soulpundit.com

As I sat down to write a piece advocating for Olympic Gold Medalist Micheal Phelps, I decided to wander over to his website. My mind was set. I was all prepared to castigate those who would scold him for his recent drug use captured on film for tabloid exposure. These are antics typical of any young men teetering out of adolescence and confronting the pressures of  manhood. I was prepared to lecture the masses on his tender young age of 22 and quiz all on just what types of antics they were up to at 22 years old.

I was fixated on Americas habit of piling their hopes upon anyone who would elevate themselves above mediocrity. Their tendency to steady their arms, swift at the sword, to slice through the jugular when failure visits the unannounced hero. While on his site, I saw Phelps posing coolly on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine, ESPN and even the Wheaties box. As my mind looked for ammunition to fire at the haters, it began to come to me that Phelps had to be aware that he was a big deal. He had to know that he would be seen and admired by many. It occurred to me that he had to be aware that ideas everywhere were forming in the minds of followers. He had to know he was a role model. Maybe my post was going to be con.

As my mind shifted, my fingers fumbled and I came across a biography of Phelps. Oh yeah!!! I thought to myself, I had forgotten that on December 29, 2004 Phelps pled guilty to driving while drunk. I began to feel duped. I fell for Phelps, in a sense. But, just as i was about to write him off, I remembered that Phelps had ADHD. Oh, believe it or not, that’s huge. Here’s why.

Some still believe ADHD is a doctor prescribed illusion created behind closed doors by a secret trilateral commission attented by minority parents, frazzled school officials and greedy pharmaceutical execs. Ask that one teenager who can ace a quantum physics exam but lost the text book three times.

Those with ADHD have, to some degree an, inability to produce or uptake chemicals in the brain that make the moment fulfilling, exciting and sometimes worthwhile. According to a study completed by the American Psychological Association, children diagnosed with ADHD are at higher risk for drug and alcohal abuse. You can check the study here. This can account for the sheer genius that is produced one moment and the utter lack of concentration and focus in the next.

The ADHD doesn’t give him a pass, I think all it highlights is the complicated beings that humans can be. It also highlights the unfair burden I believe that we heap on our stars and entertainers. We are so quick to judge but we are slow to think and weigh everything a situation is composed of. If your brother did the same thing, what would you do. Would you let him have it and still let him know you were cool. After all, he did say he was sorry? As far as whether this article is pro or con, you’ve probably already made your mind up, I’ve made mine up.