Key Takeaways
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are different conditions, but they often overlap and can appear together.
- Each condition affects the brain in unique ways. When combined, they can make daily life more complex.
- Understanding the differences and overlaps between these conditions can lead to better diagnosis, support, and treatment.
OCD, ADHD, and autism are different mental health conditions, but they often show up together. You might be diagnosed with just one, or you might live with all three. While there’s no exact number on how many people live with all three, research shows that this kind of overlap is real and can make daily life feel more complicated.
Each condition affects the brain in unique ways. OCD can bring unwanted thoughts and rituals, ADHD can impact your attention and impulse control, and autism can shape how you experience the world. When these conditions occur together, they can make daily life feel more complex. But understanding how they connect can help you find the right support and care.
Understanding autism vs. OCD vs. ADHD
Autism, OCD, and ADHD can sometimes involve similar traits, but they’re very different at their cores. What sets them apart:
- Autism: Involves differences in social communication, restricted interests, a need for routine, and sensory challenges
- OCD: Involves unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) done to reduce distress or prevent something bad from happening
- ADHD: Affects attention, focus, and self-regulation, often showing up as distractibility, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity
It can be hard to tell autism, OCD, and ADHD apart. Some symptoms may look similar, but they come from different causes. Because of this, you might face a few challenges, including:
- Misdiagnosis: You could be diagnosed with the wrong condition if your symptoms resemble something else.
- Dual diagnosis: You might have more than one condition at the same time, which can make it harder to understand what’s really going on.
- Underdiagnosis: It’s also possible to go undiagnosed if your symptoms are missed or misunderstood.
These challenges can delay care or make it harder to get the support you need. That’s why it helps to work with a provider who understands all three conditions and how they can overlap.
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Breaking down the overlap
Autism, OCD, and ADHD can sometimes look similar. But they’re each different in how they affect the brain and behavior. Here’s a simple breakdown of each condition and how they can overlap with one another.
Autism and ADHD
These two conditions often show up together, and some traits can overlap:
- You might notice challenges with focus, sensory sensitivities, or emotional regulation.
- If you have both, you may struggle with changes in routine and need support with social skills.
- Research suggests that over half of autistic people also have ADHD.
ADHD and OCD
Even though they seem very different, some people live with both ADHD and OCD:
- You might experience restlessness and repetitive thoughts.
- ADHD thoughts tend to be more scattered or fast moving, while OCD thoughts are more intrusive and distressing.
- About 30% of adults with OCD also have ADHD.
Autism and OCD
These two conditions can both involve repeated behaviors, but for very different reasons:
- You might rely on routines for a sense of calm if you’re autistic or use them to reduce anxiety if you have OCD.
- For autistic people, repetition can be soothing. For those with OCD, it’s often a way to feel safer or more in control.
- About 17% of autistic people also have OCD.
Even though the symptoms can look similar, the reasons behind them are different. Understanding where they overlap and how they differ can help you get the right diagnosis and support.
Living with OCD, ADHD, and autism together
Living with OCD, ADHD, and autism can be challenging. Each condition affects the brain in different ways. When they show up together, they can make daily life feel more complicated. While not everyone with ADHD, OCD, or autism has more than one of these conditions, it’s not uncommon for them to occur together.
There are a few reasons why these conditions might show up together. Genetics may play a role. There may also be similarities in how the brain processes things like attention, routines, or anxiety. For example, people with ADHD may have trouble focusing, while people with OCD may feel stuck on certain thoughts. When someone has all three conditions, these traits can build on each other and become harder to manage.
The symptoms can also interact in confusing ways. You might crave routine for a sense of calm because of autism, feel overwhelmed by obsessive thoughts from OCD, and struggle to focus or stay organized due to ADHD. This mix can make things like school, work, or relationships feel more difficult. But with the right support, it’s possible to manage symptoms and feel more grounded in your life.
Managing OCD, ADHD, and autism at the same time
Living with all three conditions can feel overwhelming. A helpful first step is learning about each condition and how symptoms can show up in daily life. Having a therapist or support system that understands the overlap is key.
Each condition may need its own type of support:
- Autistic people often benefit from talk therapy, social skills training, and applied behavior analysis (ABA), which help with social interaction and managing routines.
- ADHD support can include talk therapy — like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — strategies to improve focus and organization, and (sometimes) medication to help with attention and impulse control.
- OCD is typically treated with exposure and response prevention (ERP), which helps reduce distress caused by unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
You might see autism or ADHD as part of who you are, while OCD feels more disruptive or unwanted. That mix of feelings can be confusing. It’s OK to embrace the parts of your identity that feel true to you while also getting support for the parts that cause distress.
Treatment can happen at the same time, but it often helps to start with the condition that causes the most difficulty. A therapist can help you decide where to begin. Over time, therapeutic approaches that build emotional regulation, daily routines, and self-awareness can make a big difference.
Find care with Rula
Some people live with autism, OCD, and ADHD at the same time. These conditions can look similar, which can make it hard to get the right diagnosis. Learning how each one works and how they affect each other can help make daily life easier. The good news is that help is available. With the right support, people can learn to manage their symptoms and create routines and strategies that work for them.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we’re here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
About the author
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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