I came up with “Tendril Theory” when someone in a support group asked for a good way to explain executive function, specifically the challenge of being interrupted or having to switch tasks suddenly, to a neurotypical person. The image and words came to me all at once. It took me a few weeks to sit down and draw it.
I think the reason this resonates with so many people is that a lot of different kinds of brains work in a similar way – not only for autistic people, but also people with ADHD, and neurotypical introverts. So if this doesn’t describe you, it probably describes someone you know.
*Image is a comic titled “Why it’s hard to switch tasks (Let’s call it Tendril Theory).” Simple line drawings illustrate the following text:
When I’m focused on something / My mind sends out a million tendrils of thought / Expands into all of the thoughts & feelings / When I need to switch tasks / I must retract all of the tendrils of my mind / This takes some time / Eventually I can shift to the new task / But when I am interrupted or must switch abruptly / It feels like all of the tendrils are being ripped out / That’s why I don’t react well / Please just give me time / To switch tasks when I’m ready.
eisforerin.com 
Reblogged this on Under Your Radar and commented:
So, so true! This is awesome đŸ™‚ I passed it along to my partner… and at last she understands!
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I was looking for the place this comic came from for a while! I’m happy I found it. Mind if I use it to illustrate an example on a post I’m writing on my blog?
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With credit to me, you are welcome to post it. đŸ™‚
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Here is the post! https://autisminblack.wordpress.com/2017/05/11/tendril-theory-by-erin-human/
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Thank you Erin – I used your post to explain to my mother why I got so aggro about being interrupted as a child, and she was actually able to understand!
I have grappled my entire life with shame over my deficiencies, but the increase in conversations and awareness about autism helped me to realise that these are all classic aspects of high-functioning autism, and that I’m not alone in how I experience the world.
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Erin, thank you so much for having drawn and posted it!
I’m 50 y.o. in a southamerican country, discovering I’m in the spectrum, discovering we’re still in “baby diapers” about autism and Aspergers health resources and even professional understanding, and this may be one of the best graphic explanations of why I “think” and “behave” the way I do.
Any chance you can translate it into Spanish?
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I couldn’t translate it myself, but would be happy to grant someone permission to do so, retaining the original artwork and credits to myself. đŸ™‚
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Erin, thank you for this cartoon. I’m a computer engineer and someone posted it to our group chat this morning. It resonated with the whole team and I wanted to echo that back to you with our appreciation.
I’ve found that many of the more successful individuals in this field are on the spectrum. Usually very highly functioning, but definitely sharing tendencies. Maybe that’s why our team was so captivated by your piece.
But for now, I just want to say, “Thank you.”
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I love that story Stephen, thank you! I can definitely see how the ability to hyper-focus would be an asset to computer engineers. Glad the cartoon was useful to your team!
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Hi Erin, what a wonderfully clear way of putting it. I wondered if I could use it on a blog post, credit to you, of course, on our website: http://www.unlocking-learning.co.uk.
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Dear Erin. Thank you for this invaluable visual explanation into something that I had a hard time to understand working with my students that are on the spectrum. I knew what my student were going through, but they were not able to explain the feeling. I hope it’s okay to shared this with my team so we can use it during our autism awareness week next week. I will make sure to give credit to your work.
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That would be great, thanks.
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Hi Erin,
I am undertaking a 2 year post grad degree in specialised teaching:learning and behaviour. I was so impressed with the tendril theory that I wanted to share it with my fellow studiers especially those who work with students on the spectrum. If I reference it to you and your blog would it be ok to share it please?
Tracey
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Yes, thank you!
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Thanks Erin. Many other professionals such as early intervention teachers, resource teachers vision and deaf, special needs teacher now have access to your blog!
Tracey
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Dear Erin, I am a mother of a 4 yo girl with Prader-Willi syndrome and some autistic behaviors. We live in Brazil. Do you mind if I use the drwaings and translate the text into Portuguese? This will be great to illustrate the switching tasks difficulty to our community here. With all the credit tou you, of course.
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Yes, that would be great! If you want to send me a link or file when it’s finished, I could share it too. Thanks!
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Of course I will share! Thank you so much!
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Dear Erin,
I just posted The Tendril Theory translated into Portuguese in the Brazilian Association of Prader-willi Syndrome page on Facebook. Thank you again for authorizing it! Please, feel free to share it too.
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The link is: https://www.facebook.com/spwbrasil/
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I am a special education teacher taking university courses and have to create a website with many links and resources. Could I get your permission to include this image on my web page with a corresponding link to this page?
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Yes you may! Please include my name and site address. Thanks!
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I am a special ed. teacher taking university courses, for one course I have to develop a web page that has links to useful information. Could I have your permission to use this image and provide a link to this site on my web page for my project?
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Yes, as long as you keep my name and website address on the material you may use it wherever you like. Thanks!
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Yes you may! Please include my name and site address. Thanks!
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Erin, you should sell posters of this. I want a sign to put near my desk at work. I recently emailed my coworkers to ask them to please email me with questions about any of the approximately 15 work projects we have going at any given time, rather than stopping casually by my desk to ask, which requires me to stop what I’m doing and either make sure I consult the proper sources to answer them correctly, or pull the information right off the top of my head at the spur of the moment (which may be incorrect if I rely on memory). Yes, I get testy when pulled out of my “zone” on one project to answer questions about another one in real time. For precisely this reason.
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Hi Tru! I’m glad you can relate to this work. I do indeed sell posters through my Redbubble shop:
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/15951281?asc=u
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Erin, thanks! You just sold a poster!
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Hi Erin, I love this image and wondered if I could use it in a PowerPoint Presentation I’m creating (citing your website/name) to help parent/carers understand your perfectly illustrated theory?!
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Sure thing, just please sure to credit me with the URL. Thanks!
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