Adult ADD Strengths

Another famous confirmed living person with ADHD. I think the only thing he’s slightly infamous for is revealing Janet Jackson’s nipple during the superbowl.

In an interview with Collider magazine for his new movie the Love Guru, Justin Timberlake said that he had ADHD and OCD.

Question: Do you have the OCD where you have to fix everything? (he’s adjusting all the recorders that got put down in front of him)

Justin Timberlake: I have OCD mixed with ADD, you try living with that.

I’m sure there are many problems with having them both but I can see at least one common ADD problem he probably doesn’t to worry about. Clutter.

Many adults who have ADHD usually have one or more coexisting conditions that go with it, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), bipolar, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities etc. That’s why a good diagnosis is crucial.

I’m not really into his type of music, so I checked out Justin’s wikipedia entry. He seems to like doing a variety of things like many ADDers (we often have more careers than non ADDers, we get bored easily) i.e., singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor.

He talks about what most ADDers would call hyperfocus.

So there’s a lot of concentration that goes into filming those scenes, you just feel the weight of them more than anything. I think for a performer, because that’s really what we all are, I think that the focus kind of—anytime the nervousness comes in, the focus jumps in as well and it overbears it in a way. It supersedes it. I think you just become uber-focused.

Hyperfocus can be one of an ADDers best strengths or worst weakness depending on how, when and where you use it. If an ADDer is interested in something, they can focus like a laser on it for hours. If you add OCD to ADD, you’ll probably get even more intensity in the hyperfocus.

He also talks about one of the most powerful addictive drugs out there, one that’s great at helping you focus, attention.

“Q: You’ve done huge arenas, have you done stadiums yet? You must have done stadiums. Going before 50,000 people, butterflies or anything?

Justin: Oh, yeah, you get butterflies. It’s not like, “Oh my God, I hope I do good.” You just kind of get caught up in the electricity of it. If that’s what you mean, “Oh, yeah, that still happens to this day.” And when that stops happening, you should stop. It’s addictive, you know what I mean?”

There’s probably a lot more people who are actors and singers who have ADHD, more than a few people who work in the entertainment business say it’s fueled by ADHD. Unfortunately most are too afraid to come out and say they have it.

Maybe if a former boyband singer like Justin Timberlake isn’t afraid to admit they have ADHD, perhaps some other celebrities might gradually work up enough courage to admit they have it too? To maybe talk about the negatives AND the positives of having ADHD? That would help reduce some of the stigma around ADHD and would encourage more people to seek a diagnosis and ways of managing adhd, and help ease a lot of human suffering.

How many hollywood celebrities (let alone non celebrities) have undiagnosed and untreated ADHD, and self medicate with drugs and booze, damaging (or ending) their lives and those around them?