Mental disorders are something that just about everyone struggles to manage, even superheroes. Well, metaphorically, at least, as Spider-Man actor Tom Holland has publicly come out, claiming that he’s been diagnosed with two relatively common disorders. “I have ADHD and I’m dyslexic, and I find sometimes when someone gives me a blank canvas that it can be slightly intimidating,” Holland told IGN during an interview about his role in The LEGO Group’s latest trailer.
Holland said that these two disorders can make his work challenging, but also added that people should strive to think outside the box and be more creative in coming up with unique ways to approach things, such as building or playing with LEGOs. The Uncharted star, along with his brother, claims that LEGOs were a big part of his childhood and helped with developing skills like staying focused in a distracting world with screens everywhere. “It also teaches you about tidying up,” referring to how LEGO bricks are iconic for being quite painful to step on if not put away.
Of course, the whole interview was primarily Tom Holland promoting his collab with LEGO, but it’s nice to know he does have a personal connection to the toy brand rather than just being randomly sponsored. As for spilling the beans about having ADHD and dyslexia, many people feel like they can resonate with Holland even more, if he wasn’t loved enough already. “Spider-Man is just like me!” exclaims a commenter on Reddit. “His alcoholic troubles make sense now. He was trying to slow his thought process down so his thoughts weren’t so amplified in his head,” sympathetically remarks another.
Some Online Users Feel Mental Disorders Are Given Too Much Attention, Holland’s Included
However, not everyone feels so empathetic about Spider-Man’s remark about his mental disorders. As one person put it, “Feels like literally everyone has ADHD nowadays.” Another commenter on YouTube points out how, years ago, kids were just labeled as “hyperactive” and went on with their lives with little sympathy for their condition. But nowadays, so many influencers and celebrities from the mainstream media are “collectors of mental disorders” and make a big deal out of ones like ADHD or ADD. “Everyone is just looking for an excuse to justify the faults in their lives, the fault is you, in general,” they conclude. As for Holland’s dyslexia, he has come out about it before on the On Purpose Podcast, as it was a topic of discussion.
While there are many older people who are apathetic to celebrities’ and even their own mental disorders, such a perspective is seriously outdated. It doesn’t help those suffering from said issues get the help they need, especially considering some have more intense cases than others. And while coddling or spoiling people for their disorders is a little excessive, mental health should be addressed with the same amount of care and awareness that physical health is seen with. The two, after all, are connected and have very real effects on each other. Successful celebrity or not, Holland’s issues should be treated with respect, just like anyone else’s should.
