The Problem with Content Creating
As someone who is Neurodiverse
To complement this Substack, I have started a YouTube channel that will continue to discuss the neurodivergent experience within the context of writing and content creating.
I want to talk about the problem with content creating as someone who is both Autistic and ADHD.
This is the subject of my first video:
You can access the FULL video here:
The Problem with Content Creating
But there is so much more to discuss. As neurodiverse artists (depending on everyone’s individual symptoms and experiences) being told what to do, how to do something, and when to do it automatically fires off the Hell No signals in our brains.
Unfortunately, this is what social media is riddled with, which is why creating content has always been a very frustrating experience for me. I do not like being told how to do something.
Everyone has a formula or a pattern to follow when it comes to curating themselves, but we are naturally opposed to following the crowd and crave to go against the grain. We yearn for the anti-grain.
So what do we do? This is something I have tried to figure out for years. It is also the reason why I didn’t start taking myself and my writing seriously until more recently. Being present online and keeping up with posting regularly with reels, posts, videos, stories, etc. Made me want to vomit.
Forcing myself to do a trend or to schedule reels feels so inauthentic and weird that it makes my skin itch.
This lead me to think thoughts like: “You’re never going make it. You’ll never be published. No one is going to care about your work.”
Have no fear though (reassuring myself)! This is what I have learned so far as I have started to publish my writing and put myself out there as a creator.
Everything happens on your own timeline, no one else's
There are no rules when it comes to art. Do what feels right for you
It is okay to forge your own path. Just because you do something differently than someone else, doesn’t mean they’re “correct” and you are “incorrect”
Connecting with other artists on the spectrum has been the key for me to feel more comfortable with doing things my way. Community is important!
Your art is for YOU at the end of the day. Who cares what other people think. Post for YOU, not them.
The world of social media isn’t built for us. At least, that’s how I see it. Yes, it is fun and engaging, but I find myself being discouraged to have an online presence more than not.
Growing up, I always felt out of place. Whenever I tried to do something new, I already felt 20 steps behind everyone else and I couldn’t mentally get passed that. This feeling is what creeps up on me when I decide to publish my writing and get involved in the world of publishing and media.
This is all part of the journey of re-wiring our brains and shedding the conditioning of the neurotypical world we were born into.
One of my favorite pastimes is to watch YouTube videos. I love watching cozy videos about other people’s routines or self-care or how they like to cook and workout.
However, it’s easy for me to feel shitty about myself when I’m watching these videos. I get sucked into the ideas of “the perfect morning routine” or the videos that claim “do these 10 things and you’ll feel better”.
I have to snap out of the trance and remind myself that those videos aren’t for someone like me. I can’t keep a perfect morning routine, no matter how hard I try or how much I want to.
This is the fun part of being AuDHD. Autistic me desperately craves routine, while ADHD me needs spontaneity. If I try to force myself to do something that I can’t do because my body’s needs change on a daily basis, then I get depressed and feel like a failure.
This is the same trap that I fall into with creating content to publish.
So this has been my key to success so far:
Everything happens on your own timeline. There are no magic formulas or rules that you need to stick to.
That is why I love having different mediums to create with and various publications to work on. Giving myself that variety allows me to focus on whatever my energy levels can handle in that given moment.
The freedom to flow with yourself and give yourself grace for your body’s needs is the greatest gift you can give yourself as someone who is neurodiverse. I am mostly speaking to myself, because I need to hear that, but I hope this helps you too.
Relax. Breathe. And do whatever the hell you want, on your terms.
Check my YouTube channel for more videos that touch on topics like this.
No, I do not have a posting schedule. We operate off of vibes here.
Happy creating.
xx Disco Brain
