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I know many extreme athletes have Add, adhd, bipolarity, ptsd, and so on. Why the fuck do you think people still willing to die in the sport? They are willing to die for their freedom, fame ?

Another interesting part is, how many had or have a difficult relationship to their father. I have met so many basejumper who have described

Im quite surprised this is not discussed here before, or been part of any scientific surveys I have been part of. Many jumper do not know themselves well enough to realize they have some kind of dissorder, and many live good with themselves without knowing. Dissorder is maybe wrong word, because most people with a strong drive like base, manage to handle better diognoses as long they are fit, have money enough, and can take out excess energy like basejumping, that makes them feel kind of normal. They or we get our medicine. But if we dont get our medicine or our daily fix, we struggle.

I also don't like word "disorder". I can only relate to ADHD so I'll use this as an example.

If you differ in your behavior or in the way your mind works from 19 other people, you are considered "abnormal", with the others being "normal" of course. This is based on a 2-sigma statistical approach which is a bit outdated but still relevant. Basically, it means that if you're different in a particular behavior from the 95% of "others" - you're abnormal. What does scientific society does with an abnormality once it's discovered? They research it and give it a name, usually this name comes with a word "disorder" or "syndrome" which to general masses would sound like there's something wrong with you. Of course, big pharma jumps on it and develops a medication that is designed to either "cure" or "treat" the condition, really meaning suppressing your natural "way" to fit better in the modern society.

Yet, it is not that something is wrong with you, it is that the nature made you think or process information in a different way from the majority of others. "Disorder" comes in only when this way does not really fit in the modern society's norms. The problem is that modern society is very young in evolutionary terms, and our physiology and psychology doesn't keep up that fast. 1,000's of years ago I would be tracking a mammoth down or building a pyramid and my disorder would not be so "disorderly". But today, when my boss tells me to glue myself in a chair and work 8 hours straight on that boring report, god forbid if I don't have enough concentration and "sitting endurance" to do that - after all, 95% of others have no problem with it (or tolerate it), so I am abnormal.

By the way, ADHD doesn't even fall in this category anymore since these days more than 5% of population are diagnosed with it if tested (both kids and adults).

Think about it, there are 7 billion people on earth, so 5% of that is 350 million, that if had a condition different from everyone else, would be considered abnormal. That's roughly population of USA... And that's only one "disorder", consider all others and there is a good chance more than half of the planet would have some kind of disorder if diagnosed properly..

I am not talking here about conditions that are known to be caused by some kind of malfunction of one of our physiological mechanisms. They no doubt exist and need to be cured/treated. However, a lot of conditions, especially in the mental health domain are getting labeled as "disorders" simply based on statistical abnormalities and not through thorough understanding of what these abnormalities are caused by.

For that reason, although I am #1 on this poll, I kind of understand people who chose the last option. I do believe my mind works a bit differently and yes, I may have attention deficit and/or hyperactivity, at least with respect to what modern society expects me to do and to be like, but I am not completely sold on the "disorder" part.

In that sense, yes, I do believe that a lot of people who actively participate in BASE have some kind of "disorders", most likely undiagnosed in the majority of cases. However, I would not use a phrase "are willing to die" cause I doubt we are willing to die, it's just we accept the increased possibility of death due to the activity we practice, in which case we are also "abnormal" (BASE disorder anyone?)

I Like the way you look at it, and I respect your understanding. There can be many reasons why some experiences disorders, many makes their own reasonable reasons, and live with it, and no doubt some of us is seeking base because of it. Some have too much energy, some is getting super power, feeling love, feeling nature, or depression you name it. Common for all, is we get our reward for doing it, even we can lose our life. The reward is bigger than the risk we take. Most normal people be not willing to risk so much.

I have late in life found my reasons for being who I am, and also why I have silent struggled and suffered. With great help, I have now better understanding, and accepted my fate. I am now capable to build a life, and that is with no help of medicine, but it has taken me several rounds on the life roller coasters, with ups and downs. It covers everything from the darkest room, to being enlighten. The strange thing is I wanted to die, but base and other risk activities, made me wanted to live, a strong lifewish, and therefor, I say many of us are, or willing to die for getting our fix, so we can live for a moment again, and again, and again. Pushing our limits for the sweet feeling of being alive. Very simple explanation, but I guess we finding our way to live with our problems to fit in the so called normal world. The so called normal world seem to crazy to me, and I do not want to be part of it, but I like the benefits and possibilities it gives.

Anyway, I have managed to have a better life by escaping what creates energy loss, chaos, and bad feelings, and changed it with big enough room for my selves, with discipline and regular routines, hard physical activity, hard work, nature, healthy diet, almost no drinking, and long time outs where i can sit and see the world goes on by it selves, and surging energy for another round.

I had "no" problems with it before I had back problems, but then I realized my strange behavior was not normal, and I really searched for answers more than ever before. Well It has taken time, and finely I think I managed to deal with it, and without medication everybody wanted me to take. I turned down doctors, shrinks and psychiatrist. They really put hard pressure on you, and so far i proved them wrong. Btw I am diagnosed Bipolar 2.

And I had some fatigue missing several essential vitamins, minerals and hormone. If it was because of depression, or depression came with fatigue, I do not know. However, the medicine they want to give, will also influence your hormone balance in a negative way, which can influence your vitamins and minerals. So, thank god I say, I did not jump on a medicine roller coaster.

Good luck to everyone who is still searching answers, I found my way, and I'm sure most of you will as well.

Btw, it is not true I did not have any problems until I had my back problem, I just managed to run away, or fly away from my problems, and finely my problems catched up with me!

One more thing that I think will save more risk takers, is understanding why they are willing to push so hard. Riskin it all for nothing!

Thanks for sharing your story mate, glad to hear you've learned to manage! I agree these kind of things are not addressed/discussed enough. All the best!

No worries, I'm at a better stage in life now, even I miss those crazy high energy times with Basejumping and parties.

Everyone have their demons to fight no matter diagnoses or not. We all have our believes, and our way of looking at life, and what our goals and purpose with our life is. The worst thing I experienced early in life, was exactly the meaningless and pointless life we had. All the bullshit and lies we were told, the brainwashing, but then I got fixated on base jumping 12 years old, and i found a goal and a meaning. Something to happen in future giving me hope. I guess I was lucky to found base.

Btw I voted no for adhd ;-)