes.

It’s not laziness. It’s your brain choosing survival over spreadsheets.

3. Sensory Sensitivity

Loud sounds, tags in clothes, certain lights, or even social energy can feel too much.

• Autism: Sensory processing differences are a core trait.
• ADHD: Some sensory challenges (especially touch and noise) are common.
• C-PTSD: Hypervigilance heightens your sensitivity to sound, tone, or body language.

Your system is not “too sensitive”; it’s beautifully alert, even if that alertness comes at a cost.

4. Masking & Fawning

Putting on a “normal” face, even when you’re struggling inside.

• Autistic masking: Learning how to imitate social norms at the expense of authenticity.
• ADHD masking: Hiding overwhelm with charm, humor, or overachievement.
• C-PTSD fawning: Prioritizing other people’s comfort to avoid conflict or rejection.

Masking helps you survive, but it can also lead to burnout, disconnection, and identity confusion.

Key Differences to Know Between Autism, ADHD, and CPTSD

So how do you tell them apart? Here are some clues.

Origin Story

• Autism/ADHD: You were born this way. These traits show up in childhood, even if they were missed, especially in girls.
• C-PTSD: This developed after prolonged trauma. You may remember a time before the symptoms.

Timeline & Progression

• Autism/ADHD: These traits are lifelong, but how you cope with them can change.
• C-PTSD: Symptoms may reduce significantly with trauma healing (EMDR, RRT, somatic therapy, etc).

Treatment Path

• Autism/ADHD: The goal isn’t to “fix” anything. It’s about support, accommodations, self-understanding, and unmasking.
• C-PTSD: With the right support, your nervous system can shift into safety. You can feel more you than ever before.

So… Autism, ADHD, CPTSD, Is it One or the Other?

Maybe.
Maybe not.

It’s common to have both neurodivergence and trauma. In fact, autistic and ADHD women are more likely to experience chronic trauma due to being misunderstood, gaslit, or unsupported in systems never built for our brains.

Final Thoughts: You Are Not Broken

Whether it’s autism, ADHD, C-PTSD (or a blend) what matters most is this:

You are not too much. Nor are you making it up.
Your brain and body are doing exactly what they were wired or forced to do to survive.

At Serene Butterfly Counseling, we honor both neurodivergence and trauma with deep compassion, science-backed healing, and no shame. We offer EMDR, Rapid Resolution Therapy, and affirming support that helps you release what’s not yours and embrace what is.

If this post spoke to something in you, I’d love to support your healing journey. You deserve to feel safe in your body and clear in your identity.

Curious whether you’re navigating trauma, neurodivergence, or both? Let’s talk.
Book a free consult with one of our therapists who get it.

Interested in taking a free quiz to see if you might be autistic? Created specifically for adult women to identify the likelihood that they’re autistic.