Meo Divergent
Depicting Life Through the Eyes of a Neurordivergent - ADHD
ADHD is a double edged sword to live with. You see beauty, colour, pattern and possibility everywhere. There are so many opportunities, how do you choose. I shot this video, as I had turned up in full mermaid rock fancy dress (hidden under my coat here) - a week early to a party. Typical ADHD behaviour - not reading the small print like the date correctly. Whilst waiting for the taxi, and feeling slightly conspicuous due to crazy outfit and feathers in ears, my mind raced. What can I do to pass the time till the taxi comes eventually to take me home. I know, I'll shoot some footage.
It was cold, dark and nobody was outside, so I played with my Go Pro camera. You are never bored if you are me. On a more serious note, I am keen to try and raise awareness of the superpower ADHD is, when managed correctly. I didn't get diagnosed until around 44 years old, so am at the start of an exciting new journey. I read a great book called Divergent Mind, which reframes many brain differences into assets. How the word 'special' got dirtied in this context is beyond me. At least with ADHD, most research has been done on men and children. So it's unbalanced and ineffective to say the least when applied to someone like me. And when structure is in place solidly in your life, it can easily be masked/concealed by routine, especially by women.
Lockdown took off my mask. I embraced my neurodivergent mind. But it is still a massive learning curve. The topic in general needs people to speak out, investigate and fund research. And assistance is required in getting adults diagnosed and supported properly. I don't do labels, but when this was identified in me, I found peace and acceptance. A feeling I can't put into words, but it was so healing. So, although fairly crude, this attempts to show manic mode - not somewhere I live anymore, but a key symptom of untreated ADHD that often leads to extreme burn out, followed by frustration and then name your coping mechanism. This is only my second animation in 25 years, edited by Jean Stevens and also music created by him. It shows progress with my art, there will never be perfection. I don't do that. Project Next is calling already. Thank you for watching.
