The following is a guest post from Audrey Thompson. Audrey is a Brooklyn-based writer who’s passionate about identity and mental health. Many thanks to Audrey for sharing her story about art therapy and ADHD.
The term ADHD might bring to mind an image of a hyperactive child running around, but the reality is far more complicated. For me, hyperactivity was just the tip of the iceberg that my mom and my therapist helped me deal with during my childhood. Here, I’d like to share how art therapy in particular has impacted the way I handle my ADHD symptoms — both then and now.
My childhood ADHD diagnosis: a relief and a challenge
I remember the relief on my mother’s face as the therapist explained to her that yes, I did have ADHD. Little did we both know, this was just the beginning of a long and winding journey. I’m still on that journey today.
We immediately tried several things after the diagnosis — talk therapy, sports, changing therapists, medication — but none of it seemed to work. Then I met my long-time therapist, who I’ll call Doctor K. She recommended a combination of talk and art therapy. I didn’t know it at the time, but our decision to push through with art therapy would change everything.
My art journey
According to cognitive neuroscientists from the University of California, there is a link between ADHD and creativity. Our brains lack the ability to suppress brain activity from areas associated with imagination and creativity.
I only truly discovered how this worked when I started painting. I vividly remember how everything just felt right and seemed to fall into place. The strokes of the brush and the colors filling in the lines on paper gave me a sense of structure I hadn’t realized I was craving. For five years, I participated in art groups for children with autism and ADHD and worked under the supervision of Doctor K. During that time, my condition improved dramatically and my interactions with friends and family became much easier.
I stopped with art therapy before I went to college, but it still affected my choices and behavior. Unsurprisingly, I was drawn to the liberal arts, especially art history and philosophy. Liberal arts programs require strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills — all of which I’d already strengthened through art therapy.
Even so, I still had my fair share of challenges navigating dorm life, college parties, and confusing class schedules. Fortunately I managed to overcome those challenges with my mom and therapist just a call away.
Where I am today
My hyperactivity stopped manifesting itself in my teens, but that didn’t mean my ADHD was gone. It turns out you can’t really outgrow it: it just changes as you age. Many adults with ADHD have trouble organizing tasks at work, or they may be impulsive and tactless in social situations.
Personally, I had difficulty holding down a full-time office job after graduating. When I started freelance work, I learned to gain control over both my time and my ADHD symptoms. I still have trouble finding time for self-care. This is common for women with ADHD, and it’s something my new therapist and I are working on.
At this point in my life, using journals and planners has been extremely helpful in keeping me on track. I also have better control of my impulses and my focus thanks to several techniques I gained from sessions with my therapist.
But beneath it all, I can say that what I learned from art therapy still plays a big role in my daily life. More than anything, it taught me to pause and breathe when everything around me seems too chaotic. It allows me to stop, clear everything, and try again. While I no longer pick up a brush as often as I used to, I always keep it and my paint near me anyway. Having them close by gives me a sense of comfort. It’s a reminder that when everything feels messy, there’s always a blank canvas and a trusty paintbrush to keep me grounded.
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