Overwhelm

Health Story

This self portrait is a focus on how I present as opposed to how I feel inside. I'm autistic with ADHD and on the surface appear to be cool, calm, collected. However, appearances can be deceptive, and behind the face, the brain is always busy. When I'm overwhelmed, instead of outwardly reacting, I tend to withdraw from society and shut down. The sparks above my self portrait portray this. Painting and drawing is something I've always done. It's a way of expressing myself when I can't do it through words. It's a huge part of keeping me mentally healthy. It's time out from the world as everything else just melts away, and doesn't matter in that moment. I attend an art group for neurodivergent adults once a week, and this has become an outlet that keeps me thinking, drawing and painting as a form of therapy. It's something I'd recommend to anyone. There's no right or wrong way for art, as it's a very personal thing, and you don't have to be amazingly talented to produce something. It's just something you can enjoy and a way to express yourself.