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21 Comics About ADHD By A 29-Year-Old Artist That Only Got The Right Diagnosis A Year Ago
There's a common misconception about ADHD that only children can suffer from it. But adults have it as well. Adult ADHD symptoms may not be as clear since the hyperactivity may decrease, but struggles with impulsiveness, restlessness, and difficulty paying attention may remain. Also, many adults with this disorder aren't even aware they have it — they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge.
Pina, a 29-year-old artist from Germany has been living with ADHD for a while now. "I'm a freelance illustrator and visual development artist for Animation but in true ADHD manner, I have studied graphic design, of which I dropped out, and game design, in which I graduated." Pina is currently juggling quite a few artistic endeavors, including a comic series dedicated exclusively to ADHD.
More info: adhd-alien.com | Patreon | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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#1
Marie-Helene Briere 5 years ago
Wow, i actually thought I was the only one like that! No, I don't have ADHD diagnosis, but do have generalized anxiety...
"I had been suspecting that I have ADHD ever since I was struggling and developing anxiety at university," she told Bored Panda. "It wasn't until my life fell apart being a self-organized freelance artist that I started to seek help and eventually received my ADHD diagnosis at 28."
"I started mental therapy when I struggled with university and it helped me only a little bit, [mostly] with my anxiety and depression. However, my ADHD went unconfirmed because according to the therapist I was seeing at the time, 'I didn't drop out of university yet, so I can't have ADHD.'"
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#2
反社会的 UNDER COVER 5 years ago
As a teenager with unmedicated ADHD, I can totally say that this is accurate. Medication spaces me out, and when I go without medication it makes me anxious. Fortunately, I have a lovely group of friends who understand and are willing to help me!
"After being told I couldn't have this mental problem because I was too quiet and smart, I started journaling my behavior, using self-help techniques from therapy to analyze them. I was able to piece things together when I started researching ADHD, reading any book or paper I could find and watching endless amounts of videos. Group therapy and talking to my doctors has helped me strengthen my knowledge. One of my favorite resources is Dr. Russel Barkley’s talks."
Now, Pina takes ADHD medication and visits self-help groups. "[These things] have turned my life around completely."
"Seeing other people like me at the self-help groups was eye-opening," she said. "[It was] the first time I felt like a legitimate human being, so I wanted to share this feeling through my art. I finally started this relatable comic after being told by a respected fellow artist that everyone is a little bit ADHD nowadays. It made me so mad that people would judge ADHD without knowing what it really is or what we 'aliens' struggle with that I couldn't stop myself from drawing."
"My comics can't tell anyone if they have ADHD or not, but they might help someone understand the struggles they've had and give them courage to seek a diagnosis."
"What I talk about in my comics is so shunned upon and made me feel embarrassed all my life and I just want my fellow Aliens to know they're not alone. Even though not everyone with ADHD is like me or makes the same experiences, we all suffer from the same stigma."
#5
Amias Shipley 5 years ago
emotional dysregulation is so hard to manage!! i deal with this all the time but i internalize all of it because i've been told to stop talking so many times.
"If there is something I could tell everyone, it would be that even if you relate to the problems and can overcome them, it doesn't mean that everyone else can. ADHD symptoms are a question of severity and can prevent people from living life the way they want to."
#6
Bitter Betty 5 years ago (edited)
.... My heart is both warmed and hurt. I have always struggled with.. A LOT of depression and anxiety and was always told that I'm making excuses and just lazy, absent minded, self centered... and I've always been hurt with being misunderstood. Desperate to be heard. This hits home so hard and makes me feel so much better. It's nice not to be alone.
#7
alwaysMispelled 5 years ago
This is true, BUT, ADD does manifest different in boys versus in girls. I always could and would get hyperactive but I would also space-out and daydream constantly, which is common among girls with ADD, but not boys
#8
D. Pitbull 5 years ago
That last one... gawd... that last one gets taken advantage of so often...
#9
athornedrose 5 years ago
i feel like that's an issue with a lot of kids. once they're good at one thing in school, they're expected to be a child prodigy, and anything that comes difficult to them is their fault for not working hard enough. it's absolutely ridiculous.
#11
Miklós Nagy 5 years ago
The part when you interpret every sign from your surrounding as an indication that you are a worthless being who is only a burden to everyone sounds more like a symptom of depression.
#16
Bobby's Girl 5 years ago
It's the safest way to get along, to protect yourself - and others - from yourself, but then people think you're stuck up.
#17
Katherine Rosa 5 years ago
Boy oh boy...my daughter has adhd and as i read these comics to my husband we both said you hit the nail on the head
#18
Wanda Queen 5 years ago
This was very helpful to me, as the mother of an ADHD teen. I've always felt like he didn't understand the concept of time but this really illustrates that well.
#20
Woets 5 years ago
For me it was not 'What if I'm just lazy?', but more 'What if I'm just stupid?'. Still hits me sometimes: Am I just a fraud? Was is all just hard work and luck? Late diagnose is hard, you've been addapting your whole childhood to what society thinks is normal. Thank you for sharing this commics.
#21
Dawn Wyatt 5 years ago
Yes, sitting on chairs is impossible, yet sitting on the floor is disturbing to others. "Are you all right?" Yes. "Do you need help?" Probably, but not with this. "Would you like to sit on this chair?" No, I'm quite comfortable here.
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What do you think ?
Bill 5 years ago
How many kids with ADHD does it take to change a lightbulb? Wanna go ride bikes
Kasey Earls 5 years ago
I am disappointed with all the down voting in the comments for the comments and and responses that seem to be from people who have ADHD while the upvotes seem to support be against the diagnosis of ADHD and meds. I think that goes to show how misunderstood this condition is. These comics do an excellent job of describing the experiences of having ADHD and we owe it to those who have ADHD to listen to them and their experiences instead of writing them off. My 6 year old daughter and husband were both diagnosed with ADHD less than a year ago and they have started medication and are immensely better, especially my daughter. She was in trouble constantly at school and they even started sitting her alone in the cafeteria because she couldn't sit down and keep her hands to herself. I am grateful that we were able to diagnose her and get her help so early because I see what the lasting damage of untreated ADHD has had on my husband.
Frank Bromley 2 years ago
Ignore CTRL ALT MEL she dosent know what she's talkign about only ONE teacher on staff has to be Montessori certified for a school to call itself that and they don't ACTUALLY have to teach the curriculum (which is questionable at best) my moms old boss got involved with a rent dispute w a Montessori school
Load More Replies...
Leah Helbig 5 years ago
I have had Adhd all my life tried meds as a teen they just made me an emotionless walking zombie. Everyone should embrace their Adhd and realize our brains are more advanced they fire at a much higher rate then other people feel sorry for them all my non Adhd friends say I feel r******d next to you.you get so much done in a short amount of time on little to no sleep and they say your like a genius
Astrid Nineor 5 years ago
If your meds made you a zombie they gave you the wrong meds or wrong doze.... I think doctors today are too quick to prescribe meds, BUT, they do help (and change the lives) of a lots of people
Load More Replies...
Bill 5 years ago
How many kids with ADHD does it take to change a lightbulb? Wanna go ride bikes
Kasey Earls 5 years ago
I am disappointed with all the down voting in the comments for the comments and and responses that seem to be from people who have ADHD while the upvotes seem to support be against the diagnosis of ADHD and meds. I think that goes to show how misunderstood this condition is. These comics do an excellent job of describing the experiences of having ADHD and we owe it to those who have ADHD to listen to them and their experiences instead of writing them off. My 6 year old daughter and husband were both diagnosed with ADHD less than a year ago and they have started medication and are immensely better, especially my daughter. She was in trouble constantly at school and they even started sitting her alone in the cafeteria because she couldn't sit down and keep her hands to herself. I am grateful that we were able to diagnose her and get her help so early because I see what the lasting damage of untreated ADHD has had on my husband.
Frank Bromley 2 years ago
Ignore CTRL ALT MEL she dosent know what she's talkign about only ONE teacher on staff has to be Montessori certified for a school to call itself that and they don't ACTUALLY have to teach the curriculum (which is questionable at best) my moms old boss got involved with a rent dispute w a Montessori school
Load More Replies... Leah Helbig 5 years ago
I have had Adhd all my life tried meds as a teen they just made me an emotionless walking zombie. Everyone should embrace their Adhd and realize our brains are more advanced they fire at a much higher rate then other people feel sorry for them all my non Adhd friends say I feel r******d next to you.you get so much done in a short amount of time on little to no sleep and they say your like a genius
Astrid Nineor 5 years ago
If your meds made you a zombie they gave you the wrong meds or wrong doze.... I think doctors today are too quick to prescribe meds, BUT, they do help (and change the lives) of a lots of people
Load More Replies...
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