Deadpool & Wolverine: ADHD, Trauma, and the Power of Vulnerability

Hey everyone! In today’s episode, we set out to explore ADHD and negative thoughts through the lens of Deadpool & Wolverine—but as we got into it, we realized this film is really about trauma, PTSD, and grief. So, we took a deep dive into how both characters process pain in different ways and what that says about real-life mental health struggles.

💀 Deadpool: The Jokester with a Guarded Heart

Deadpool uses humor as a shield—keeping people at arm’s length with jokes, sarcasm, and impulsivity. Underneath it all, though, we see deep abandonment fears, rejection sensitivity, and trauma. His personality reflects traits of ADHD, avoidant attachment, and even borderline personality features. He’s constantly pushing people away to protect himself from more pain—a common defense mechanism for those who’ve experienced repeated loss.

🐺 Wolverine: The Silent, Stoic Survivor

On the flip side, Wolverine is the embodiment of the cold, emotionally detached trauma response. He numbs his pain with alcohol, isolates himself, and struggles to let others in. While people might see this as just "being tough," it actually highlights avoidance, depression, and deep survivor’s guilt. A powerful moment in the film shows Wolverine finally breaking down, acknowledging his guilt and grief—an important reminder that avoiding trauma only makes it fester.

⚡ Neurodivergence in Superheroes?

This film also gives us an interesting look at ADHD and autism—two sides of the same coin. Deadpool represents the hyperactive, impulsive, loud, and chaotic version, while Wolverine embodies the flat-affect, socially withdrawn, internalized side. Sound familiar? Many neurodivergent folks experience one (or both) of these patterns.

🔥 Big Moments We Break Down:

🎭 The Mask of Humor – How many of us use jokes to hide our pain? We look at why people develop this coping mechanism.

🚗 The Explosive Argument – Wolverine and Deadpool’s brutal car fight mirrors real-life emotional meltdowns and relationship struggles. Why do we lash out when overwhelmed?

🧠 Negative Thought Spirals – A scene filled with multiple versions of Deadpool reflects what automatic negative thoughts feel like—especially for those with ADHD.

❤️ Vulnerability & Healing – The film’s emotional climax shows that opening up and forming real connections is the key to healing from trauma.

This episode is just me and Spencer, and we had an absolute blast diving into these themes! 🤩 Join us for the ride, and let us know—do you relate more to Deadpool or Wolverine? 🦸‍♂️💭

Thanks for checking out Different Spectrums! 🎙️ We're a podcast led by licensed therapists and neurodivergent individuals who explore emotions in movies and shows. Our mission is to normalize mental health challenges and promote understanding.

Join your founders and hosts, Dr. Nazeer Zerka and Spencer Srnec, as we process some key scenes to help you better understand your emotions and maybe even find some validation in them.

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 Attention

0:54 Sponsorship

1:57 Intro

5:34 Scenes

21:23 Discussion

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