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The AU+DHD Dictionary

A neuro-affirming dictionary of terms that honors how the ADHD and autistic minds operate based on the inside out explanations.

FRAMEWORKS

Tahirat Nasiru

6/2/20261 min read

Understanding the difference between 'Neurotype' vs. 'Mental Disorder'

Most clinical terms (e.g., "emotional dysregulation," "attention deficit," "hyperactivity disorder") assume a single "normal" baseline — usually the neurotypical (NT) one. When an ADHD or autistic brain differs from that baseline, psychiatry calls it a disorder or dysfunction.

This dictionary rejects that assumption.

We start from three principles:

Different neurotypes have different operating systems. A fish does not have a "breathing disorder" because it cannot breathe air. It has gills. Similarly, ADHD/autistic brains have different emotional, attentional, and sensory systems — not broken versions of NT systems.
The same behavior can be neutral or problematic depending on context and harm. Crying easily (flood-style emotion) is not a disorder. Throwing a phone and breaking it during a flood is a problem — not because the intensity is wrong, but because it caused harm.
Language should describe, not pathologize. Instead of "emotional dysregulation" (which implies a broken tap), we use "emotional flooding" (describes a different system) and "flood dyscontrol" (describes when that system causes harm).

How to read this dictionary

Neutral neurotype terms describe what is (e.g., Time Blindness, Emotional Flooding, Sensory Seeking). These are not disorders — they are features of the ADHD/autistic operating system.
Clinical problem terms describe when harm occurs (e.g., Flood Dyscontrol, Burnout, RSD episodes causing relationship damage). These are the actual targets for treatment or accommodation.
Bridging terms (e.g., Executive Dysfunction) are kept for community familiarity, with notes clarifying the neuro-affirming reframe where possible.

Summary Table: Neurotype vs. Disorder in This Dictionary

ExperienceNeurotype term (neutral)Clinical problem term (when harm occurs)Intense emotionsEmotional Flooding (#11)Emotional Flood Dyscontrol (#12)Sensitivity to rejectionRSD as trait (#4)RSD causing relationship damageSensory differencesSensory Seeking (#10) / Sensory Overload (#9)Overstimulation Crash (#16)Attention differencesHyperfocus (#6) / Time Blindness (#2)Paralysis causing missed work/life obligationsSocial effortMasking (#8)Burnout (#8)

ADHD

Autism

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