Rebecca Gibney has been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and autism.
The Packed To The Rafters star, 61, revealed her shock diagnosis in an interview with The Australian’s Women’s Weekly, admitting she is still struggling to accept the news.
ADHD is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, while autism affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, behaves and processes information.
Autism is considered a ‘spectrum’ because the severity varies among individuals.
‘It’s been hard. It’s been very emotional. I’ve cried a lot more in the last few months than I’ve cried in a long time, which I thought I’d gotten over as a woman over 60. I was like, “No, I’ve got all that stuff sorted”,’ the Millionaire Hot Seat host said.
Rebecca found out about her condition while speaking to a psychologist due to struggles she faced after Dancing With The Stars earlier this year.
Rebecca Gibney, 61, (pictured) has been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and autism
‘It’s been hard. It’s been very emotional’, the Millionaire Hot Seat host said
‘I’m still coming to terms with it because it’s answered a lot of questions from my past – my panic attacks, my years of masking, which started obviously at a very early age,’ she confessed.
‘Masking’ is when someone with ADHD or autism hides their natural behaviours and traits to fit in with others.
Rebecca also revealed that her diagnosis has been somewhat a double-edged sword.
After suffering with shyness, anxiety and panic attacks over the years, Rebecca said the diagnosis has helped her better understand her prior struggles.
However, it has also prompted feelings of grief and disappointment.
‘There’s that slight mourning – gosh, if I’d known this 40, 50 years ago, would I have gone through all the stuff that I went through? Maybe it would have made my high school years easier because, you know, I did have a lot of mental health struggles.’
Rebecca is one of many Australian celebrities who have recently been diagnosed with ADHD later in life.
Mamamia co-founder Mia Freeman received her ADHD diagnosis at age 49, while actress Sigrid Thornton found out she had the same condition at 65.
After suffering with shyness, anxiety and panic attacks over the years, Rebecca said the diagnosis has helped her better understand her prior struggles
Media personality Em Rusciano was diagnosed with ADHD and autism at age 43, while feminist author Clementine Ford discovered she had ADHD at 41.
It comes after the Halifax f.p. star spoke candidly about the darkest chapter of her life – revealing she has long struggled with debilitating panic attacks, chronic people-pleasing tendencies and what she describes as a ‘not normal’ brain.
‘I’ve got too many drop-down tabs going in my head. I can hyperfocus on one thing and then I get panicked because I’ve let the other thing slide,’ she told The Daily Telegraph last year.
‘I suffered from panic attacks from the age of 14 until well into my 30s. If I could change one thing I wish my brain was a bit more normal.’
Despite a successful career spanning four decades, Gibney says it’s only now – after years of inner work – that she is learning to let go of perfectionism and prioritise her own wellbeing.
‘I’ve probably always been a bit of a people pleaser – I think I inherited that from Mum. I can’t enjoy myself unless everyone is too,’ she said.
‘As I get older, I’m getting better at setting boundaries… as my husband Richard says, ‘I’m not using up my happy pills on people that don’t deserve it anymore’.’
ABOUT ATTENTION-DEFICIT / HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include:
- Constant fidgeting
- Poor concentration
- Excessive movement or talking
- Acting without thinking
- Little or no sense of danger
- Careless mistakes
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty organising tasks
- Inability to listen or carry out instructions
Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this.
ADHD’s exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person’s brain function and structure.
Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk.
ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette’s and epilepsy.
There is no cure.
A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.
Source: NHS Choices