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If this type of character has Animal Motifs, they're often associated with dogs, squirrels, kittens, or ferrets. Second, it's much funnier to have a character who just fidgets and spaces out occasionally without having to worry about the realism of adding other dimensions to their personality. Bear in mind, though, there are people who legitimately have ADHD out there. note The misdiagnosis of ADHD/ADD, especially with the rampant Ritalin craze in the '80s, have really shaped public opinion towards this disorder. First is a rampant misunderstanding about what ADHD actually is (in which case you should go do some research ), resulting in the oversimplification and exaggeration. There are a few simple reasons for this trope. For example, one person with ADHD might be very social and loves talking to different people, gets excited about discovering new things, and sometimes loses track of what's happening around them and another might be reclusive and shy and unable to perform well in a controlled setting, but really opens up with a close friend or when talking about something that interests them (for more information on ADHD in real life, see our useful notes page). In reality, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) consists of a whole set of symptoms, some detrimental and some beneficial. They are unable to maintain focus on anything for more than a few minutes before getting distracted by a shiny object, hence the trope title. Sufferers seem to be on a constant caffeine high.
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In media, the symptoms of attention deficit disorders tend to be exaggerated to the point of absurdity. Welcome to the page of multiple interruptions for picking up stuff off the - Ooh, a page telling us to describe this trope here!
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