This study explored emotional experiences of 57 ADHD or Autistic adolescents, or both, using interviews to prioritise their own perspectives over neurotypical interpretations of emotional dysregulation. Four key themes emerged, including social alienation, masking emotions, and sensory overwhelm, with diagnosis-specific differences in how upsetting events were experienced and managed. The findings suggest that first-person accounts offer valuable insights that could improve understanding and support around emotional responses in Neurodivergent youth.
This study explored emotional experiences of 57 ADHD or Autistic adolescents, or both, using interviews to prioritise their own perspectives over neurotypical interpretations of emotional dysregulation. Four key themes emerged, including social alienation, masking emotions, and sensory overwhelm, with diagnosis-specific differences in how upsetting events were experienced and managed. The findings suggest that first-person accounts offer valuable insights that could improve understanding and support around emotional responses in Neurodivergent youth.
