Calamity Brains
Funny stuff that's no joke.
Supporting neurodivergents with humor, resources,
and community.
Calamity Brains
Funny stuff that's no joke.
Supporting neurodivergents with HUMOR,
resources, and community.
Fun is no joke.
Stitch: I’ve always carried a lot of guilt around not finding “fun” things fun. This is because “fun” things usually are a sensory nightmare for me. Case in point: the Amusement Park. The name itself is so presumptuous. It’s basically saying “this is fun and amusing, no room for argument.” But, for me, places like this are not fun. There are crowds with their accompanying energy, lots of chaotic noises, bright lights, rides doing all kinds of chaotic things like spinning or shaking or going faster than humans should. On top of all that, there’s usually screaming. Oh, and people eating in public, which I don’t love. I just hate amusement parks. When I was young I felt unusual and strange for feeling this. Now I know that it makes perfect sense that I wouldn't like being in this atmosphere. My personal version of an amusement park is this: a very quiet field where I can sit and watch butterflies and birds and watch the leaves quietly blow in the trees. Boom.
Sparkler: Somehow crowds don’t feel safe to me. As a child I was always sure I would get lost, and then as a parent I was afraid of misplacing my children. It’s too much. And then to top it all off people are being so peoplish. Yelling, running, pushing, drinking, eating, messing. Damn, y’all just need to go home.
Check out a fellow neurodivergent, The Vibe with Ky.
Work: the Third Circle of Neurodivergent Hell.
Stitch: Work has been a similar struggle to school. Being on someone else’s schedule, “rules” that make no sense, tasks that are rote and boring, social difficulties, being overstimulated and understimulated in all the wrong ways….it’s a difficult, frustrating environment. For me, the saving grace is working hard to find connection with my co-workers. So it’s vital that I work in an organization that embraces humor and understands the absurdity of the whole system. Those places can be hard to find, but they DO exist. I’m willing to make less money if I can be in that sort of environment. It’s essential, actually, or I melt down and burn out horrifically. I don’t want to be a bummer, but ultimately I’ve had to accept that I’ll never be completely comfortable in the workplace. Oddly, that gives me space - mentally - to cope.
Sparkler: Being neurodivergent and trying to work in a neurotypical, capitalistic environment is the very meaning of Hell. Juggling schedules, tasks, deadlines, relationships, HOLY SHIT!! Whose idea was this anyway, SATAN’S?? I’ve found the best I can do is find the other ND people and form mutual aid friendships, ASAP!
We found this EXCELLENT article by Devon Price, author of Unmasking Autism, about coping at work!
We’d love to hear in the comments how you cope at work, what’s the craziest thing to happen to you or what would be the best career for your neurodivergence?
To Hell and Back.
Stitch said she hides in the bathroom at parties. I tend to stand in the corner and avoid people.
It can be too much on our social batteries, and who the hell can stand the SMALL TALK?
If you are ND and having a party with your ND friends, consider a defined time limit, a quiet room for people to recharge or a table in the corner with a puzzle for people to decompress, a wide variety of foods for those with taste or texture issues, and turn off the big light!
Any other suggestions?
How many circles again?
Sparkler: The world is NOT made for neurodivergents and it can be a struggle sometimes, kind of like the Circles of Hell. We couldn’t remember how many circles there were. Seven? Eight? Eighty? To be honest it was kind of hard to cut it down to only nine circles for NDs.
Stitch: We came up with the idea for this cartoon based on several conversations we had about the most horrific environments for ADHDers and Autistic people. These are environments that, for me, bring me face to face with the things that dysregulate me the most….airports (too much commotion, uncertainty, bright light, noise, people, energy, etc, etc), doctor’s office (uncertainty, waiting with no clear idea of how long, bright lights, being unclothed, dealing with new people), grocery stores, work, and on and on. It feels like punishment AND, most times, these are places you HAVE to inhabit and suffer in. When I’m forced into these environments, I daydream about living in a primitive society or being a hermit in the woods. DMV!!! That’s one of them and the WORST for me!!
If you want to spend some time with grisly art, check out Gustav Dore’s illustrations of Dante’s Inferno. He’s got all manner of crazy shit going on, but the art is amazing, and no matter how fucked up your day is at least you aren't morphing into a bird.
This is one of Sparkler's favorite songs for the hell days and when everything feels angry. Maybe allow yourself to have the feelings and then do something kind for yourself.
Day Old Coffee by Laura Jane Grace
What are your Circles of Hell and do you have a way to cope?
I need more duct tape.
Sparkler: This cartoon was really enjoyable to paint, and when I came up with the idea of sticking real tape and a bandaid onto the actual painting, I thought it was one of the funnest ever. It felt like an apology to every electronic item I have screwed up over the years by losing the battery cover, leaving it vulnerable to breakage and rust. Just think of all those Walkmans and flashlights!
Stitch: Yep. For me, this would be the mountain of abandoned planners and calendars. How many planners did I try hoping to out ADHD the ADHD. Damn.
One of our favorite YouTubers, Mercury Stardust, has tons of tips on fixing things, and here is a fun ADHD short. 🌪️🧠❤️
T-shirts or bibs?
Sparkler: I meant to draw this so it looks like we’re modeling, but it kinda looks like we gotta go pee. Oh well, sometimes you just “go with the flow like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream.” –John Candy. While Stitch likes a variety of graphic T’s and hats, I ALWAYS wear overalls. Yes, even to the pesky day job (those bibs that AREN’T covered in paint). Each pocket has a special assignment so that I always have pens, field notes, phone, airpods, lip balm, lens cleaner, a pocket knife, reading glasses, matches (you never know when you might need to crime), business card ‘zines for Calamity Brains, and various charms for good health and luck that people have given to me. It’s a real feeling of comfort, kind of like if I were traveling in a motorhome and no matter where I stopped I’d have all of the necessities. And you never know when you may come across a hammer for your loop or need a pocket big enough to hold a water bottle. Bonus, I am often dressed like a five-year-old boy.
When we see other people in overalls there is a kind of communal nod given, along with, “Like your bibs.” It’s almost like a secret society. One time I had on my most patched and tattered pair at the grocery store when a woman came up behind me and said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, but you’re going to give me those overalls.” We laughed and she was all smiles and joy and said she was going to go home and dig out her overalls and start wearing them again.💙
Stitch: I like to be cozy! I have since I was a kid. I always have a favorite, comforting sweatshirt or tshirt that fits just right and is just the right texture, and I LOVE wearing those things. So I pick most of my clothing based on comfort. I also, however, absolutely get bored wearing the same thing all the time, so I have to switch it up. Here’s a fun fact….many autistic people feel empathy for objects. I feel empathy for my graphic Ts that haven’t been worn enough…like I LITERALLY feel sorry for them. So my tshirts are kept in a stack and I try to take one from the bottom of the rotation so it knows it’s still on the team!
Here is a link to Sparkler’s FAVORITE overalls, made by Key (NOT a paid endorsement, they're just my faves.) There’s this incredible SECRET POCKET in the bibs where I keep my tiny spell jar. I’m not kidding. ✨🫙
Life in the not-fast lane.
Sparkler: I hate heights, but I do like to go fast. Yes, driving a Maserati stick shift too fast by the clock repair shop and the gas station sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon. But alas, I have no Maserati, or “life-car” as this allegory goes. The potential of a life full of fast cars is limited for me because, 1) being late-diagnosed ADHD I didn’t even realize I NEEDED a life-car, and 2) time blindness means I thought about a life-car two years ago and then forgot. So I’ll hang out here with Stitch, making cartoons about not having keys to my fuckin’ life-car and only some of you will understand. (I hope you get your life-car.) ❤️🩹
Stitch: This cartoon came from a conversation we had where I was talking about having been deemed “smart” or “gifted” as a kid, but struggled mightily in school to do well consistently. We talked about having talents and gifts, but feeling like you can’t get off the ground professionally. Being a neurodivergent person can make you feel like you own a Maserati, but the starter doesn’t work.
Here are some ideas that might be helpful for your life-car. We have found that some of these are helpful sometimes but not all the time.
What system or idea have you found that helps you??
Trust your gut.
Stitch: This cartoon was the result of a major wardrobe malfunction on my part. I HATE bras, so I’ve been going the bralette route and I bought a new bra in the size it indicated I needed, which was a Medium. The bra looked TINY, but I figured, hey, it’s probably super stretchy. It seemed super stretchy. Before I cut the tags and put the thing on, I again thought, “Jeez this looks like a medium for a nine year old,” but continued on into the breach because, as Sparkler has experienced, I’ve had a lifetime of being told I don’t know my own mind and am probably wrong. Man, the moment I got one arm in that thing I knew I was in trouble. It was so small, I actually got STUCK in it!! I HATE tight things, tight clothes are a sensory nightmare for me. You know what bra isn’t too small or uncomfortable? No bra, that’s what.
Sparkler: I forget to trust my own judgement because I spent a hell of a lot of my young life being told I was doing everything wrong by EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING, from family, school, friends, to the patriarchy and capitalism. Sometimes we just need to step back and check in on that gut feeling. Like anything, this can take practice. And it’s ok to mess up sometimes. And sometimes, if you get really stuck, you just have to find the scissors.
Monday Morning Misery
Just because it's Candyland,
doesn't mean it's sweet.
Stitch: One of the worst aspects of work, for me, can be the social aspect. By that, I mean those non-mandatory, but actually mandatory work related social events. First of all, do I have to go? If I don’t go, does that count against me? Also, the blurry gray area of “is this work or fun? Do I act serious, like it’s work, or fun, like it’s social? If there’s alcohol served am I supposed to turn it down? Is it bad to turn it down if the boss drinks?? Also, should I get tipsy. If I get tipsy will that look bad?” This doesn’t even get into talking with the boss or, god forbid, the boss’s spouse and knowing whether I said something awkward or bad. It’s a real minefield. That’s why we talked about the Candyland board game idea. It seems that most people understand the unstated social rules and nuances to these events, but for me they were always an anxiety provoking horror of uncertainty and unknowing. As a wise sage once said, “Nothing good can come from an office Christmas party.” So true.
Sparkler: It’s been a long time since I’ve had to attend a work party, but I’m pretty sure I’d hate it. And yes, I’m pretty fuckin’ proud of this Candyland cartoon. This game has some of the creepiest characters intended for children. When I was little I always worried that Queen Frosteene looked so young and King Kandy looked so OLD. On the positive side, the children on the Candyland board are wearing OVERALLS.
That is all.
Sleep is really hard work.
Sparkler: Toss, turn, toss, turn, rinse, repeat. It’s very common for NDs to have difficulty with sleep. Up to 50-80% of us have some type of sleep issue. I will say that for me, sleep story podcasts, vitamin supplements, and a weighted blanket have all helped. But some nights just fucking suck when it comes to getting any good rest. I’ve learned to be a little more diligent with self-care when I’m extremely tired, taking extra breaks, eating better, rest when I can, complain to a friend, you get the idea. What have you found that helps you sleep?
Stitch: My earliest memories are of driving my mom crazy because I couldn’t sleep. It's a real challenge. I feel my best rested and everything about me works better when I’ve slept and, many nights, that can’t happen for me. No matter what. It’s a thing. I have some routines to help me cope, but it’s a work in progress. I’m getting better about sticking to a sleep routine, but sometimes I do everything right and I still cannot sleep. I’m not sure why neurodivergent people struggle with this, but it’s a major component for most of us. If you’re up some night at 3 a.m., just know there’s a good chance I am too!!
Try Sparkler's latest favorite sleep podcast, Boring Books For Bedtime.
Monday Morning Misery
I'm not laughing.
Stitch: Work meetings are extremely hard for me. No one likes them, in my experience, but for someone who is an ADHDer or Autistic, the unspoken social rules around work meetings can be frustrating and confusing. I’ve noticed there’s a tendency for people to make very mundane jokes that are not all that amusing, yet there seems to be agreement that everyone should laugh. I’ve come to understand that most neurotypical people use insincere laughter to signal friendliness and to be polite. I’m really not capable of that and I find it confusing. Often, I’ll be the only one NOT laughing politely, but then laughing uproariously at something no one else finds remotely funny (except maybe Sparkler). That can be awkward. Also, the mundane jokes extend the meeting time, which I find extremely uncomfortable and frustrating as I ONLY want business that’s on the agenda, but that’s another cartoon for another Monday.
Sparkler: Insincere laughter is a waste of time and energy, and I can spot it a mile away. Most ADHD and/or autistic people are REALLY funny to others with the same conditions. I’ll laugh all day at one of my ND kids or friends, but put me in a room with neurotypicals fake laughing, and I’m ready to go screaming down the road. We neurodivergents have an ability to spot and appreciate each other that is very valuable to me.
Tell us about your pet peeve at work and if you found a way to deal with it!
Wishing a fun and meaningful Juneteenth
to all who celebrate!! 🖤🤎
OH, NOOO!
Stitch: Eye contact can feel different for neurodivergent people. It can feel uncomfortably invasive, intimate, or even physically painful. If this isn’t the case for you and you have trouble imagining what that’s like, imagine unexpectedly seeing the butt crack of someone you don’t know (for instance, someone doing repairs at your house). What do you do in that moment? You probably look away! This is the best description I can give for what eye contact feels like for me. For some, the issue is also an excess of sensory information and looking away gives the neurodivergent person better ability to process what’s being said. If I’m looking at you, I’m half listening. If I look away, I’m REALLY listening to you!
Sparkler: I, personally, cannot equate eyes and butt cracks. We learned this about each other when I realized Stitch didn’t know the color of ANYONE’S eyes except her immediate family. Since I’m an artist and draw eyes they kind of fascinate me. But I can agree that excessive eye contact is unsettling! It makes me feel like I should be performing somehow. 🤹♂️🎤🎭🎬
Hey, we'd appreciate you sharing our website so that more neurodivergents can find us! Thanks!
What's eye contact life for YOU?
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“You gotta yard full of rainbows.”
Sparkler: This is what our neighbor said to my husband today. He responded, “Yeah, someone stole her Pride flag and that really pissed her off.” As a neurodivergent I have a strong sense of social justice and a modest budget for Pride sales. As my son said, “Don’t fuck with Sparkler’s rainbow shit. You think you’ve seen rainbow shit? Buckle up, buttercup.”
BONUS: Neurodivergent people are more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+, and we just want to make it clear,
Stitch and I ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜 you.
Stitch: I love this. Neurodivergent people also, in my experience and from what I know, tend to have an approach to gender norms that diverges from most neurotypicals. Possibly because of our “bottom up” thinking style, or maybe just because we’re cooler :) And, yeah, don’t mess with Sparkler’s rainbow shit. For sure.
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It's like Ping Pong only better.
Sparkler: (Yes, I know I mispelled "vinegar" in this cartoon. Sorry about that but because this was created with pen and watercolor, there's just no easy way to fix it!)
This is why neurodivergents need each other.
Me, on the phone while running errands: Let me call you back, (husband) is trying to call me.
Stitch: OK, I’ll talk to you later.
(Later)
Me: He just wanted to know if I still wanted my shoe in the oven
Stitch: Sole food!
Me: This is what I like about our friendship, instead of asking why the fuck do you have a shoe in the oven, you just start to riff on it.
Stitch: I figured you had a good reason.
I often feel an ND conversation is like ping-pong. You never know where it’s going to bounce, you might have fun, make a new friend, you might get hurt, or you may just want to take your ball and go home. It’s all good. Just stay in the game.
Stitch: Conversation between two neurodivergents can be different! I often start to talk about the most seemingly random stuff and bounce from topic to topic. The randomness comes from me being in my head, thinking deeply, then suddenly deciding to bring you into the show, but without giving any context. Thus, I might just ask if you like rice, seemingly out of the blue. Then, within seconds, the rice conversation may shift to how ancient rain actually is, when you think about it. Most neurodivergent people can vibe with this, for some neurotypical people, it may cause them to think we’re “weird.” Yes, it’s happened to me. Often!
Please like and share, help other NDs find us. Tell us about your ND conversations.
We found a great discussion about neurodivergent communication in the Reddit group Autism in Women:
Monday Morning Misery
The dream job.
Stitch: Ads for jobs ALWAYS say things like this….”Fast paced, dynamic workplace. Looking for people who have the ability to pivot and work in a team environment.” Being a person who takes things literally, I’d think: “Well that leaves me out…guess I can’t apply.” I learned recently that you’re not supposed to take ANY of THAT literally OMG! In my head I was always like why aren’t there any jobs asking for “ponderous, slow-paced, deep thinking individual who goes off on seemingly unrelated tangents?”
Understanding the unspoken assumptions that govern the workplace, starting with the want ad itself, is an area I wish I’d had more help with growing up. I’m not sure why employers feel the need to put that sort of unrealistic and untrue nonsense in their employment ads, but it IS nonsense and mostly inaccurate.
Sparkler: NDs are often under or unemployed because our energy and intelligence are untapped resources of brilliant creativity, but the capitalist system is set up for neurotypical patriarchy.
🌸🌻💐🌼🌹🌺🌷💐
I thought you meant the other things.
Stitch: I tend to take things literally, like many autistic people. So when, for instance, I get asked “Is there anything I can help you with” in the plant store, I interpret the anything as ANYTHING and am tempted to tell the salesperson ALL the things I need help with. Like….I’m feeling pretty down today, I have anxiety about my dog’s ear infection, etc, etc. Being as old and experienced as I am, I know the answer needs to be kept to things “plant related.” The corrective thought process happens so quickly at this point, I barely notice it. But it’s there! This is a fairly extreme example, but literal thinking is something I have to track so that I don’t appear foolish or strange. This process is part of masking. Masking is the act of adjusting your behavior and preferences to align with the “norm.” Not everyone is capable of masking. For those that can, the process takes a mental and emotional toll and can lead to burnout in some cases.
Sparkler: I usually don’t have such literal thinking in these instances, I’m just really fuckin’ proud of how I drew that shopping basket.
Monday Morning Misery
Career? What career?
Stitch: This is a biggie. This cartoon was born out of a conversation (or two) that we had about time blindness and not thriving in school and work environments. As for the time blindness, I literally COULD forget to find a career. I am very detail oriented. It’s not that I’m incapable of seeing the big picture, but I live life in the details, so to speak. Waking up one day and realizing I forgot to forge a career path because I was busy going to my job that is not a great fit for years on end is a REAL possibility. I’ve been an unrecognized neurodivergent person for the vast majority of my life. As a result, school was extremely challenging. In addition, changing jobs is extraordinarily stressful for someone like me…new physical environment, new people, many unknowns and uncertainties. Many of us neurodivergents are underemployed or unemployed because the school and work environments are very difficult and sometimes impossible to cope with.
Sparkler: The best career I ever had was being a mom, and now that my kids are grown-ass adults, I realize I never really wanted any career except being an artist. I’m sometimes asked how I learned to draw or paint, I messed up a lot of paper, that’s how. It takes practice and more practice. Sometimes you just have to put shitty work out into the world, and that’s ok. I realize now that the ONLY thing I ever WANTED to practice was art.
What about you?
My foot fell off.
Stitch: Oh man….I want to say I’ve overcome this, BUT I have not. I think we were laughing about waiting years to go get something checked at the doctor because 1) going to the doctor is extra stressful for neurodivergent people, 2) time blindness, and 3) trouble holding uncertainty. You’re in an environment created by and for neurotypical people. Bright lights, uncomfortable seating, new people, in some cases having to get naked and wear a paper gown, and WAITING with no information about how long the wait will be are just some of the factors that make health appointments extra difficult for us. Also, having the doctor ask the dreaded, “How long have you been experiencing this?” You have time blindness and you want to answer, “Three days, months, years….hmmm…not sure!” Also, what’s the doctor going to say? I’m dying?? Incredible anxiety for sure. And then there’s the bill, but that’s another cartoon.
Sparkler: All I can say is get your check-ups and screenings done. ALL of them. Ask for help getting the appointments made and getting there if you need to. ND’s live an average of 12 years less than NT’s. Please don’t be a statistic.
Comment below and let us know you made that appointment!!
🌪️🧠🩷
Monday Morning Misery
PDA
You Say Pathological Demand Avoidance,
We Say Pervasive Drive for Autonomy
Stitch: I have long experienced what the “experts” call Pathological Demand Avoidance and the neurodivergent community calls Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. Requests and demands create resistance. Being told by my employer that I “must” fill out my timesheets in a particular fashion and “must” start work at exactly 8 a.m. creates a lot of tension.
Work and school are challenging because of this among many other reasons. If you tell me showing up is optional, I’ll be there everyday. If you tell me showing up is mandatory and I’ll be punished if I don’t, my inner middle finger gets immediately activated. This is PDA. When I was young, this was seen as ordinary rebellion. It went a lot deeper than that. The best relationship I ever had with an institution was with college. No attendance taken, no micromanaging how or if you paid attention or studied. This was an ideal environment for me.
I don’t know all the ins and outs of what, exactly, causes this, but I know it’s a common feature for many autistic people and those with ADHD experience it as well.
Sparkler: When my youngest was about four and he freaked out because his grandpa, my father, didn’t cut the toast into triangles, my dad calmly smiled and said, “If all you can control is how your sandwich is cut, then by God, you’d better control it.”
It is estimated that by the time they are 10, kids with ADHD hear 20,000 more negative or corrective statements than neurotypical children. To me, Pervasive Drive for Autonomy is just our inner child wanting to run and yell, wear our shoes on the wrong feet, spill our lemonade, trip and fall down, sing loudly, make a mess, and have triangle toast without being scolded or criticized. We just want a little bit of control.
🍞📐🩷
#pda #pervasivedriveforautonomy #adhd #asd #autism #funnystuffthatsnojoke #audhd #Facialblindness #neurodivergent
We found more information on Pervasive Drive for Autonomy at this link:
What's the most IRRITATING thing someone can say to you that triggers your PDA?
We made you a thing!
❤️❤️❤️
Monday Morning Misery
Open Plan Offices open a can of worms.
Sparkler: I Have ADHD and misophonia, which is a strong reaction to certain sounds. Sometimes voices, phones, echos, bells, murmuring, and unexpected noises make me feel annoyed and overwhelmed. The absolute worst is repetitive music. Lyrics or notes over and over and over and over and over again make me want to eat someone’s liver. Just sayin’.
Stitch: Do you work in an Open Plan Office? “Well I do and it hurts like a bugger!!” Just a “Trains, Planes, and Automobiles” reference there…all hail the late, great John Candy. 🤩
Open plan offices (OPOs) are everywhere these days and guess what? Most of us neurodivergent people don’t do too well in them. They’re loud, lack personal space, and are not conducive to getting things done, at least if you’re like me.
I have sound sensitivity. All sound hits at the same volume. I’m unable to “tune things out,” so if I’m working and there’s a conversation going on across the room, a phone ringing somewhere nearby, and a machine beeping I am just bombarded with invasive sound. If it’s particularly bad I can sometimes experience nausea. Apparently, most neurotypical people can tune sounds out that they know are irrelevant. I’m not able to do this. It’s the equivalent of having six radios on at the same high volume while trying to follow a baseball game on one of them. Concentrating is a nightmare. Modern employers give no thought whatsoever that, for some people, this makes the workplace inaccessible. I’ll go out on a limb here, too, and say that OPOs aren’t productive or good for anyone. They just save employers money.
We found this article about misophonia with some basic information and tips.
What’s your experience? And have you ever been so annoyed you could eat someone’s liver? (Asking for a friend, YES, I mean Sparkler.)
Mail is scary.
Stitch: Do you have a stack of mail that sits perpetually while you work to avoid opening it or even looking at it? Who knows what’s in that envelope? It could be anything! Fear of the mail touches on a couple of things a lot of neurodivergent people struggle with: anxiety and uncertainty avoidance. These are big things for me as an AuDHD. I haven’t overcome this, but knowing the reasons behind it has given me more compassion for what’s going on inside when I see mail, and that has helped me open those envelopes in a bit more of a timely manner. Note: I currently have a 2 inch stack of mail I plan to open SOON.
Sparkler: One time when I was a young adult, instead of dealing with a persistent junk mailer, I wrote “SHE DIED. RETURN TO SENDER” on an envelope addressed to me and put it back in the mail. I didn’t get any mail for two weeks, and didn't even realize it, until my grandma called me and asked why the card she had sent me came back to her marked ‘DECEASED.” The post office thought I was dead. It took me much longer than two weeks to get that straightened out.
At one time our biggest fear was a saber-toothed tiger coming at us. Now one of our biggest fears could be a medical bill coming at us from an envelope. Same scary adrenaline! (Can you tell we live in the US?)
One thing about mail we HAVE gotten good at is mailing letters and cards! Stitch wrote this article to share with you, it is some GREAT problem-solving!
We'll save opening and sorting mail for a future cartoon!
Monday Morning Misery
When a neurotypical has a job interview.
When a neurodivergent has a job interview.
I cannot lie, I hate lying.
How do you remain honest and still land the job? This might be pretty damn hard for neurodivergents!
Join us every Monday for The Awfuls!
Can I at least have my pocket knife?
Stitch: This cartoon resulted from a conversation we had about executive functioning, which are the higher-level mental skills that allow task initiation, planning, and execution. My executive function skills are not great. It’s hard to get started on things, even when I KNOW they need doing. Things that require many steps or detailed planning can leave my brain feeling foggy and sluggish and result in task avoidance or procrastination. When you struggle with executive function issues, you can experience shame, anxiety, and depression.
Sparkler: Lacking executive function is NO fun. For me, it's a constant struggle to get admin tasks done, for example. I don’t know how many late fees and penalties I’ve caused for myself (commonly called ADHD tax, which we'll address in future cartoons). I don’t even have the executive function to think about my lack of executive function. I AM pretty handy with a jigsaw, though.
We found this website and thought it helpful:
No friends were harmed in the making of this cartoon.
Stitch: For me, friendships have always been difficult to manage. Especially with girls as a child and, later, with women. A lot of neurodivergent women struggle with this, particularly autistic women. For me, picking up on unsaid things, reading body language, and my being too blunt and probably not making the right facial expressions all play a part in making friendships difficult. Also, I much prefer to do activities, things that can be done side by side. Just sitting and chatting can be challenging, exhausting, and filled with uncertainty for me. In addition, I tend to laugh at things that other women either don’t find funny or find off-putting. Get me with a fellow neurodivergent, however, and we’re off to the races!
Sparkler: I only have a few friends. One of them laughs at things other people don’t find funny or find off-putting. It’s really kind of hilarious and endearing. Through our friendship I’ve learned to not take myself so seriously. We make quite a spectacle.
What is the best and worst parts of friendship for you?
Feel free to shoot us a comment, and please share our website so others can find our community!
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