The Walking Dead dives into PTSD and ADHD with Princess

For a person who struggles with mental health issues like PTSD or ADHD, the story that The Walking Dead told with Princess is an intense and profound one. Fans have often got the see the toll that the undead has on the minds of characters. However, in the main TV series, pre-apocalypse trauma hasn’t been focused on quite like season 10, episode 20 titled ‘Splinter.’

I am a person who strongly identifies with Princess and her traumatic past and mental state. As wild as it may seem, I have also been a victim of a family member locking me in a closet. It’s my first memory. Even the title of this episode is symbolic; all it takes is one small splinter for the world to crash around a person with PTSD. Though my trauma is years behind me, and largely I cope fine in my daily life, seeing a name or seeing certain items can take me back to the moments that hurt me.

In this episode, fans learn so much about Princess and even what she thinks about the friends she found. The scene at the very beginning and the scene at the very end are the only times viewers get a real glimpse at Yumiko, Eugene, and King Ezekiel. No interactions between Princess and those three happened while around the train cars. Princess was largely disassociated as a way to cope with what was happening.

During the episode, Princess also utilized grounding techniques. She counted as well as recited the state capitals to herself. That wasn’t “crazy” ramblings; it was a way to keep her mind from spiraling. This is likely something she has done for a while as a way to calm herself when she feels she is losing all control. When a person has PTSD and feels they are losing grip of reality, they need to find their footing with something familiar, which is what Princess did.

The Walking Dead took a serious deep dive into how PTSD and ADHD can alter someone’s mind and affect how they handle situations.

ADHD can heighten the spiraling that PTSD can cause. I always feel a  certain level of distraction, and everything is very intense in my mind. So when the situation arises where I feel uncomfortable, I’m that much more likely to spiral. I noticed this in Princess, her eyes flicker around, she moves her hands in awkward ways, she will walk in a line, I’ve done all these things myself to cope.

Princess also says something to the Commonwealth guard that made me chuckle, which was, “I mean, there is the ADHD, the anxiety, the PTSD, the depression, the crushing loneliness, and the active imagination that helps me cope with all of that, but like maybe that’s the only sane response to an insane world” and she was so spot on.

Having the people who are supposed to give you the foundation for life mistreat you instead affects you in every way possible going forward. Imagine having the level of distrust that The Walking Dead characters have in the apocalypse before the dead even rise. Then imagine having ADHD thrown into that mix. Having an imagination and being bold are the only things a person in that situation can really control, so calling them crazy on top of that is just hurtful.

To Princess, Yumiko is a calm soul who needed help, so that’s how Princess imagined her. Eugene is a person she finds trustworthy and smart, so she imagined him trying to ground her. Lastly, she feels a deep connection with King Ezekiel. So King Ezekiel was presented as a kindred spirit and a protector. While these three were heightened versions of themselves to a normal viewer, as a person with ADHD, I believe this is truly how she views them in real life.

I’ve never met a person in real life who has both ADHD and PTSD, so seeing it on television was astounding. I’ve never felt so represented by a character before in my life. It’s clear from the fan reactions that this episode is a home run. Paola Lázaro is an incredible actress, and the fandom is privileged to have her in it! We can’t wait to see what you do in season 11!

Are you a fan of Princess in The Walking Dead TV series or comic universe? Are you happy with how they stuck beside her comic story so close? Tweet me your thoughts @Mamadeadhead!