Anthony Hopkins has sparked outrage from mental health advocates after dismissing ADHD, OCD and Asperger’s as “nonsense” conditions.
The acclaimed actor, who has previously suggested he might be neurodivergent and has been candid about his battle with alcoholism, made the controversial remarks despite admitting he has experienced unexplained anger issues.
The Oscar-winning performer told the Sunday Times: “Well, I guess I’m cynical because it’s all nonsense, it’s all rubbish; ADHD OCD, Asperger’s, blah, blah, blah. ‘Oh God, it’s called living, it’s just being a human being, full of tangled webs and mysteries and stuff that’s in us, full of warts and grime and craziness, it’s the human condition.
“All these labels, I mean, who cares? But now it’s fashion.”
However, Anthony’s comments threaten to alienate countless individuals living with these conditions.
“Overall life expectancy is 9 years lower for a woman with ADHD and 7 years lower for a man with ADHD. Having ADHD can be extraordinarily hard, and comments like this make it harder for those struggling the most.”
Anthony disclosed that his third wife, Stella Arroyave, suggested he might have Asperger’s Syndrome, which is now an outdated term.
Asperger’s is no longer recognized as a separate diagnosis, and the condition is now classified under Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) after researchers found it difficult to distinguish from ASD, following revelations about Hans Asperger’s connections to the Nazi regime.
Anthony mentioned he has been urged to consult a psychiatrist due to his anger management issues and his feeling that he is “putting on a mask every morning”. Nevertheless, he continues to express skepticism about neurodiversity.
Anthony has been candid about his past struggles with alcohol. He recalled being pulled over for drunk driving in California when he recognized he had a problem that required attention.
Shortly afterward, he encountered his former agent at an event and confided that he needed assistance. He subsequently enrolled in a 12-step program in Los Angeles.
Last December, Anthony celebrated a significant milestone of 50 years of sobriety in a video he shared with his 5.3 million followers on social media. He offered words of encouragement and support to those struggling with alcohol addiction.
He stated: “If you do have a problem – having fun is wonderful, having a drink is fine – but if you are having a problem with the booze, there is help.
“It’s not a terrible deal – it’s a condition if you’re allergic to alcohol, get some help, there’s plenty of help around. One thing I didn’t realize, that I was not unique. There are thousands of people around like me – anyway, I got sober and, it sounds a dull word, but I’ve had a wonderful life.
“They still employ me, they still give me jobs. I’m going to be 87 in two days now.”
The actor captioned the clip: “One day at a time. 49 years. Life is in session.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
