Dr Vicky Lewis Clinical Psychology and Counselling Services

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Dr Vicky Lewis Clinical Psychology and Counselling Services

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Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor and Systemic Practitioner in Solihull
20 years' of experience
Works with children, adults and families
Passionate about working in a neuro affirming way
www.drvickylewis.co.uk
Registered and Chartered

10/03/2026

Things that could be signs of AuDHD:

Craving routine but getting bored easily

Loving deep focus but burning out fast

Needing quiet time but feeling restless inside

Wanting structure but struggling to stick to it

Being sensitive to noise, labels and tone of voice

Clinically, many people meet the criteria for both Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (official diagnostic terminology).

Research now shows this co-occurrence is common, not rare, some researchers found the co-occurence to be 80%.

This is not widely known and can often leave people confused following assessment if a single diagnosis does not seem to fit for them based on their own experiences.

For more information about AuDHD see https://www.drvickylewis.co.uk/neurodivergence/

05/03/2026

No! Everyone is not a little bit ADHD/Autistic.

Terms like this may trivialise the experience for autistics and ADHDers.

Language shapes how we see people. It shapes how people respond, how systems are built and how people see themselves.

When language refers to disorders, deficits or "fixing", it can result in shame and misunderstanding.

We need to move towards increasing compassion, safety and understanding.

Autism is widely recognised as a lifelong, neurodevelopmental difference meaning that it is a permanent difference in how the brain works, affecting communication, social interaction, executive function and sensory experiences.

It is not helpful to refer to Autism or ADHD as a ‘disorder’ or a ‘disability’ and the use of neuro affirming language is really important.

Many autistics see autism as part of who they are, rather than something separate, and prefer to be described as autistic.

Similarly, many individuals with ADHD may prefer to be described as ADHDers.

When terms like "isn't everyone a little bit ADHD/Autistic" are used - it dismisses the reality of what it can really be like and the challenges individual's experience and face.

03/03/2026

Decision paralysis is a form of cognitive overload that can result in anxiety, avoidance of tasks and even burnout.

It might look like:

Analysis Paralysis: Getting stuck in a loop of overanalysing, often triggered by having too many choices.

Task Paralysis: The inability to start a task due to fear of failure, perfectionism, or not knowing where to begin.

Emotional Component: anxiety and stress.

What might help:

Limit Options: Reduce choices to the absolute minimum to avoid overwhelming the brain.

Set Decision Filters: Focus on the top 2-3 most important factors (e.g., budget, time) to narrow down choices quickly.

Embrace Imperfectionism: Accept that a "good enough" decision made now is better than a perfect decision that is never made.

Set Deadlines: Use the "24-hour rule" to prevent impulsive, over-thought decisions, or set smaller, urgent deadlines for minor tasks.

Reduce Stimulation: Quiet the environment, as sensory overload can exacerbate the inability to focus on choices.

Decision paralysis can be common in Autistics and ADHDers and last for minutes, hours, or, in extreme cases, evenlonger.

By recognising it as a symptom of executive dysfunction rather than a personality flaw, it might make it feel a bit easier to implement strategies.

26/02/2026

If you constantly over-explain yourself, you're not alone.

Over - explaining means giving more information than most people usually expect during a conversation.

Potential reasons for over-explaining include detail-focused thinking, social cues not being clear, a need for transparency, and adherence to honesty and rules.

What underlies over - explaining is often a need for safety, clarity and to feel understood.

Over explaining might look like:

Providing lots of context, detail or justifications
Over apologising for needs and preferences
Clarifying and re-clarifying
Anticipating potential criticism and working hard to pre-empt this
Replaying conversations in your head later and ruminating about what you could have said or done differently.

If you are autistic and find yourself over - explaining or see this in someone you care about, it might be helpful to know that:

Monotropism & High-Detail Focus: Autistic brains often process information by focusing on minute details and building up to the big picture. This analytical, bottom-up processing means every detail feels necessary for accuracy.

The Double Empathy Problem: Difficulties in communication are mutual. Over-explaining may be an attempt to bridge the gap when non-verbal or implicit communication cues may not be clear.

Safety & Reducing Misunderstanding: Due to a lifetime of being misunderstood or feeling criticised for being e.g. "too blunt or direct" over - explaining could be a way of trying to ensure intentions are clear and to avoid potential conflict.

Trauma Response (Fawning): Over-explaining can be a "fawn" response—an attempt to appease others and avoid rejection.

Masking/Conformity: It can be a way to try to "manage" the perceptions of others, attempting to make communication come across in a way that's different to what might feel natural.

Instead of aiming for "normal" communication, the goal is mutual understanding and creating a space where people do not feel forced to mask or apologise for a natural way of processing information.

24/02/2026

More than 1.25 million people in the UK struggle with eating conditions, many in secret.

They are of all ages, genders and backgrounds.

We truly empathise with anyone going through this.

This eating disorders awareness week, we would like to take the opportunity to raise awareness about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) which can be common in individuals who are Neurodivergent.

Individuals with ARFID limit the volume and/or variety of foods they consume, but unlike the other eating disorders, food avoidance or restriction is not related to fears of fatness or distress about body shape, size or weight.

Instead, in ARFID, selective eating is motivated by a lack of interest in eating or food, sensory sensitivity (e.g., strong reactions to taste, texture, smell of foods), and/or a fear of aversive consequences (e.g., of choking or vomiting).

Though ARFID most commonly develops during infancy or early childhood, it can persist into adulthood or develop at any age.

Although many children go through phases of picky or selective eating, an individual with ARFID has a diet that is so limited that it can lead to medical, nutritional, and/or psychosocial difficulties.

This may mean weight loss, stalled growth, significant nutritional deficiencies and a significant impact on mental health, relationships, social life, school and work.

19/02/2026

ADHD inertia—often referred to as task paralysis—is a neurobiological, non-lazy state where an individual struggles to start, stop, or switch tasks, feeling stuck and overwhelmed.

A neuro-affirming approach understands this not as a deficit or character flaw, but as a result of dopamine regulation issues and executive dysfunction.

It involves validating this experience and using strategies that work with the brain rather than fighting it.

Task paralysis might look like:

The "Stuck" Feeling: ADHD inertia can be a painful inability to move from one state to another (e.g., getting out of bed, stopping a hyperfocus activity to start work).

Not Laziness: It is a physiological and psychological barrier, where the brain’s "initiation network" is experiencing a glitch.

Dopamine Impact: Because ADHD brains have lower dopamine levels, they often struggle to initiate tasks that don't offer immediate rewards.

Autistic Overlap: Often linked with "autistic inertia" or monotropism (a deep, narrow focus), making it hard to shift attention.

Strategies that might help:

Reduce Friction: Make the start of a task as effortless as possible (e.g. set out materials the night before).

The "Smallest Possible Step": Break tasks into tiny, manageable actions, such as "opening the document" rather than "writing the report".

Body Doubling: Work alongside someone else to help initiate and maintain focus.

Dopamine Menu: Create a list of activities that spark joy or satisfaction to boost motivation before starting a harder task.

Time-Boxing (10-3 Rule): Work for a very short period, such as 10 minutes, followed by a 3-minute break to make initiation less daunting.

Self-Compassion: Acknowledge that this is a neurological challenge and not a personal failure.

For more information about Neurodivergence see https://www.drvickylewis.co.uk/neurodivergence/

17/02/2026

Autistic inertia is a profound difficulty starting, stopping, or switching tasks due to nervous system regulation issues and executive dysfunction.

It is a natural, involuntary "stuck" state and nothing to do with laziness.

Neuroaffirming support involves working with this momentum—using body doubling (working alongside someone else), reducing demands, visual aids, and respecting "flow states"—rather than fighting it.

Autistic Inertia might look like:

Difficulty Starting: Trouble initiating tasks even when motivated, often feeling "frozen".

Difficulty Stopping: Becoming hyperfocused and unable to shift away, losing track of time.

Monotropism: Rooted in a tendency to focus intensely on one thing, making shifts require significant energy.

Executive Dysfunction: Challenges in planning, organising, or breaking down steps.

Strategies that might help:

Break Down Tasks: Divide large, overwhelming tasks into tiny, manageable steps.

Use Visuals & Prompts: Use visual schedules, checklists, and alarms to signal transitions.

Build in Buffers: Allow 2–10 minutes for transition time between tasks, rather than jumping instantly from one thing to another.

Utilise "Bridge Tasks": Create a small, intermediate activity that helps transition from one major activity to the next.

Leverage Hyperfocus: If possible, link new tasks to current, intense interests to make starting easier.

For more information about Neurodivergence see https://www.drvickylewis.co.uk/neurodivergence/

12/02/2026

Justice Sensitivity

Justice sensitivity is the tendency of an individual to perceive and react strongly to situations they consider unjust or unfair and it becomes difficult to let go of.

It reflects how frequently a person notices injustice and the intensity of their emotional, cognitive, and behavioural responses.

Justice sensitivity can be common in autistics and ADHDers due to being attuned to issues of fairness. It can result in heightened emotional reactions, such as anger, frustration, or anxiety, in relation to situations when there has been unfair treatment.

It can be experienced as a physical, visceral reaction to a situation that seems unfair even when there is no direct involvement in what's happened.

People who are justice sensitive tend to notice injustice more often than others, they tend to ruminate longer and more intensely on that injustice, and they feel a stronger need to restore justice.

Research studies have found that ADHDers (particularly the inattentive type) are much more likely to be justice-sensitive. In fact, researchers found that ADHDers feel such a strong need to restore justice that they may get involved and take action even when there is a risk of creating problems for themselves.

While justice sensitivity can lead to conflict, it also provides a foundation for leadership, advocacy, and creating change.

For more information about neurodivergence see https://www.drvickylewis.co.uk/neurodivergence/

11/02/2026

Remind yourself....

Feelings are like waves

Breathe out for longer than when you take breath in

There will be light at the end of the tunnel

Relieve as much pressure as you can

Choose comfort over productivity

Remind yourself you've got through difficult times before

Be gentle and kind with yourself

This will pass

❤️
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Address

Solihull
B939

Telephone

+447796801642

Website

http://www.drvickylewis.co.uk/

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