Looking for answers

[Betbren47]

Since being diagnosed with ADHD, I notice that my husband triggers my senses to feel overwhelmed so it hit me that he may also have an issue as well. Because his thoughts run a mile a minute the words that come out of his mouth is not clear. Once he decides to do something he goes all in without stopping until he is done. Around people when he feels uncomfortable he starts to joke around in an annoying way. I'm embarrassed by it but I've just decided to accept him as he is. So is this related to autism or any other type of mental challenge? Looking for answers so I can direct him to help himself and help me along the way.

[STEM_Dad]

Have you looked at his behavior through the lens of the diagnosis criteria for ADHD and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Don't just think about how he is now, but how he has been since you met him, and the stories of him from his youth.*Note: The key word at least for ADHD in each of the criteria is "often". (Be on guard against confirmation bias, which loved ones are prone to, which can tip the scale in the direction of what your opinion is.)

A formal assessment by a trained medical or mental health professional is always best, but some people have to be evaluated multiple times by different practitioners to receive a diagnosis. (Professionals can have their own biases.)

* ADHD is a lifelong condition, usually becoming noticeable but adolescence. If someone experiences behavioral changes later on, then the changes may be due to other social, psychological or even biological reasons. (One big example would be "midlife crisis", but another would be bodily changes like metabolic or hormonal changes.)

- If your husband has been through a unexplainable change for the worse in any way within the last 6 months or so, he ought to consider going to the doctor. Some changes are a natural result of aging or lifestyle changes, but others can be warning signs of health conditions.