The doodle called "Ghosts" is a piece of neuro-expressive art. It shows the deep pain and isolation felt by people with Asperger's Syndrome who have not received a diagnosis or understanding.
The "horror" in this painting is existential and psychological, not supernatural. The figures show the cost of being fundamentally misunderstood in both life and death.
The wide, identical mouths on the masks symbolise the difficulty of expressing inner pain. These mouths are a metaphor for the silent scream of someone undiagnosed, unable to explain why the world feels overwhelming. Connecting feels impossible, and the unique aspects of their experience remain hidden. The scream is raw but never heard.
The way the figures are arranged shows how undiagnosed traits can be passed down. It also shows the cost of hiding them over generations. The larger figure stands for a past self or an older person, such as a parent or ancestor, who struggled quietly. The more petite figure is the self living in that shadow, inheriting anxiety and misunderstanding. They both wear the same mask because their underlying neurotype has not been addressed.
The ghostly theme, dead branches, and fungi serve as metaphors for living and dying with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome. The dead branches represent isolation. Fungi suggest things left unaddressed or unspoken, and emphasise the persistent sadness that continues even after death.
My use of colour translates the internal, sensory experience associated with Asperger's:
The intense yellow and orange colours in the background are not warm. Instead, the colours suggest danger, as if the air itself is toxic and harsh. They represent constant sensory overload and mental stress. The mind feels as though it is fighting an unnatural, oppressive heat—too much input that becomes disturbing rather than comforting.
The fire-red at the base of the figures grounds them in crisis. It shows how anxiety and emotional struggles can overtake someone who is undiagnosed. Without tools to cope, these struggles become overwhelming.
The smooth, light blue skull-masks stand out against the emotional heat. The masks, pale and expressionless, represent the effort to hide true feelings and exhaustion. Always trying to fit in is tiring. The effort to seem typical leaves the true self feeling empty and tired.
"Ghosts" is a doodle about self-exploration. It tries to show the pain of realising that your differences were never understood, accepted, or named. Through its expressive shapes and colours, I try to capture the deep, quiet horror of living without a diagnosis.