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Saying somebody is creative because of their ADHD is like saying a person is charming because of their glasses. These things do not need to be related, they are charming and they happen to wear glasses. They are creative and happen to have ADHD.

Do not ascribe talents people have to their disabilities.

Besides, it's just a stereotype and doesn't hold for everyone with ADHD.

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I could imagine someone who looked so much better while wearing glasses that "they're charming because of their glasses" is true.

Anyway, it seems much more likely that there would be a causative link between ADHD and creativity- e.g. some common underlying factor that boosts the explore tendency in explore/exploit along with openness to experience. A brain that naturally roams more could be expected to produce more novel syntheses.

There might be a relation, phasic vs tonic dopamine. But given the anecdotal nature of the ADHD-creativeness link, I’m not so sure. Would need to see some papers about if first.

Anyway, ADHD is comorbid with plenty of other disorders that are limiting on creativity such as anxiety, low self esteem, inhibited decision making, that it’s definitely not a given.

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