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I made most if not all my ocs before I learned that Autism, ADHD, etc exist, and I want to give some of my OCS these mental conditions. The issue is, I have no clue how to do without needing to change their personalities or any other traits, but I also don't want to make my OCs seem offensive.
I'm assuming I have to "diagnose" my OCs but I got no clue how to do it.
Well as a person with diagnosed ADD and ADHD I would just put down how it affects me but I don't really know how to explain it over text, but you can look up symptoms at things like that. Another thing traits do sometimes play hand in hand with ADHD so you don't necessarily have to change them but you could add on to them.
It's great to see that you are interested in making your characters more diverse and inclusive by exploring conditions like Autism and ADHD. It's important to approach this topic with sensitivity and respect, so I'm glad that you are taking the time to learn about it.
Firstly, it's important to note that you do not need to diagnose your characters with these conditions. In fact, it's best to avoid using labels like "autistic" or "ADHD" to describe your characters. Instead, focus on their individual traits and behaviors that may be associated with these conditions.
To do this, you can research the symptoms and characteristics of these conditions and incorporate them into your characters in a realistic and nuanced way. It's important to avoid stereotyping or portraying these conditions in a negative light. Instead, aim to create well-rounded characters who happen to have these conditions, rather than defining them solely by their condition.
You can also consider consulting with individuals who have these conditions and/or professionals who work with them to gain a better understanding and avoid any unintentional offense.
Hey! I have Adhd so I'll give you my take on it.
Show the struggles of having Adhd not just the good things. Like for me, I am constantly reprimanded for forgetting things despite the fact that I have done everything to remember. People think I'm just being lazy or that I don't care.
This isn't every single day or every single moment, but its often, and it makes me afraid I'll lose my job. But there are some good days and I feel so happy on those days when I feel like I can function like a normal person.
Another part of my Adhd is that I find it difficult to process information if it isn't interesting to me. This can be especially stressful if I am in a high pressure situation. The other side of that of course is hyperfocusing where I do something for hours, barely noticing the passage of time and my own basic needs. As an extreme example of mine, I once hyper focused on writing this song for like 24 hours and then I could barely remember writing it after.
Its also important to note that Adhd generally shows itself differently in girls than in boys. Girls generally struggle more with paying attention and daydreaming where boys display it more outwardly by being fidgety or loud.
Some of the best advice I could give you is look at actual diagnosis criteria, and then look at 'relatable' posts from people who have the condition. I also recommend talking t people who have the condition. When you have specific questions, ask them.
Having said that, I have PTSD, paranoia, ADHD, anxiety, a touch of the 'tism, and depression, and since that covers a lot of bases, I'd like to offer myself up as a resource for you if you ever need it! (This goes for everyone tbh, my pms are open)
Id say do research. Ask people who are like that about their experiences! You just need to learn about how they act and what they experience day to day.
For autism, definitely look at the neurodiversity community on social media!
just ask people! i would be happy to provide a base for any disorders (as long as i have them) for you