The Love Island star turned documentary presenter has been widely vocal about her struggle with ADHD. Here, we reveal how she manages her condition.
Olivia Attwood is back in the headlines. This time, not for her award-nominated Channel 4 show Getting Filthy Rich (a must-watch for anyone who hasn’t already), but because of her alleged split with husband, Gillingham FC footballer Bradley Dack.
The split hasn’t yet been substantiated, but Olivia has dropped a few Easter eggs recently about the tension in their relationship.
She hinted on This Morning that she had trouble balancing work and home life: “Last year, we were like ships in the night.” And many of us can relate to that.
Whether you have a partner or not, busy periods of work can often take over your mind and emotions, and even when not at work, it can be easy to let stress take over.
Read more: Read women’s stories about ADHD diagnosis
@thismorningOlivia Attwood responds after revealing that her New Year’s resolution is to be a better wife!♬ original sound – This Morning
Olivia Attwood ADHD diagnosis
On a previous episode of This Morning, Olivia speaks about how she was “loosely” diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a child before being officially diagnosed in her early twenties when she was struggling with anxiety and depression.
She’s since become an advocate for the condition, as well as highlighting the disparity between women being diagnosed compared to men.
She took to her podcast last year to speak about balancing her busy work schedule with ADHD, saying that it often takes “two or three drinks to feel like a normal person”.
Read more: Expert tips on goal setting with ADHD
@thisisoliviashouse ADHD + drinking = sometimes counterproductive. @olivia_attwood explains how the ‘party girl’ in her has turned into a bad habit in the past. Catch Liv’s solo ep on podcast platforms and YouTube NOW – click our link in bio! #OliviaAttwood #OliviasHouse ♬ original sound – Olivia’s House
This led her to binge drinking and partying after a demanding work schedule.
While it’s normal, and often healthy, to let your hair down after a tough period — for those with ADHD, it can be detrimental to rely on alcohol to manage symptoms.
Olivia Attwood on managing ADHD
While symptoms and treatment pathways look different for each ADHD-er, Olivia told Grazia in a 2020 interview that she finds it helpful to make a list of daily tasks and cut down on alcohol and coffee.
In the conversation with Grazia, she likened her ADHD to having multiple computer tabs open.
“I can almost catch myself on a day when my all my computer tabs are all over my brain,” she explains, “And I can say, ‘Okay, now, I need to actively shut some tabs.’”
Feature image: WikiCommons
