What it feels like when people don’t understand your disabilities + ADHD

Only recently did I realize the difference between explaining yourself, and expressing yourself. I used to try to explain the things I was going through to people. It’s not very helpful. People don’t really understand. They’re coming from their own mindset of how they would act or feel, based on their own life experiences.

However, when I started expressed my feelings and really sharing my experience with people, it seemed to click a bit more. That’s because everyone can relate to feelings, even if the circumstances that bring those feelings on are different.

It can be really hard and aggravating though, when you try expressing how you feel to someone to the best of your ability, and they still don’t understand, or choose not to understand.

I’ve never drawn cartoon characters before, so the other day I decided to try. What I ended up drawing in slide 1 & 2 is how it feels when someone doesn’t understand my disabilities. After trying to communicate my feelings several times, in multiple ways, confusion and sadness overtake my influx of thoughts. My energy starts to diminish as depression sets in. I start to feel utterly drained and disappointed in myself, feeling like I must not have communicated well enough if they are still not understanding me.

In slide 3 & 4, I show how ADHD can feel. The swirls in the eyes are bigger than the first character, depicting more going on in my head, a heavier influx of thoughts, and being overwhelmed.

Having had a stroke, the communication center in my brain can get a bit jumbled up at times. I find it much easier to communicate intense feelings through writing and art, because I have time to think about what I’m trying to say and edit it so it conveys the emotion I’m feeling properly. When talking while I’m emotional, sometimes what I’m feeling does not come out the right way. My thoughts are sometimes faster than my mouth can keep up with. I’ll jump from thought to thought and what I say is not as clear as I intend it to be.

The 2nd & 4th slides are how it feels, but with me presenting slightly more put together with makeup on. I wear makeup for myself, but sometimes I do use it as mask.