Autistic Masking in Women
Many autistic women don’t realize they’re masking—not because they lack self-awareness, but because masking often begins so early that it becomes indistinguishable from “personality,” “politeness,”…
Author: Johan Lammers, MSc
I founded sensoryoverload.info after being diagnosed with AuDHD in my early forties. Through this platform, I share what I continue to learn, in the hope that it helps neurodivergent adults feel less alone, better understand themselves, and find approaches that fit their lives. I draw on my MSc in Psychology, years of hyperfocused neurodiversity research, and my own ongoing experience of living with AuDHD.
I’d love to connect with others in the neurodivergent community on LinkedIn and/or X.
Autistic Burnout in Women: The “Functional Until I Collapse” Pattern
Autistic burnout in women often doesn’t look like “falling apart” in a visible way. It often looks like: 🌿 still showing up🎭 still performing🧠 still…
RSD in Women with ADHD: Why Rejection Hurts So Much
A lot of women with ADHD don’t describe their hardest struggles as “attention problems.” They describe something that feels more personal, more painful, and harder…
Perfectionism in Women with ADHD: When High Standards Are a Survival Strategy
Perfectionism in women with ADHD is often misunderstood. From the outside, it can look like ambition, conscientiousness, or “high standards.” From the inside, it often…
Social Exhaustion in Autistic Women: Why Friendships Drain You (Even When You Like People)
A lot of autistic women don’t relate to the stereotype of “not wanting people.” They like people. They care deeply. They can be warm, funny,…
Friendships as an Autistic Woman: Why They Break Down (and How to Build Ones That Last)
A lot of autistic women don’t struggle with friendship because they don’t care. They struggle because friendship often runs on rules that are unspoken, inconsistent,…
Camouflaging in Autistic Women: The Hidden Social Effort (and Why Late Diagnosis Is Common)
Many autistic women spend years wondering why life feels harder than it “should.” They may appear socially competent, articulate, emotionally aware, and professionally capable. Teachers…
Why Autistic Women Feel “Different”
Many autistic women describe a feeling that is hard to explain but deeply familiar: a quiet sense of being slightly out of sync with the…
Autism in Girls: Signs Parents Often Miss (and Why They Look “Different” Than Boys)
This is one of the biggest reasons autism in girls is missed: many girls don’t match the older stereotype of autism. Instead of being visibly…
Meltdown vs Tantrum in Autistic Children: How to Tell the Difference
Parents search this question when they’re exhausted and scared. Not because they want a label, but because they want to know what to do when…