Olivia Attwood has spoken about living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and how it impacts her day to day life.
The Love Island star, 30, who shot to fame on the show in 2017’s third season, appeared on Loose Women on Monday to discuss living with the disorder and explained her diagnosis came after she sought help for mental health problems.
She said: ‘Later in life I found myself with a severe battle of anxiety and depression, came under the care of a psychiatrist who specialised in ADHD. It was a stroke of luck that it was diagnosed. [It’s] state of being constantly overwhelmed’.
Opening up: Olivia Attwood has spoken about living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and how it impacts her day to day life
Olivia has been candid about her health and spoke openly and honestly on Loose Women while appearing on the show to discuss Love Island’s launch on Monday.
When asked by the panel about what type of ADHD she has, Olivia said: ‘There are three major types. I fall into a combined type…
‘There’s the typical type people look for – hyperactive child in the classroom, throwing things, breaking things. Other types – internalised, fidgeting, restless thoughts, disorganised, acting on impulse’.
She explained that girls are harder to diagnose, going on: ‘Later in life I found myself with a severe battle of anxiety and depression, came under the care of a psychiatrist who specialised in ADHD. It was a stroke of luck that it was diagnosed…
Candid: The Love Island star, 30, who shot to fame on the show in 2017’s third season, appeared on Loose Women on Monday to discuss living with the disorder and explained her diagnosis came after she sought help for mental health problems
She explained that girls are harder to diagnose, going on: ‘Later in life I found myself with a severe battle of anxiety and depression, came under the care of a psychiatrist who specialised in ADHD. It was a stroke of luck that it was diagnosed’
‘Through my teens and early 20s when it wasn’t managed, I acted without thinking, it caused myself and people around me a lot of stress’.
Explaining how she feels in herself, she said: ‘I think people describe ADHD as a state of being constantly overwhelmed.
‘Having a partner, they say, calm down, it’s not a big deal, but in my mind it is a big deal’.
Speaking about opening up about her condition, she said: ‘I’d not heard others speak about it so I kept it to myself.
‘It only came out by accident on Instagram stories. I got loads of dms from young women and mothers, who wanted to hear more’.
Last year, Olivia was praised by fans for speaking candidly about her struggles with ADHD on her new ITVBe show Olivia Attwood Meets Her Match.
She said: ‘Pre-Love Island, I just kind of hit this point where everything came to a head.
‘My anxiety was through the roof, I was fluctuating in and out of mild depression, and I had to actually get some help for it.
‘And the amazing doctor who I was actually treated by, when I was with her for a couple of hours she was like, ‘Have you ever been diagnosed with ADHD?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, as a child, but you can’t have it as an adult, can you?’
‘And she was like, ‘You absolutely can. I think not being aware of your ADHD tendencies has led you to be really hyperactive and then you’re dealing with anxiety and that’s brought on depression’.
‘It’s like a big chicken and egg situation.’
Fans on Twitter praised Olivia for her openness, with one writing: ‘Well done for discussing adhd, my daughter has it diagnosed at 7 years old now nearly 13 she has her struggles and often been judged but she embrasses it and trys so hard to get through the hurdles and people’s opinions of her’.
Another penned: ‘Good on Olivia for opening up and sharing her personal experience and raising awareness on ADHD’.
Olivia recently wrapped on her ITVBe show Olivia Meets her Match, which follows the reality star’s preparations for her forthcoming nuptials with Bradley.
Way back when: She shot to fame on Love Island in 2017
Olivia recently wrapped on her ITVBe show Olivia Meets her Match, which follows the reality star’s preparations for her forthcoming nuptials with Bradley
Source: Daily Mail
