Fuirseoir is ea í Louisa Ní Éideáin a fuair diagnóis NHEA nó ADHD le déanaí. Anseo cíorann sí an cuma atá air go bhfuil baol níos mó ann d'fhuirseoirí an riocht seo d'fháil.
Louisa Ní Éideáin is a comedian and writer who last year received a diagnosis for ADHD. Here she examines the apparent risk that comedians are more prone to suffering from the affliction.
Aisling Bea, PJ Gallagher, Johnny Vegas, Sara Pascoe - fuirseoirí den chéad scoth agus iad uilig tar éis diagnóis NHEA (neamhord hipirghníomhaíochta an easnaimh airde nó ADHD) a fháil go mall ina saolta. Meastar go bhfuil NHEA ar 5% de mhuintir na hÉireann, dár le ADHD Ireland, sin thart ar 255 míle duine in Éireann. Tá aithne cinnte agat ar duine éigin leis, fiú muna bhfuil siad féin ar an eolas faoi. Ach an bhfuil ionadaíocht faoi leith ar NHEA i measc muintir na fuirseoireachta?
Highly rated comedians such as Aisling Bea, PJ Gallagher, Johnny Vegas, Sara Pascoe and others have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder later in life. It is estimated that 5% of the Irish population (255,000 people) have it, according to ADHD Ireland. You will certainly know someone who suffers with the condition, even if they are unaware of it themselves. But do comedians represent a significant proportion of those who are diagnosed with the affliction?
Baineann NHEA le héagumas dopamín a chruthú nó a rialú. Is féidir leis an stádas néareolaíoch seo daoine a chur i dtóir deiseanna a thugann buile mór dópamíne dóibh. Tá réimse leathan roghanna ar fáil - drugaí, alcól, spórt contúirteach agus an stáitse. Bualadh bos agus gártha molta? Sin an druga is fearr liomsa.
ADHD is associated with an inability to produce or control the production of dopamine. The neurological make-up can lead them to seek opportunities that will deliver a big hit of dopamine. There’s a wide range of choices available – drugs, alcohol, dangerous sports and the stage. Applause and shouts of praise? That’s my drug of choice.
Ach is rud amháin é a bheith toilteanach dul ar an stáitse, an féidir leat daoine a chur ag gáire? An bua don ghreann ar an stáitse agus an néara-éagsúlacht - an é go bhfuil rud éigin i bpáirt acu - you’ve either got it or you don’t? Mar a deirtear sa Bhéarla. Maireann an tsean-teannas maidir leis an deighilt idir dhúchas agus oiliúint, an bhfuil roinnt againn cruthaithe le buanna áirithe nó an féidir iad a chothú?
Do comedians represent a significant proportion of those who are diagnosed with the affliction?
It’s one thing to be willing to go on stage, but can you make people laugh? Maybe there's something that on-stage comedy and neurodiversity have in common – you’ve either got it or you don’t? The age-old tension between nature and nurture continues – are some of us born with particular abilities or can they be nurtured?
Is féidir le roinnt de thréithe an NHEA buntáiste a thabhairt do lucht na healaíóna, fuirseoirí ina measc. Go minic bíonn daoine le NHEA cruthaitheach, le cumas acu nascanna a dhéanamh idir ábhair nach ndéanann an gnáthdhuine. Cé go bhfuil aithne maith ar an chuid 'Neamhaird’ den NHEA (tá sé san ainm fiú), tá gné eile, an hyperfocus. Is é atá i gceist anseo ná bheith in ann bheith iomlán dírithe ar tasc nó sprioc.
Some ADHD traits can bestow an advantage on artistic types, comedians included. Frequently, those with ADHD are creative, with an ability to link subjects which neurotypical people do not. While the ‘disorder’ part of ADHD is well known, other aspects are not, such as hyperfocus. What this means is the ability to be completely focussed on a task or goal.
Is mór an chabhair í seo agus tú ag teipeadh go h-iomlán ós comhair lucht féachana de chúigear. (Gabh mo leithscéal, ró-roinnt uaimse ansin ó mo thaithí NHEA féin, tréith eile atá usáideach sa stand-up). Más taithí éagsúla atá riachtannach do dhuine, is feiliúnach an ghníomhaíocht é an fuirseoireacht.
This can be a great help when you are failing completely in front of an audience of five people. (Forgive me, over-sharing of my own ADHD moxie there, another useful trait for stand-up.) If different experiences are essential for a person, then comedy is a suitable activity.
Gach uair go dtéann tú ar an stáitse, níl fios agat cé no cad atá romhat. Samhligh gig ag féile agus seit iomlán mí-oiriúnach agat don slua gurb páistí iad den chuid is mó, teip ar an gcóras fuaime, cúpla meisciúil ag troid agus ceann doibh ag fagail díreach roimh an jóc is mó? Spreagúil!
An bua don ghreann ar an stáitse agus an néara-éagsúlacht - an é go bhfuil rud éigin i bpáirt acu - you've either got it or you don’t?
Every time you go on stage, you do not know what awaits. Imagine, if you will, a festival gig and a set entirely inappropriate for a crowd largely made up of children, the sound system going kaput, a drunken couple fighting and one of them leaving just before my best gag? Inspirational!
Nïl figúirí cruinn ann maidir le líon muintir NHEA agus gairmeacha, nílimid fiú in ann seirbhísí diagnóiseach sásúil a chur ar fáil. Fiú agus diagnóis ag duine, níl aon dhualgas ar dhuine an nuacht sin a roinnt go poiblí. Tá stiogma ag baint leis an néaréagsúlacht go fóill (agus laistigh den téarma sin , tá réimse leathan de thaithí agus riachtannais tacaíochta i gceist).
There are no current accurate figures for rates for ADHD in certain professions, unsurprising, given that we are not able to provide satisfactory diagnostic services. Even with a diagnosis, it's not necessary for that person to share such information publicly. There is still a stigma attached to neurodivergence (and within that term, there is a wide range of experiences and support needs).
Bíonn roinnt cainnte mar gheall ar NHEA agus an néaréagsúlacht go gineáralta mar sárchumhacht. Más dearfach an meafar é sin do dhuine, maith dóibh é. Ach níl mise tógtha leis mar go dtugann sé an deis beagnaí (beagní?) a dhéanamh don streachailt a bhíonn mar chuid den ghnáth-shaol do an-chuid de lucht NHEA. Ná déanaigí dearmad go bhfuil ráta féinmharaithe daoine le NHEA cúig n-uaire níos airde ná daoine gan é. Ní cúis gháire é/í sin.
There is often talk of ADHD and neurodivergence more generally as some kind of superpower. If that’s a positive metaphor for someone, good for them. I’m not, however, enamored of it as it can belittle the everyday struggles many with ADHD have to deal with. Suicide rates amongst people with ADHD are five times that of those without. That’s no laughing matter.
I mo thaithí féin, tá céatadán os cionn an mheáin náisiúnta d ’fhoirseoirí atá néaraeagsúlach agus go minic iad ag fáil diagnóis mar dhaoine fásta. Ní ionadh dom é tar éis na blianta ag cur aghaidh fidil ort féin agus ag déanamh aithris ar dhaoine go raibh cuma normálta orthu, go mbeadh tú compórdach á dhéanamh ar an stáitse.
From my experience, the percentage of comedians who are neurodivergent is higher than the national average, and they are frequently diagnosed as adults. It is no surprise to me, that having spent years donning a mas and aping the behaviour of people who appear to be 'normal', that you would be comfortable doing just that on stage.
Suicide / depression support line: If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact; The Samaritans (phone: 116 123), or Pieta House (1800 247247).
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