Why PTSD with AuDHD needs a different kind of care
A Compassionate Understanding of PTSD with AuDHD
It is my humble wish that, by explaining things from the perspective of a person living with both PTSD and AuDHD, what I write may help others gain a new perspective and offer encouragement to those who need it most.
During all those years before I finally got the right diagnosis of PTSD and AuDHD, chronic failure was a painful part of my life, both privately and at work. I often lost my jobs and I struggled in relationships, all of this without knowing why. Living in a society where everybody is always so fast and harsh judging you based on your professional career and performance, chronic failure without knowing why can break you. I spent years feeling ashamed of myself, until finally a real good doctor took the time to do the right tests. Hearing the words, 'None of it was ever your fault,' was more than a big relief for me.
To support others who are walking a similar path, I have created these websites and online services; because no one should have to walk this road alone.
It is my humble wish that by sharing the reality of living with PTSD and AuDHD, we can grow in awareness together. My goal is to offer the hope and encouragement that is so often needed. If sharing my story helps foster more understanding, motivation, and a new perspective to others on this same path, then every step has been worth it.
I share the following with families, partners, friends, teachers, and everyone working in healthcare, with the sincere hope that it may gently bring greater understanding. My deepest wish is to show why those of us with both PTSD and AuDHD may react differently in various situations and in daily life.
Additional knowledge and understanding can improve communication and collaboration in all areas of life. There are no judgments here; only the shared fact that we are all doing our best with the knowledge we have. By sharing what we’ve learned, we can support one another more effectively.
For more than 25 years, I was misdiagnosed, and my symptoms were repeatedly overlooked, even as I sought help in many different situations. Knowing that these same experiences continue to affect so many others, that is why I choose to share articles and information like this.
It is my humble wish that, by explaining things from the perspective of a person living with both PTSD and AuDHD, what I write may help others gain a new perspective and offer encouragement to those who need it most.
During all those years before I finally got the right diagnosis of PTSD and AuDHD, chronic failure was a painful part of my life, both privately and at work. I often lost my jobs and I struggled in relationships, all of this without knowing why. Living in a society where everybody is always so fast and harsh judging you based on your professional career and performance, chronic failure without knowing why can break you. I spent years feeling ashamed of myself, until finally a real good doctor took the time to do the right tests. Hearing the words, 'None of it was ever your fault,' was more than a big relief for me.
To support others who are walking a similar path, I have created these websites and online services; because no one should have to walk this road alone.
It is my humble wish that by sharing the reality of living with PTSD and AuDHD, we can grow in awareness together. My goal is to offer the hope and encouragement that is so often needed. If sharing my story helps foster more understanding, motivation, and a new perspective to others on this same path, then every step has been worth it.
I share the following with families, partners, friends, teachers, and everyone working in healthcare, with the sincere hope that it may gently bring greater understanding. My deepest wish is to show why those of us with both PTSD and AuDHD may react differently in various situations and in daily life.
Additional knowledge and understanding can improve communication and collaboration in all areas of life. There are no judgments here; only the shared fact that we are all doing our best with the knowledge we have. By sharing what we’ve learned, we can support one another more effectively.
For more than 25 years, I was misdiagnosed, and my symptoms were repeatedly overlooked, even as I sought help in many different situations. Knowing that these same experiences continue to affect so many others, that is why I choose to share articles and information like this.
When PTSD and AuDHD occur together, the criticisms and judgments we face in society can have painful consequences. I speak from my own experience, as someone navigating life with both of these conditions.
This is where awareness can soften judgment and grow into deeper understanding, patience, and compassion so that wrong judgments and exclusion can be prevented.
Because this is invisible and often completely unrecognised from the outside, living with both PTSD and AuDHD means trying to cope with two overlapping challenges at the same time, often without the understanding or recognition it deserves, and without the patience that is so needed from others in everyday life situations.
This is where awareness can soften judgment and grow into deeper understanding, patience, and compassion so that wrong judgments and exclusion can be prevented.
Because this is invisible and often completely unrecognised from the outside, living with both PTSD and AuDHD means trying to cope with two overlapping challenges at the same time, often without the understanding or recognition it deserves, and without the patience that is so needed from others in everyday life situations.
→ When a person with PTSD does not respond in what is considered a typical way during treatment, it may be that this person is also living with an undiagnosed AuDHD.
The same can happen the other way around, when a person with AuDHD does not respond in expected ways in support settings, it may be because this person is also living with PTSD.
In both cases, what may look like resistance, disengagement, or difficulty is often a sign that something deeper has not yet been seen, understood, or supported with the right approach.
And in both cases, the person with a missing additional diagnosis often suffers the most. The daily effort to meet external expectations creates a constant double pressure on the nervous system.
→ We are trying to cope with two overlapping challenges at once, often without the right recognition or support.
What we experience in stressful situations is more complex than simple burnout. Much of what we sometimes go through remains unseen by others, and it can be deeply exhausting, confusing, and isolating.
Yes, what we need is more understanding, more time, and more appropriate support so that what we carry can be safely processed and integrated.
The First Difference:
Misunderstandings about people living with PTSD often become most apparent in their interactions with employers, social workers, therapists, and medical professionals. It is important to recognize that there is a meaningful difference between individuals who experience trauma in adulthood and those whose trauma occurs during childhood. Early experiences can shape a person's development and the nervous system in profound ways.
Another distinction that is frequently overlooked is the difference between PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD). While both involve responses to trauma, CPTSD typically arises from prolonged or repeated experiences, often in situations where a person feels trapped or powerless, and it can affect emotional regulation, self-perception, and relationships more deeply.
Trauma itself is also widely misunderstood. Some traumatic experiences involve physical injury, while others do not involve any physical harm at all. The term “trauma” encompasses a broad spectrum of experiences and cannot be reduced to a single type of event or defined situation.
Each person’s experience with trauma is unique. The effects on the nervous system vary greatly from one individual to another, shaped by personal history, age, environment, and support systems. These differences deserve understanding, patience, and care.
For people with more complex or early trauma, the path of healing and recovery is often much more demanding. It requires more time, more understanding, and more consistent support for these experiences to be processed.
🌿 I have explained these details more deeply in an article on my blog, which you can read here.
The Second Difference:
When a person with PTSD was born with a form of AuDHD or autism, the situation can become even more complex. In these cases, the person often needs a different therapeutic approach, along with specific, careful, and well-informed support.
Many judgments can arise in these situations. Questions like “Why are you reacting this way?” may seem simple, but they can be deeply hurtful when asked without understanding. This created a deep and lasting pain. For many years, I experienced repeated medical misdiagnoses. Only later, an older and experienced doctor recognized what had been missed. He took the time to carry out the right assessments and provide the correct diagnosis. The sense of relief I received in that moment is more precious than words can fully express.
→ Because of differences in neurodevelopment, some people with AuDHD may need a different approach in trauma therapy than most other patients. Their nervous systems may process stress, sensory input, and therapeutic experiences in a different way.
Impatience and judgment from others in daily life can make this even harder. Over time, this may create a persistent sense of failure, which can lead to withdrawal, hopelessness, or giving up. These permanent inner struggles are very serious and very painful for the person. Please hear me here: I truly mean it when I say that all of this, over time, can wear a person down.
This is why it can help so much when we are given more time to rest and process things. Compassion is precious here.
🌿 Painful misunderstandings often arise when a person with undiagnosed AuDHD does not respond to trauma therapy in the way others might expect.
→ The main reason why this is so often overlooked is that the symptoms of PTSD and AuDHD can look very similar from the outside. This can make things deeply challenging for doctors, therapists, and everyone involved. Reaching the right diagnosis takes time, patience, and a lot of care.
In this article, you will find more details on the topic of PTSD in combination with ADHD.
Everything I share is based on my own experiences and many years of walking this path, as well as what I have learned while working with medical specialists over those years. If you recognize these patterns in someone you love, feel free to forward this article to them, their family, or their partner.
And if you need support, on this website you will find more resources, and I offer online meetings for additional support. On this website and in my blog, I share articles and tools that have helped me on my own healing journey with PTSD and AuDHD.
I deeply hope that by sharing this information, it may help someone on their path.
With love and warmth,
Jeanne
💗
The same can happen the other way around, when a person with AuDHD does not respond in expected ways in support settings, it may be because this person is also living with PTSD.
In both cases, what may look like resistance, disengagement, or difficulty is often a sign that something deeper has not yet been seen, understood, or supported with the right approach.
And in both cases, the person with a missing additional diagnosis often suffers the most. The daily effort to meet external expectations creates a constant double pressure on the nervous system.
→ We are trying to cope with two overlapping challenges at once, often without the right recognition or support.
What we experience in stressful situations is more complex than simple burnout. Much of what we sometimes go through remains unseen by others, and it can be deeply exhausting, confusing, and isolating.
Yes, what we need is more understanding, more time, and more appropriate support so that what we carry can be safely processed and integrated.
The First Difference:
Misunderstandings about people living with PTSD often become most apparent in their interactions with employers, social workers, therapists, and medical professionals. It is important to recognize that there is a meaningful difference between individuals who experience trauma in adulthood and those whose trauma occurs during childhood. Early experiences can shape a person's development and the nervous system in profound ways.
Another distinction that is frequently overlooked is the difference between PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD). While both involve responses to trauma, CPTSD typically arises from prolonged or repeated experiences, often in situations where a person feels trapped or powerless, and it can affect emotional regulation, self-perception, and relationships more deeply.
Trauma itself is also widely misunderstood. Some traumatic experiences involve physical injury, while others do not involve any physical harm at all. The term “trauma” encompasses a broad spectrum of experiences and cannot be reduced to a single type of event or defined situation.
Each person’s experience with trauma is unique. The effects on the nervous system vary greatly from one individual to another, shaped by personal history, age, environment, and support systems. These differences deserve understanding, patience, and care.
For people with more complex or early trauma, the path of healing and recovery is often much more demanding. It requires more time, more understanding, and more consistent support for these experiences to be processed.
🌿 I have explained these details more deeply in an article on my blog, which you can read here.
The Second Difference:
When a person with PTSD was born with a form of AuDHD or autism, the situation can become even more complex. In these cases, the person often needs a different therapeutic approach, along with specific, careful, and well-informed support.
Many judgments can arise in these situations. Questions like “Why are you reacting this way?” may seem simple, but they can be deeply hurtful when asked without understanding. This created a deep and lasting pain. For many years, I experienced repeated medical misdiagnoses. Only later, an older and experienced doctor recognized what had been missed. He took the time to carry out the right assessments and provide the correct diagnosis. The sense of relief I received in that moment is more precious than words can fully express.
→ Because of differences in neurodevelopment, some people with AuDHD may need a different approach in trauma therapy than most other patients. Their nervous systems may process stress, sensory input, and therapeutic experiences in a different way.
Impatience and judgment from others in daily life can make this even harder. Over time, this may create a persistent sense of failure, which can lead to withdrawal, hopelessness, or giving up. These permanent inner struggles are very serious and very painful for the person. Please hear me here: I truly mean it when I say that all of this, over time, can wear a person down.
This is why it can help so much when we are given more time to rest and process things. Compassion is precious here.
🌿 Painful misunderstandings often arise when a person with undiagnosed AuDHD does not respond to trauma therapy in the way others might expect.
→ The main reason why this is so often overlooked is that the symptoms of PTSD and AuDHD can look very similar from the outside. This can make things deeply challenging for doctors, therapists, and everyone involved. Reaching the right diagnosis takes time, patience, and a lot of care.
In this article, you will find more details on the topic of PTSD in combination with ADHD.
Everything I share is based on my own experiences and many years of walking this path, as well as what I have learned while working with medical specialists over those years. If you recognize these patterns in someone you love, feel free to forward this article to them, their family, or their partner.
And if you need support, on this website you will find more resources, and I offer online meetings for additional support. On this website and in my blog, I share articles and tools that have helped me on my own healing journey with PTSD and AuDHD.
I deeply hope that by sharing this information, it may help someone on their path.
With love and warmth,
Jeanne
💗
For ADHD and AuDHD, see my second website here.
🌿 Discover this new article in my blog now:
Rebuilding Self-Worth: The Path to Real Confidence
When Childhood Left You Feeling Unworthy & The Hidden Roots of Self-Worth and Healing
