adhd_alien
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WHY can't I motivate myself?
🕑 Added 2023-03-14 14:12:02 +0000 UTCHey!
I finally had some time to finish the next part of the ADHD toolbox: Inertia.
I know I know this is still going into explaining things rather than giving you coping strategies, but I felt like I needed to explain this before getting into the tools.
I was especially hoping that this would give you something to communicate with others why you sometimes just can't seem to *get* going, and that there is a very real, neurological reasoning behind it.
The next page (3) will finally start explaining the basics around how you can start making your own coping strategies, and the last page (4) will just be a bunch of coping strategies listed out for you.
I hope this series will help! It's a looooot more work and research than I used to put into my comics, that were more or less just lists of things, instead of full on explanations. It's definitely not the wisest of choices to create this stuff specifically for social media. Usually, simple, small memes would do much better. But I guess I just really want this information to be out there for free, easily understood, and easily accessed.
I just hope the effort pays off and someone has a benefit from this.
Thank you all for staying with me for this long!
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In case anyone is wondering where I went and why I dropped page 1 and just disappeared:
First off, I suck at communicating and tend to isolate whenever I hit a problem. I'm sorry for that. I need to figure out a way to communicate better instead of disappearing.
What happened was I only had a certain amount of time to make comics inbetween ADHD Alien book deadlines. Then, my mom's (still young) dog suddenly died. I was there when she collected the dog, I had her box on my lap in the car, I lived with that dog many months when I lived at my mother's place. I felt gutted, but more than anything, my mother was absolutely inconsolable. So while this was going on, I missed my time window to finish the other pages and had to go back to working on a book deadline.
Summary: Mom's dog died so I missed my time window to make comics inbetween book deadlines.
It's not very "mental health ADHD advocate" of me to feel like this, but I just felt really guilty and ashamed for making big announcements and then failing to deliver. I often don't feel like I even deserve to take time off from one work (online comics) to focus on another work (book). Or take time off in general. I'll just try to work on it whenever I have time close to midnight or on the weekend. That's why it feels weird to me to announce when I can't do something online. My head will start saying things like "why would you whine in public? Just to get attention? Why bother anyone with you being a loser?"
There's definitely more going on than ADHD with me and I'm on a waiting list to see a therapist. But yeah, lately I just couldn't "public advocate" very well. But that's how life is, right? I have ADHD, I struggle and can't do things perfectly. But maybe it helps people to know that about me, too.
Comments
Stacy Walker
Sorry for your loss, and I hope you can find a way to give yourself some grace. You had a lot going on. This comic really helped me understand something new about myself today. I've been struggling hard and this space makes me feel understood and seen. Thank you!
Jesse Sell
There are plenty of people out there who lament our inability to deliver on expectations, but I don't think you'll find any of them here. You're doing what you can with what you have, and that is enough. Personally, I'll be here regardless of if your updates are once a week or once a year. I love your art and the message you send with it. It always brightens my day to see you pop up in my notifications, and I'm glad you do what you do!
Jen Green
I'm so sorry for your loss. If you ever just need to say, 'guys, I couldn't, life stuff' –I promise you, we will fill in the blank with all the life stuff that has overwhelmed us, and we will send back love. No explanation needed. That said, if sharing helps, always share. We're here for that too. <3
Alex
Thanks for the comic, it’s awesome! Love how you used the squirrel to illustrate. Please don’t beat yourself up for not hitting every one of your goals. I know external pressure can give us the anxiety we need to get things done, but it doesn’t always work. You have ADHD and you’re doing the best you can. ❤️Also, family first 🫂
Kristen Morrow
Please take care of yourself and never feel guilty for when you need to step back! You do so much for our community and family and friends to understand. I also struggle with falling off the face of the earth and think that is normal for people with adhd. Especially if other things are going on!! ❤️
Claire
Yes
Jeannine and Justin
I'm very sorry for you and your mom's loss - pets are family and grieving time is very important. Please be kind to yourself right now. Please know we all love and support you and it's okay to take extra time. I'm sure we all understand that sometimes (maybe often in my experience) one can get sucked into a downward spiral and overthink things in a negative way and become mired in stress, self doubt, fear etc: what's import is you recognized that it was happening and you made an effort to say "hey things happened guys" and that's all we need to know so please take care of yourself!!
Chris
Squirrel!
MJ Wright
Ah yes very relatable
Thomas Louis
All you can do is the best you can!
ADHD Alien
The way people on here are always so nice to me that it has changed my brain wiring for the better!! Ahhhh Thank you for saying this. Trying not to tear up (in a good way)
Runoratsu
I don’t think you need to try and find excuses and explanations with us when stuff takes time or you’re not constantly communicating—most, if not all, of us are probably AD(H)D ourselves and have been through this ourselves so many times… we understand. We know. 😉♥️
