Neurodivergence And The Tyranny Of Visual Clutter

And why it’s so hard to keep on top of it

Photo by Şahin Sezer Dinçer on Unsplash

There’s no surer way to be a person full of contradictions than to be Autistic and (probably) have ADHD. While there’s plenty of overlap, there’s also traits that pull in opposite directions to each other.

For me, the primary struggle is between my Autistic need for order and ADHD contempt for it. Also present at the site of this collision is executive dysfunction that stymies the action required to deliver said order.

Clutter can build up around me, very, very quickly. It’s either because I’m hyperfocused on something I’m working on; I‘m running around trying to do other things or I simply don’t have the energy to do it. So the dishes, dirty clothes, books and papers pile up, orchestrating themselves into a tormenting visual cacophony.

Visual clutter equals mental clutter.

There comes a point where I can no longer tolerate it because of the disturbing effect my mental composure. Wherever I go I’ll see it from the corner of my eyes. I can look away but it will imprint itself in my mind’s eye.

The sight of a messy desk both mirrors and fuels the confusion in my brain. A clean desk means a clean slate and a fresh perspective.