tIGGER
Tigger is Pooh's exuberant, happy, irresponsible and sometimes trouble-making tiger friend. He loves to bounce, especially bouncing on others. He is energetic, outgoing, funloving and so overconfident that he thinks that any task is "what tiggers do best". Oftentimes, Tigger causes more chaos rather than good. However, Tigger is also shown to be tough, fearless, optimistic and resourceful. However, Tigger’s continual bouncing, hyperactivity and irresponsible attitude cause problems for him and others around him; and this is grounds to diagnose him with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Tigger rarely sits still and is always depicted running, climbing, or fidgeting. Tigger’s arrival at Pooh’s house in the middle of the night is evidence of his inability to control his impulses. In fact, in that episode, Tigger and Pooh were complete strangers. Impulsive behaviour, interrupting and intruding are at the heart of Tigger’s problems. Soon after their first meeting, for example, Tigger suddenly interrupts Pooh, climbs on to the table, wraps himself with the tablecloth and brings everything crashing to the floor. When Pooh questions Tigger about his hyper behavior, rather than accepting responsibility for his actions, Tigger accuses the tablecloth of trying to bite him. Tigger makes bold statements, such as declaring that he is only bouncy before breakfast. He proclaims impulsively that whatever food he is offered is what Tigger like best, then gulps down large mouthfuls of the food in question, only to find he dislikes it very much. More evidence of Tigger’s recklessness and poor impulse control is displayed by his belief that he can do anything. He has no sense of fear or responsibility. This is apparent when he climbs up a high tree with Roo on his back before he determined whether he was able to climb a tree in the first place. Inevitably, the two get stuck when Tigger realizes he has no idea how to climb down. On one occasion, Tigger grabs Roo’s medicine from Kanga, and dangerously swallows it; almost consuming the spoon as well. Tigger never learns from his mistakes, bouncing back almost immediately after a frightening and potentially hazardous incident. As a result, Tigger’s behavior causes concern to those around him. Living with someone suffering from ADHD can be difficult and may be why Rabbit boldly asserts that Tigger should be loosed into the forest. Rabbit and his friends believe the shock of being lost might cause Tigger to calm down a little on his return, a strategy that backfires, however. It is clear that Tigger is suffering from ADHD, as he exhibits countless symptoms of the disorder.