A 31-year-old software engineer at Microsoft was diagnosed with autism and ADHD after experiencing difficulty with noise sensitivity, social interactions, and emotional overwhelm. Initially unaware of her conditions, she had already worked as a lead software engineer before joining Microsoft. After a year, she sought a diagnosis, realizing her experiences aligned with autism and ADHD. The diagnoses provided clarity about her previous struggles with overstimulation in the office, including headaches from lighting and difficulty concentrating due to noise, ultimately helping her to better understand her needs in the workplace.
When I first started working at Microsoft as a software engineer in 2022, I didn't know I was autistic or that I had ADHD. I just knew that I reacted to things differently.
I was especially sensitive to noise. It was hard to sit still in meetings without fidgeting, and the office lights felt overstimulating.
In January, I was diagnosed with autism at 30. A month later, I also received an ADHD diagnosis. It helped me understand myself better.
I'd get headaches from fluorescent office lighting. Background noise made it difficult to focus during meetings.
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