A lot of these psych conditions spring from the same cesspool: marginalization, oppression, gaslighting, etc. But that isn't the whole story because there is that element of mood dysregulation with ADHD and autism. I've struggled with eating problems my whole life. As a chubby child, I was blamed and in my family (all thin) I was mocked and teased. Now with low thyroid (dx'd late 30s), I'm aware I've always had a medical condition: a biochemical imbalance that meant that even though I was eating the same foods as my family, I alone got fat. As a result (putting aside my neurodivergence) my self-esteem went into the toilet. Imagine you are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a child, blamed for it, and not given the tools you need to manage it? It would kill you. But, what I had wasn't deadly--it just wrecked my self-esteem and led, inexorably to anxiety and depression as a child, teen, and adult. Those two conditions led to decades of trying to "fix" myself with no good input from psych professionals because I'm "gifted" and female--so basically, neurotic in their eyes. That led to spending $, but never making much money. Years of not being believed and trying to diet to (still) maintain a reasonable weight led to feeling even more marginalized. Like you, I'm much better off than a lot of neurodivergent people, depressed and anxious people, and people with eating disorders. What protected me? Growing up in an upper-middle-class family where even though I was teased, my family were mostly nice, responsible people. There was plenty of money (and I think this is, by far, the biggest protector for neurodivergent people). I also got lucky when I married one of the rare neurodivergent men who can make a living. Yet, I am still searching for a way to feel good every day and like myself, as I was unable to capitalize on my upbringing and high IQ. I work part-time, and after all those years of searching desperately for what was "wrong," I finally realized much of it was the exhaustion of constantly swimming upstream with no clear direction. I realized that because knowing I am AuDHD is such a huge relief. I've never been good at managing multiple problems, but I have multiple problems I have to manage. And round and round the carousel goes.