POTENTIALLY DUMB QUESTION ALERT, but I'm here for a reason.
I have SEVERE ADHD which a lot of the time feels like I'm bordering on autism when it comes to specific interactions. I've developed a habit of just, throwing out the phrase "oh, I'm just hella autistic" as a reason if I do something weird in a social interaction, like get overly passionate about something or get awkward or whatever.
I've never been formally diagnosed with autism, but I've had therapists suggest I may be autistic. Idk why I keep fucking saying that I'm "autistic" I feel like it's just easier to both say and explain as opposed to "oh I'm neurodivergent" or "Oh im just mentally ill :3" Its also cus I assume most people know what Autism looks like and thus I dont have to explain as much, as most people dont know what severe ADHD looks like and I assume most dont even take ADHD that seriously.
Is that something to just throw around like that?? 'Cause I have friends who actually are autistic, and after hyperfixating on all kinds of mental health research, I don't exactly fit the bar for autism, I'm wayyyyy too outgoing and sociable(?) among other things. My symptoms fit more under severe ADHD or potentially even AuADHD. Which I also have no idea how I can go about getting a diagnosis.
Claiming to have a mental health condition to explain another health condition in order to be taken seriously seems bad form to me. If autism actually explains remarkable traits or deficits or challenges that are lifelong and consistent that ADHD doesn't, then go for it. Otherwise the onus is on you to express your needs vis-a-vis support and challenges and perhaps enlighten people with the knowledge what ADHD is and how it impacts people. We don't need to further muddy the waters with bad information around these conditions.