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I don’t know if Lindsay Lohan has ADHD, but with several news reports reporting that she is indeed taking prescribed ADHD medication, maybe it is true. It adds up. So, let’s go with the reality that there must be some semblance of truth if she is indeed taking the medication. If that’s the case, let’s discuss the public reactions to her behavior.
Lindsay’s behavior, I think we all can agree, has been erratic, odd and extremely confusing – dangerous even. Sound familiar? But let’s not forget sometimes her behavior has been brilliant too, which is why she originally became famous.
Many people literally hate and despise Lindsay for her negative, sometimes outlandish behavior. I have even read several degrading remarks by ADDers who, by the way, have displayed odd, erratic and extremely confusing behavior themselves from time to time (and yes, sometimes brilliant too), that is, if, they indeed have ADHD.
I don’t want to excuse Lindsay Lohan by any means; however, I do want to take a moment to point something out. Typically when someone like Lindsay or Paris display the tale-tale signs of ADHD and get in trouble for it the public outcry is amazing and devastating! Very few, if any fellow ADDers come out to support these people. I wonder why? Maybe it is because these starlets do not openly admit they have ADHD right away? I think we ADDers know full well why this information is often kept under the covers. Many of us do it too, so that doesn’t float so well. Maybe it is because they are rich and socialites and should therefore be somehow better, because they have access to better treatment? So, in that case, ADHD should be less of a factor for the rich and famous? I wasn’t aware ADHD affects the rich and famous differently, or that it should. Bottom line, their behavior is unacceptable. Right? Just asking, of course.
Or, maybe it is that we see a bit of ourselves in their behaviors, the things (hidden or openly) we loath about ourselves. We can use someone like Linday or Paris as the target of our frustration instead of ourselves?
Now, please think about it for a moment, if you or a loved one has ADHD: If you have rejecting and/or negative feelings or thoughts about Lindsay due to her behavior, consider for a moment that may be very similar to the rejection, negative feelings and thoughts too many people have about us with ADHD. Now, with this consideration, perhaps we have a better idea what it is the non-believers of ADHD think and feel about us who do have ADHD. It may be as close as we get to understanding where they are coming from and from that, perhaps we can work to educate and inform the public about the oftentimes brutal reality of ADHD. Also, we might consider that the public’s awareness of ADHD may come from the behaviors of the few famous people with ADHD that get into trouble. If we reject them too, why shouldn’t they (public /society) reject all of us with ADHD?
Just wondering…
I posted this not to defend or excuse Lindsay Lohan. I posted this because it might just give us the ability to visit the other side of the debate internally within ourselves. I hope she gets the help she clearly needs and deserves, sooner rather than later. She’s an incredible and brilliantly talented person. I look forward to a day when she rises back up, but I am not going to abandon her while she’s down. I wouldn’t want to be abandoned either… what about you?
~Bryan
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I feel bad for Lindsay. I have always been a fan of hers despite what other people say. Like Lindsay, I have suffered from addiction, depression, lonliness, insecureties and simply wanting to be loved. To fit in. Lindsay comes across as irresponsible, needy and self destructive. I have felt that way as well. Did anyone catch the interview where someone came to help clean up her house? Then questioned if she was a hoarder? Goodness, before I was diagnosed my mom would come over to my house about every 6 months and clean for me. I simply could not keep my apartment clean… It was gross.
Reply to CoreenLinsays behavior is alot like mine was when I was younger. I craved excitement and longed to be loved, acknowledged, fabulous, free and fun. She may have started out that way, as did I. However as time went on I needed more… More of everything. I even had a bird that I named Mori, because the 2 birds that I owned were not enough. (They only paid attention to themselves and I felt like they did not like me.) Uhmmm… yeah….
anyways…..
I have always needed more. More clothes, more alchohol, more love, more excitment. If I wasnt “out there, livin it up” on a friday or saturday night, I was depressed, I felt like a friendless loner, a loser. Who stays home on a Fri or Sat night whrn your in your early 20′s? I was insecure and I always felt that I was missing out. Eventually I lost friends… They were tired of being emberrassed by their drunk friend who made out with multiple people and got kicked out of bars. Then their rejection kicked in and I isolated myself. I stopped going out and I stopped speaking to friends.
Want to go have coffee? Uhm, no… BORING! Wheres the party at? Eventually they stopped speaking to me as well.
Im 32 now. I was diagnosed a little over a year ago. I had pretty much hit my bottom. I had been to rehab, jail and lost my driving privlages. I had been told before that might have ADD. I knew little about ADD and the actual impact it has had on my entire life. A friend of mine from work who was diagnosed with ADHD gave me an Adderall one day. It made me feel like I took a valium, but I was not tired and I felt “clear”. Not foggy and sort of out of it as I normaly felt.
When I finally went to a Dr and was dignosed I was put on a very small dose of Adderall. It helped a little but I feel my Dr was uncomftorable prescribing me a higher dose and I felt that I needed a higher dose.. Eventually I went to a pshychiatrist who gave me the correct dose based on my weight.
My life has changed dramatically with proper medication. Im fine with being home on weekends. I understand why I always felt I never fit in. I do my laundry and clean. I am more responsible. I no longer seek extreme adventures. I enjoy being alone as much as I enjoy going out for coffee with a friend. Everything has changed. Im still figuring it out though. Eventually I would like to be on my own. Without medication.
I think Lindsay can get it together. I know, first hand that three months of jail time REALLY gives you alot of time to think.
I do hope that she gets help and takes it seriously. I also hope that she is not treated like a celebrity and let out of jail early. She needs this time to think.
If I could only tell Linsay how amazing it feels to completly turn your life around. To make people speachless when they see you and all of the positive changes you have made in your life… To make people proud and inspired by you. Honestly it beats the hell out of any drink or drug I have ever done in my life and I would never go back.
Sorry for the long post. I just feel that I have been a “Lindsay” I have been “that girl”
I just hope that she gets it. She’s beautiful and talented and I would like to see her at her best!
Thank you for sharing Coreen. I know that must have taken a lot to write your experiences so honestly and openly. I know your words will be wonderful for many to read and learn from, hopefully Lindsay will read them too. You never know. Keep on keeping on, I am touched and honored you shared so much with us.
Bryan
Reply to Bryan HutchinsonMy feeling is this. I think maybe ADDers might remain silent because it’s not the proper time to bring it up. We know the opinion of many (regarding ADHD) and we have to pick, when, how (and to what audience) we want to create a teachable moment.
Am I wrong in guessing that the Barefoot Bandit is a hero to us? But if we say “he shows signs of ADHD” we’d be setting ourselves back. We are better to bide our time. The media would only trash the ADHD concept.
IF I’m with one or two people who might be in a position of “open mindedness,” (as in a situation like Lindsay’s, I might point out the comparison .
But toss her to the curb when she’s down? I’d never do that; I would not “go with the crowd” in a conversation about her; but I wouldn’t start it either.
Translated: I would decide how it could be used to the most good. Like the Barefoot Bandit’s mother, I can’t help but admire him, I’m proud of him myself. He was self-motivated, self-directed, used his time wisely and used his brain (pretty much to capacity?) The “TV watchers” come out ahead. ……………..in the tally book.
Reply to Donna AndersonHi Donna,
Actually, I waited quite a while to post about Lindsay and now with the official release of what medication she is taking and her sentencing I think it is very important to write about this now, especially from this perspective because I don’t think anyone else is going to do it. Also, what really made me take to writing were a few comments I had read elsewhere by fellow ADDers who were ridiculing Lindsay. We can argue that Lindsay put herself in her current position (she did), but if she has ADHD or/and bi-polar as Gina points out below, then she deserves a little consideration no matter how much trouble she has made for herself. Not to say she shouldn’t be held to the law, but rather ultimately, she needs help and support.
Bryan
Reply to Bryan HutchinsonGood insight Bryan,
Reply to KatieYes, it is probably not good to kick this girl anymore while she is down. She may have ADD and taking the meds she needs to help her cope…but I think with all of the other meds she is taking she must be feeling a bit crazy and unfortunately acting out may just be a byproduct of all the prescribed drugs and the pressure to “get her act together”. Perhaps time by herself, albeit in jail and rehab, may be what she needs to reflect on her past behavior. She could probably use an unconditional friendship as well, someone to be there for her without demanding anything in return. Her actions of late are more sad than reprehensible and are not altogether those of someone with ADD by itself. Her behavior is not an affront to people with ADD so much as it is public showcase of her inability to fully cope well and get control, which a lot of people with ADD can relate too at some time. K
Hi Katie, well said. Not being a doctor I don’t like commenting for or against meds, especially the type etc, but with that said her list of meds does seem to be rather strong and many. If we look at Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and Britney Murphy it is worrisome and sheds a very obscure light on those taking the right meds which do help. Thanks for commenting. Near the end of the article I did link to another article where they are discussing her medication.
Bryan
Reply to Bryan HutchinsonBryan, you make many interesting points. And I type what I’m about to type, not to play armchair diagnostician, to viciously jump to conclusions or anything…but because I really feel for people having a hard time.
Many people who have addiction issues, like LiLo, have underlying issues, often mental health issues that predispose them to seek self-medication. I suspect that she has a variety of issues going on that may have pointed her in this direction, and I would not be surprised if ADHD was one of them. It doesn’t seem that she really grasps her own need to take responsiblity for her actions…again, that may be due to impairment of some kind…I just hope that she eventually figures out what “it” is that is impairing her. She’s a talented and beautiful young woman and we all lose out when someone is not able to fully claim the positive parts of themselves and share them with the world.
Sarah Palin is another one that I wonder about. She does not have the same public “problems” that LiLo does, but she does seem to have a certain “speak without thinking” issue, difficulty seeing the potential consequences of her words and actions before “doing” them, and her academic record (changed colleges three times I think?) is interesting in a “possible ADHD-er kind of way…again, I’m not a psych professional, but I think there are many people in the public eye who show us the symptoms of their probable mental health issues every day.
It is extremely common for women to be misdiagnosed, or not be diagnosed at all until adulthood. This leaves plenty of time and space for other issues to arise, issues that may mask ADHD or may prove more difficult to manage then ADHD, which to me is very sad.
I myself feel that relatively speaking, my ADHD is fairly simple to manage…now that I know that the issue is! It was FAR more difficult to be me every day before I had a diagnosis. It was confusing, frustrating and disheartening…going through life now with the basic understanding that my baseline normal is “ADHD” and it’s my responsibililty to then be the best I can be with those conditions set is SO much easier…man…I just really feel for those who have not reached that point yet. Lots of girls and women undiagnosed in that boat.
Reply to Katy B.Hi Katy,
Well put:
“It doesn’t seem that she really grasps her own need to take responsibility for her actions…again, that may be due to impairment of some kind…I just hope that she eventually figures out what “it” is that is impairing her. She’s a talented and beautiful young woman and we all lose out when someone is not able to fully claim the positive parts of themselves and share them with the world.”
It’s interesting though, that too many of us with ADHD start out in denial, but that’s kind of hard to speculate with Lindsay only because she must be diagnosed with something in order to be prescribed the medications she has. One wonders what kind of treatment she has received beyond medication. Medication in of itself is not the answer to all that ails us. Learning about the diagnosis and all it involves, along with some kind of therapy – the question is: what are her beliefs and thoughts about treatment and her diagnosis? We don’t know if she fully understands what is involved or not. That would be a good starting point for her, to learn about her diagnosis and how it could be affecting her behaviors…
Thanks Katy,
Bryan
Reply to Bryan HutchinsonBryan,
Outstanding observations……. I agree with others that LiLo’s problems can be ADHD plus a host of others and all that powerful medication. But your point of view made me feel ashamed and realize she needs our support not condemnation. Great post and perfect timing!
Reply to DanThanks Dan – please don’t be ashamed, that’s not the point I am trying to make. Let’s just try to be aware of how we feel regarding such behavoirs by someone in the public eye when these behavoirs many of us have experienced ourselves at some time or another.
Bests,
Bryan
Reply to Bryan HutchinsonThank you, Bryan, for this thoughtful post.
The sentiment is certainly in keeping with my long-held philosophy, that we must take the bitter with the sweet of ADHD if we are to create a realistic picture of ADHD in the public’s mind and set in place positive change. It’s all about the gray area, the mixed bag.
It is not a philosophy that always won me fans, especially during the go-go economy that “enabled” lots of people with ADHD to get in over their heads with debt, etc. Since the economy tanked, though, I notice a huge uptick in need for solid information about ADHD.
I’ve always thought that when we glorify only the “brilliant” and “successful” people with ADHD and reject those who don’t fare so well we are not only cruelly marginalizing people who truly need help but we are also creating confusion in the public mind about the “gifts” of ADHD.
(And truly, I don’t mean to launch a discussion of that old chestnut again; the very thought of it exhausts me, as everyone who has anything to say on that topic has said it all — 20 times over! lol!)
I actually had to sit next to a man for 20 minutes in an airport while he chewed out his young-adult son with ADHD on his cell phone.
He ranted on, “I thought you really had a problem with ADHD, but now I’ve heard that it’s really a gift, and you’ve just been playing me! Well, that’s over, kid. You can pull yourself up by your own bootstraps now.”
You can bet that when he hung up, I set him straight.
As for Lindsay, she definitely seems to suffer from “self-regulation” issues. Maybe bi-polar disorder. Maybe ADHD. Maybe both — compounded by too much money and too many substances. Whatever she’s wrestling with, I hope she finally finds — and cooperates with — some effective treatment strategies soon so she can get back to her true talents.
Reply to Gina PeraHi Gina, exactly!
I know from time to time there are those who get upset with my positive perspective, but if they (as you have) read a lot of my posts, there’s a lot of the brutal reality mixed in here. The point for a lot of us is that we want to find positive perspective and think of ourselves in positive constructive ways – that’s probably where the Gift of ADHD comes in. However, Lindsay and others, me & my childhood etc, show that we should not forget why we are trying so hard to find the positive light in our lives and conditions, or those who haven’t gotten there yet. It’s the brutal reality of ADHD we are all trying to overcome and from which we seek higher ground.
Thanks for stopping by
Bryan
Reply to Bryan HutchinsonTalk about speaking first/thinking second. I wanted to get back here to see what everybody wrote: and as usual, at second glace, my post didn’t read like I wanted it to.
I wrote “My feeling is this. I think maybe ADDers might remain silent because it’s not the proper time to bring it up.” I didn’t mean they should but that it might be “why they were” doing so. My family member is in jail as we speak for the exact same thing. He’ll be sentenced to prison. He certainly didn’t do it for recreation. He’s been suffering. And, with his permission, I talk about it(his being in jail) freely. Somebody has to bring attention to the millions of inmates who, unknowingly have ADHD, and self-medicated. I will say it anyplace. It turns heads when you openly admit a family member is in jail; then if you can do some good from there (it’s a start.) I’m always looking for an opportunity. But, I HAVE LEARNED where NOT to start the conversation. I started making use of bulletin boards and waiting rooms (whenever I have some good, eye grabbing info.
I just didn’t want to leave the feeling that I was against talking about it. Having said that: when I brought (untreated) ADHD up to a police officer a few years ago, he replied: “That’s all the more reason they should be locked up.” If the Lindsay conversation started around him; it would be about the importance of putting them away before they do something worse. That’s where I would keep the conversation from going forward.
Reply to Donna AndersonThat’s very sad from the police officer’s perspective, although it is easy to understand where he is coming from since he’s the one dealing with the crime etc… however, I tend to think we have gotten extremely strict with punishing people who have disorders that cannot or do not conform. That said, I think untreated ADHD is not good for the person or the people around them per se, but for the crimes that put people behind bars for extended stays I tend to think there is more than untreated ADHD at play, as with Lindsay and others. – interestingly, my book has made it’s way into the prison system. A while back I actually had someone write and ask for my permission to pass it around. Since they could do that anyway I think they wanted me to know it was helping people ‘behind the fence’ but to me, what would be even better, is if it got passed around to the officials (guards, judges, lawyers, DA etc).
Thanks for coming by Donna, I understand where you are coming from and I hope things eventually work out for your relative.
Bryan
Reply to Bryan HutchinsonI have always appreciated and enjoyed Lindsey Lohan as an actress, but when I saw her performance in “Freaky Friday”, I was hooked. The girl is one of the gifted actresses of our generation, able to access and convey nuances of emotion that even many more seasoned and experienced actresses could not. However, as a practicing mental health professional, it is also my opinion that Lindsey has Borderline Personality Disorder as a primary diagnosis. She may have some ADD and/or Bipolar Disorder too, but I think the fluid sexuality (bisexual), the neediness, the clinginess, the rages triggered by abandonment concerns (fights with girlfriend), the drinking/drugs, the dramatic emotional presentations all point to Borderline Personality Disorder to me as clearly as though she were wearing a sign. Interestingly, it is often borderline personalities who make the most gifted actresses due to the lifelong intensity of their emotions. I hope she gets help no matter what her problem is, because she is just simply glorious.
Reply to tereIt so often comes back to gifts and curses.
Everyone has demons to fight – its called the human condition – ADHD or not. LiLo is no different, whatever her diagnosis. What makes it hard for people to feel sympathy is that she has resources at her disposal that should make life easier for her. But with success at such a young age and enough money to get into trouble with – some things are a lot tougher for her. It is hard to show a lot of sympathy for someone who looks like they can have everything they want. There’s the curse of jealousy!
What I don’t understand is why people choose not to look at the gift/positive side of people with ADHD. They even want to make that look bad. Why does everything have to have a bleak outlook for us always? It does us more harm to make us us look like a lot of incompetent imbeciles and damaged goods. It is as close minded as saying we should just pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and get over it or grow up!
I believe it is only with celebrating our successes and appreciating our gifts and working in our areas of strength that we can build the self esteem that will make us strong enough to put our struggles in perspective and work on them for what they are-real difficulties that need to be identified and addressed so that they don’t bleed into destroying everything good about us. It would be such a shame if this took her down so that she couldn’t work again.
To see the good and the bad helps us to know where we need help and support and where we can have the confidence to shine. And there is a gift inside us all that needs to be shared.
I have never seen one of her movies, but as people say she is a great actress they have seen her gift publicly, so now we get to see her struggle with her demons publicly – as we so love to do in America.
I hope she will stay sober long enough to get help to identify her problems and deal with them so that she can once again shine. We are all a work in progress!
Reply to DebDeb,
You wrote: “To see the good and the bad helps us to know where we need help and support and where we can have the confidence to shine. And there is a gift inside us all that needs to be shared.”
Indeed! Thank you for you comment you pointed out some excellent facts. Also, if you would like to watch a movie of hers, check out “Mean Girls”, but my fav goes even further back to “The Parent Trap”. It’s fun to watch with kids around.
Reply to Bryan HutchinsonLet’s not forget that Lindsay L. FATHER has been in jail many times and is a known con artist etc. It’s all been in the papers over the years.
Reply to DonnaAnd her MOTHER has questionable behavior as well… ADHD can be inherited. I do believe LL indeed has ADHD.
I think we could all blame all our problems on something or someone else. So the reason I got in trouble whenb i was younger her age is because I was ADD. Perhaps she is going to Ucla to address her issues with ADD and to find a new alternative to just taking medication because it is obviously interferring with her life. She needs to feel scared to want to change. It may work and it may not simply due to the notion that it is all up to herself. I was scared and believe it or not I wanted to change. Its really funny to me that people also blame behaviors on being an only child that I was. People would insist that I want attention, can be lonely, and not to mention be very spoiled. I guess because I was an only child I was a mess up like Lindsey. I would love to talk with her and make it clear I am just like her in a similar way. I didnt need the twelve steps I didnt believe they worked and I am far beyond the behaviors I once had. I now accept responsibility for my behaviors, realized I loved my family, but sometimes you have to dig for issues. Not that you want to blame others but there is always an explanation for you recycling your actions and behaviors. Therefore, to me it seems her father is not the best role model ever and it isn’t the fact that he is a bad father. His actions as she grew up affected her behavior and she will learn that eventually if she likes it or not. It is hard to have a stable head after going to jail she will not realize it yet. I dont expect her to get it in three months It might be on her own terms and when she is ready. It is sad but true. I myself shaped up because I knew it was the right time to change and turn my life around. But for her career it is not necessary to behave and act accordingly all the time it is officially a part of her job to react in different manners to different films. So with all that in mind it is clear she has no need to change her curriculum unless the film inustry made it a requirement to not have rehab on her record, not have felonies/misdemeanors, and to be clean and remain clean. Think about it! The judge should take my advice I am a living breathing horror story that just left from the beverly hills court system myself. I know what she is going through to the T. And I am very proud to say I am a winner.
Reply to Jessica Jones