Re: Famous people with ADD & other Brain Chemistry Imbalances

[Fearwidg]

Absolutely right ADDled.

Before ADHD, it was ADD (though in fact, those terms really should apply to ADD – the quiet, non-obvious variety, and ADHD – “wall-bouncers” like myself <g>).

Before that it was (my personal favourite) – “minimal brain dysfunction.” (Really? Gee. Thanks a lot.)

Before that – “Bad Kids.”

(Even the curren term doesn’t really describe what we have. When hyper-focus kicks in, we can pay more attention, for longer periods of time, than most “normal people” {whatever the heck “normal” means. <g>}

I think Attention Variability Disorder is closer to the mark, though personally … I’m sticking with “Swans.” <vbg>)

You’re also right when it comes to historical figures. We can’t know they were ADD with any absolute certainty, but experts (not me) have come up with a “diagnosis” by reading their autobiographies, or looking at their recorded behaviour.

A perfect example is Thomas Edison. His brain was so “all over the place,” that his formal education ended at Grade 3. After that, his mother taught him at home. But when you look at what the man achieved – and the way he achieved it – it’s fairly obvious that Edison was “a Swan.” <g>

Anyone I’ve included on the list who is currently, or was recently, alive “came out of the ADD closet” and publically admitted they had ADD. Many have done that on late night TV shows! I’ve personally watched Anthony Hopkins, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Mandel & Gary Busey admit “they’re one of us.” <g>

And Aaron – I agree that your renaissance remark is probably true.

“Our” ability to achieve greatness is in the historical record time and time again.

But at what personal cost?

In WW2, my Island home of England was saved by an aging man who suffered terrible bouts of depression ( or “My Black Dog” as he called it).

(Sidebar: I met Winston Churchill when I was a little kid!)

Albert Einstein was obviously a genius … but he couldn’t maintain any sort of relationship and eventually lost the woman he loved.

THAT’S my personal reason for advocating so heavily for ADDers. I just don’t think it’s necessary for the people who contribute so much to this world to endure lives of personal hell.

Like I’ve said before … if you get a proper diagnosis (from someone who knows what they’re talking about), and get the right meds, you can “leash your demons,” BUT you DON’T lose the ADD gift of hyper-focus. You get to keep and CONTROL it. You’re more “you” than you’ve ever been AND, you get to have a happy home life as well.

Why would ANY of us settle for anything less?

… But I digress. <vbg>

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