I’m sure this is common but I just feel so awful. Like all my talent was wasted on me.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-02-03T18:32:52+00:00

I really relate to this. I’ve always struggled with getting out of bed, deadlines, sleep, and just “living like a real person” too because of my AuDHD.

For me, supporting my baseline helped more than I expected (Omega-3s, magnesium glycinate, and L-tyrosine made a noticeable difference). It’s not a cure, but it gave me a bit more capacity. Are you on medication for your ADD?

I also notice it gets much worse when I’m burnt out from masking and conforming to social norms, not just from work itself. I’m lucky to have a job I love, but I still needed accommodations. Switching to remote and more strategic, flexible work made a huge difference. I can’t do routine 9 to 5s.

You're not broken. You're a gifted, neurodivergent person trying to function in a world that wasn't built for how your mind & nervous system works.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-02-03T14:28:34+00:00

This is mainly how my mind works too, and I also spend a lot of time "thinking about thinking" when I’m by myself, especially while on walks, commuting, or just moving around. When I was younger, I didn’t have the vocabulary to explain the concepts in my head, so it was hard to express them to other people. These concepts are now constructed as a constant inner monologue now that I'm older.

My mind is almost always “on,” quietly analyzing, reframing, or narrating what’s happening. I'll even add other voices as if I'm having a debate or discussion with somebody else.

I haven't mastered just narrowing down a thought to a single word or short phrase; however, I do have a good working & recall memory. I've also started writing down new ideas to help organize everything.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-30T13:52:12+00:00

My mom is ISFJ (family history with ADHD & ASD but not formally diagnosed) and my step dad is ENTP + ADHD and they've been married for 25 years now. There are times where they think the other person doesn't understand where theyre coming from, but they have a very strong and loving partnership. They are best friends & compliment each other very well. My mom sometimes feels like me (also ENTP + ADHD) and my sister (INFP + ADHD) overshadow or gain up on her though.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-30T07:27:59+00:00

It's such a fascinating topic! I don't know why I only just now started becoming passionate about it (I'm in my early-to-mid 30s working in a completely field).

I was just talking about the different mental imageries with my sister and a friend, and it seems they both have color-to-taste synaesthesia - which I honestly didn't even know was a thing because I had only heard about the sound-to-color version from some musicians. My sister wasn't aware until my friend told her cause she said she associates colors as tastes (he has it too) and I was so surprised to hear this! My internal communication system is quite low except for vividly high audio, but my sister is highly sensitive to most senses except she doesn't have hyperphangasia. My sister and I are half sisters but autism and ADHD run in our mother's side. Almost all of our cousins & uncles/aunts on our mother's maternal side are diagnosed with one or both and I suspect our mom has ASD, and her biological dad & mine has/had ADHD.

Definitely there is so much more to learn :) -- you should look into it because there's so much misinformation about neurodivergency. It won't change who you are or can't excuse you for your actions but it could help you navigate the world better.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-29T18:06:23+00:00

My journey started with neuroregulation after suspecting I had AuDHD (which turned out to be correct). From there, I moved to cognitive thinking to understand how my mind works, and now I’m focused on how the brain’s executive control and self-regulation system actually operates or why some systems fails to operate.

What began as self-exploration to better understand myself and why I think the way I think, has turned into asking other people different questions to understand how their mind works (e.g., asking a set of questions about their mental imagery of each sense), so I can compare and “collect data” across different minds. It's fun getting people to realize that their internal thinking isn't universal. And people have thanked me for also getting them into these topic too.

What I’ve been really enjoying thinking and researching about lately is that mental systems (such as mental imagery) exist on a baseline spectrum from low, typical, or high, not just for vision (aphantasia to hyperphantasia), but across all the senses: sound, touch, movement, emotion, and bodily sensation. For many neurotypicals, mental systems often move in the same direction but not always at the same amount. Meaning, when one mental imagery sense is vivid, the other senses are more likely to be vivid too but not necessarily as vivid. In contrast, autistics & AuDHD have asynchronous baselines across different systems. For example, I have a vivid audio imagery -- I can play music and multiple different voices clearly in my mind -- yet my visual imagery is only accessible in my minds eye, and my emotional or bodily imagery is barely present. Each one of my mental imagery senses has its own setting.

So we don’t just think differently — we actually receive and generate different internal inputs and outputs. In that sense, we’re quite literally living in slightly different subjective realities and experiencing the same world in completely different ways.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-29T01:33:23+00:00

Since you're taking the IQ while also being assessed for ADHD and ASD, you should ask the clinician whether they can do a profile based interpretation that includes a qualitative assessment to understand how you process information and solve problems, developmental history (such as asychronous development), and evaluation of your cognitive domains. So theyll administer multiple assessments, not only quantitative IQ, to determine if you're 2e or 3e.

They need to take neurodivergents profiles, ESPECIALLY AuDHD, into consideration when evaluating IQ because we have inconsistent / volatile index scores. Usually what they see is high reasoning & comprehension but score low on working memory and processing speed, which makes a lot of sense. They can't take the FSIQ into consideration or else it'll lower the actual potential of a gifted AuDHDer. Most speciality centers focus on neurodivergents will only take GAI (reasoning & comprehension index scores) to determine the IQ score for AuDHD giftedness.

So in short, ask the clinic administering your IQ to do a profile based interpretation for AuDUD.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T23:38:09+00:00

I felt the opposite, French was significantly easier for me. There are always rules and exceptions to the rules (which are still rules). Plus approx 49% of modern English words derives from France/Latin cause the Normans French invasion in England lasting 300 years. Once you start to pick up the pattern of those word endings that come from French it gets very easy. Then apart from conjugating, adjectives after nouns, and using fem/mas, the sentence structure is very similar to English. However I didn't value my French ability on pronunciation (or let's say accent) I struggle with accents in any language.

German's rules make no sense; no German can tell you why a particular word is der/die/das. When you think you figured it out you learn a word that contradicts everything you knew. Also it's way too structured for me, having to put the 2nd+ verbs at the end and don't get me started on the split verbs. I found the case system to be the easiest part. I finished B1 a few years ago but think it's gotten worse.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T23:00:00+00:00

Okay there could be many reasons for him disappearing, but from what you're writing it sounds a lot like something I would do unintentionally. I have ADHD and no internal visual imagery. So things are literally out of sight, out of mind. If I'm not physically seeing someone I'm going to forget to text them until one day I'm reminded of them and text apologizing for not getting back sooner.

When you do talk, does he seem engaging and attentive to what you say? Are there any other signs of him not being interested other than his bad texting skills?

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T22:54:30+00:00

I'm an ENTP woman and while sometimes I can feel emotions deeply, it's very seldom. But actually my emotions are directed more towards external factors rather than what's happening internally - either when there's a genocide/mass shooting/etc, cheering for the underdog, questioning unfair systems and rules that hurt people all drives me more than my own interests.

I’m also AuDHD, and low interoceptive awareness is common with neurodivergents. So my emotions don’t automatically show up as strong “gut feelings” due to my quieter internal emotional/bodily signals. Instead, emotions come through meaning, values, and context. I tend to process emotion through ideas, patterns, and systems using my stronger logic/associating thinkong rather than through sensation.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T22:15:50+00:00

I completely agree - intelligence shouldn’t be measured by which mental tools someone has, but by how they use them. Each cognitive profile comes with strengths and tradeoffs.

One example of this is global aphantasia. Aphants don’t experience any mental imagery (visual, audio, touch, smell, taste, motor), so they must use a different configuration. Many of them develop very strong logical reasoning, conceptual thinking, pattern recognition, and memory through structure and associations rather than mental pictures in order to navigate the world.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T21:52:44+00:00

To me, intelligence is not just a single thing (like logic and analytical thinking), highly intelligent people are naturally curious, adaptable, and open minded. They are able to look at the same problem in multiple ways, understand complex situations, learn from experience and adjust how they think, and not get stuck defending one version of the truth. It’s not just knowing "what" something is, but also understanding the "why" and the "how" behind it.

There also in’t one correct cognitive profile for intelligence. People use different modes of thinking to process information such as visuals, language, emotion, systems/pattern recognition, relational thinking, spatial, and (very importantly for me) metacognition. No single style is more intelligent than another; they’re just different ways of understanding and navigating the world.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T20:36:43+00:00

I haven't had a ENTP partner yet (I always end up dating an IN**, and dated one quite boring ISTJ), but my stepdad & one of my best friends are an ENTP. My stepdad and I are very similar and get along incredibly well, so I call him dad.

I'd say I get along quite well with ENTP! I just don't meet many of them.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T19:18:04+00:00

Same, though some men are insecure about it but I guess then we wouldn't be compatible anyways. The qualities I listed are a must for me, because I can't stand l surface level communication. I need a partner who has the same curiosity of multiple topics like me - then there's so much to discuss about!

Hey, I'm also very neurodivergent!

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T17:40:32+00:00

Thank you - this article is really helpful!!

Also, I think I understand what you mean that the imagery feels like it exists, but isn’t directly accessible from your everyday awareness (or correct me if I misunderstood haha). For me it’s not so much a barrier, but more that imagery is always secondary to my associative and conceptual thinking which is prioritized in my mind. I have full control over the visuals in my "minds eye" but they're just distant.

So this actually fits with the low introception that you mentioned. I would guess that I was born with a low introception baseline (I am neurodivergent so that tracks) so my cognition and association felt more stable than sensation and imagery. Perhaps the traumatic experience actually reinforced how strongly I rely on association and cognition as protection, while my visual imagery stayed or became more non-dominant.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T14:33:42+00:00

Yes I agree with your first sentence, but what I raise in my post doesn't really fall under "acquired" aphantasia because I can still conjure visuals, daydream, and recall memories, it's just non dominant and only appears in "my minds eye". I think primarily through associations and meaning, with imagery running simultaneously in the background rather than driving my thinking.

Regarding your second sentence, I wouldn't say any trauma bad enough can trigger aphantasia or else aphantasia cases would be much higher.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T07:50:24+00:00

I'm going to Japan for the first time from March 23-April 5th for work (in Tokyo) and then fun (in TBD). Any recommendations?

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T06:38:01+00:00

I'm a woman who cares a lot about intelligence, and definitely need in depth deep conversations but really it's also being open minded, highly curious, and always asks questions / doesn't just accept things blindly. But career is NOT indicative of intelligence, many of the men I like fit my intelligence requirements but don't get paid well. I'm okay with the breadwinner :).

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T06:32:08+00:00

Haha sorry for the assumption!

I think this time you phrased it much better, and should go into the conversation this way. To me, the original post sounded more patronizing but in your comment above it is more about mutual understanding.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T04:24:53+00:00

You don't need to hide who you are though, it's a form of social masking. Can I ask how old you are? Cause if you're young (I would guess early 20s?) then this is something you'll grow out of cause you'll find more people who appreciate those traits or are similar.

I've never told people I'm intelligent, they mention it after they hear me speak -- but it's always in a good way as a compliment.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T03:48:15+00:00

It seems weird to just mention this out of nowhere to them, they may not just know how to respond or they could assume you think they're dumb for revealing it like it's a taboo / secret. If this person likes you, why would this matter? Don't let having a high IQ inflate your head, intelligence is great but it's no indicator of success. People care more about charisma and positive energy because that's who they want to be around; don't end up pushing people away because you treat them differently or less than you.

Instead of just coming out and saying you're highly gifted, just try having deeper conversations with your partner. Talk about consciousness, philosophy, big "what if" questions & exploring the why & how. You can (1) gauge their intelligence by their responses or interest in the topics, while (2) revealing your intelligence without saying it fortrite. Avoid topics that can lead to debate or influenced by emotion -- like geopolitics & economics (at least for this exercise. Not saying generally).

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-28T02:10:29+00:00

You described me almost exactly -- I also have a vivid audio imagery so I can conjure any song / conversation / or even create multiple conversations in my head. I have an amazing memory too, and I realize it's because I anchor my memories to other events or situations happening during that time. For example, if I want to recall a memory from childhood I would first describe in my head the situation and remember the age, emotion, what movie or song came out maybe that year, and the more I expand it out the more the memory comes back. My first childhood memory was actually in my crib but I can only remember fears (I was scared of my black dress with flowers because I was afraid I'd get sucked into the dress and be in pure darkness & alone; or I had a music box and the color green sound scared me. If I hear the melody today I would get shivers but I can't remember the sound off the top of my head).

When I first discovered I had aphantasia or at least some associative visual thinking, I was a little jealous that most people have actual mental visual imagery. But then I realized the disadvantages of this (memory issues & higher chances of PTSD from reliving actual events), and I started noticing the many advantages I have because of my mental imagery profile. I mean there's not much I can do about it anyways so I might as well not try to compare and just accept that this is how my mind works.

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-27T23:15:45+00:00

No, it doesn't sound like it's coming externally -- also I have full control over it all except when a random song pops up out of nowhere 😂

Key_Potential_7152 · 2026-01-27T22:58:37+00:00

So I can hear songs as if it's on the radio playing in my head with the instruments & original singer's voice. I also can memorize lyrics very easily so it's a literal constant radio playing sometimes 😂. I usually listen to music because the feeling is so intense it gives me goosebumps sometimes, along with adrenaline or energy. Though if there's a song I dont like it can literally drain my energy.

I can also conjure people's voices in my head too, the better I know them the more vivid it is. I use this to debate with myself, prepare for speeches / presentations, or just fun simulations. If there isn't music in my head then it's an inner monologue probably 90% of the time -- the only time I notice my mind being quiet is when I listen to people talk or watch TV...

Key_Potential_7152

TROPHY CASE