The Forums › Forums › What is it? › The History › Why is it labeled a "disorder" instead of a "mental illness"? › Re: Why is it labeled a “disorder” instead of a “mental illness”?
I get the point. Any discussion of “normal” is a semantic minefield. (Though I would argue that “normal” is generally considered to include behaviors lying within some standard deviation from the average, not just at the top of the bell curve…) But surely this is not about “normal” behavior, however it is defined, it’s about behavior that’s destructive or even dangerous.
Sometimes I tell people I think ADD is like debt. A little bit of it is of little consequence—it might even be leveraged to create a benefit. But the more you have, the bigger the burden and potential danger. Certain levels can dramatically impair your ability to manage your affairs. Both ADD and debt make it extremely difficult to get ahead. And while under certain favorable circumstances, sizable amounts sometimes can be managed, there’s always the danger that if just a few things go pear-shaped, you could be completely overwhelmed.
There may be no “normal” personality. Similarly, there’s no normal amount of debt. Still, we all know when we’re contending with more than we can handle.
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