AuDHD and OCD: How to Tell What's What
From Neurodivergent Insights with Dr. Megan Anna Neff by Neurodivergent Insights
May 30, 2026 · 21 min
About this episode
This episode explores the overlap between AuDHD and OCD, providing insights for individuals and clinicians on how to differentiate between these conditions.
AuDHD and OCD overlap in ways that make all three hard to see clearly, and most of us don't get language for it until we've been confused by these patterns for years.This video is for AuDHD adults, late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD people who suspect OCD might be in the mix, and clinicians working at the intersection. We walk through where they overlap, and how to begin teasing apart what is what — including practical questions you can ask yourself in the moment.📩 If you'd like to go deeper, here's the full article on ADHD, autism, and OCD: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/adhd-vs-autism-vs-ocd/ In this video, we explore:→ Why OCD often gets missed when ADHD or autism are already in the picture→ How working memory shows up differently in ADHD vs OCD vs AuDHD→ The difference between ADHD compensation and OCD compulsion (and how they can spiral into each other)→ Why autistic people need routines — and how that's different from OCD avoidance→ A predictive-processing explanation of why familiarity matters→ How to tell an autistic ritual from an OCD compulsion (look for the logic)→ What shows up at the three-way intersection — sensory sensitivities, BFRBs, executive function strain→…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Megan Anna Neff
Topics covered
- AuDHD
- OCD
- autism
- ADHD
- mental health
- diagnosis
- self-awareness
Keywords
- AuDHD
- OCD
- autism
- ADHD
- mental health
- diagnosis
- self-awareness
- compulsion
- executive function
- sensory sensitivities
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Neurodivergent Insights
Books & works: ADHD, autism, and OCD
More episodes of Neurodivergent Insights with Dr. Megan Anna Neff
- Adult Autism & ADHD Assessments, Demystified (Dr. Megan Anna Neff and Dr. Jess Hogan) · June 12, 2026 · 1h 11m
- The Real Story Behind Rising Autism Rates · April 17, 2026 · 1h 4m
- Autistic Burnout and the Stress Cycle with Amelia Nagoski · April 3, 2026 · 51 min
- When Autism Hides the ADHD: 6 Ways It Gets Missed · March 22, 2026 · 20 min
- ADHD Hides These 6 Autistic Traits in Plain Sight · March 8, 2026 · 15 min
- AuDHD Explained: When Autism + ADHD Intersect | Dr. Megan Anna Neff · February 27, 2026 · 8 min
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