Strictly star John Whaite opens up on his struggle with health condition that 'makes life almost unbearable'
John Whaite has opened up about his struggles with ADHD, admitting that the health condition can sometimes 'make life almost unbearable'.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 36, revealed that he had been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in 2023, noting at the time that he wished he'd found out 'sooner' so he could include it in his memoir.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects concentration, impulse control and activity levels. Common symptoms include restlessness, distractibility, forgetfulness, difficulty following instructions or managing time, and making impulsive decisions.
And taking to Instagram on Sunday, John gave an update on living with the condition, telling his fans that while it's his 'superpower', it can almost make life 'confusing.'
He wrote: 'Much as #ADHD can be a superpower, sometimes it makes life confusing. Sometimes it makes life almost unbearable. I was promised I'd get older and wiser, but sometimes I feel like I'm just an ageing fool.'
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John went on to go into further detail on his condition in a heartfelt video as he shared how it affects him.
He said: 'Oh can we just talk about the reality of life with ADHD because you know a lot of the time we think we have a superpower and sometimes it can serve us very well.
'It can serve us in so many ways where we can fixate on things and achieve things and create things and really do the best work or something imaginable but often that's such a pyrrhic victory because we bleed ourselves dry or we exhaust ourselves in doing it or we abandon plans or friends or family and the reality of ADHD is that it can make us believe that what we're doing in life sometimes is the exactly the righteous course of action for us.
'It's the right path in spite of what people who love us might say. And then when it gets to the point where we are our interest fizzles away, the reality kicks in and we see the truth and we see the situation for what it is.
'At that point we're left kind of thinking f***, I've given up so much for this. I've ignored people who love me for this.
'And this is really exhausting because usually the older you get the wise you get. And while that can still be true in a situation where you have ADHD I think the reality.
'As you get older you don't necessarily get wiser, you just get older and when you get older and you keep making silly little mistakes people become less tolerant of those mistakes because you're meant to be older and wiser.'
The Great British Bake Off winner went on to say: 'So much as we can say that ADHD is a superpower it is, also lets admit it concrete block around us and I think we need to acknowledge.
'You know there's so much positivity, but on the flip side of it can be so crippling and so dehumanising and annoying."
'If I could chose to live life neurotypically at this point in my life, I would jump at the chance and I know that's not very pro ADHD it's not very kind of holding up the flag our community but sometimes it's just exhausting, it's horrific and sometimes I f****** hate it.'
In 2023, John revealed that he was revealing his ADHD diagnosis to help others.
He has previously been very honest about his mental health, sharing his battle with depression and bulimia and difficult relationship with alcohol.
Sharing a photo of himself, John wrote: 'Am I posting this for a dopamine rush, or to inform? Well, it turns out, a little bit of both. Because I have ADHD, which explains a lot.
'I've known my behaviour over the past decade (and my thinking for the past 30-odd years) has not been 'normal'.
'I've often questioned whether I have some personality disorder, deep-rooted psychological trauma, or just a brain that isn't quite wired up right.
'I've been impulsive and borderline addicted (to sex, porn, shopping, food, drink, drugs), and have made some very questionable decisions.
'But these weren't decisions, they were compulsions, because of the neurological functioning inside my head.'
Staying positive, he added: 'But it's not all bad. Because I truly believe it's my ADHD that has allowed me to become so obsessed and focussed on things I like, that I work hard at them until I'm burnt out.
'While burn-out isn't great, the skills I've garnered and career paths I've taken along the way, have been a huge part of my strength and success. And I'm grateful for those chances and opportunities.
'But I'm even more grateful for the knowledge that I have ADHD. Because instantly the shame and guilt can be replaced with conversation - destruction becomes construction.'
He continued: 'I wasn't going to share this. I was going to keep it for myself. But I know from speaking openly about depression, alcohol use, bulimia, that people can seek comfort from the experiences of others. I know I certainly have.
'So, I may be looking for a dopamine rush here. I may be doing my duty as someone in the public eye to share my lived experience. Either way, make of this what you will.
'A huge heartfelt thank you to @shahna_h (and @irondoctorhaz) for their kindness and support ❤️.'
He concluded: 'I just wish I'd known this sooner, so I could have written about it in my memoir (which has already gone to print), but now when you read it, I think you'll understand it even better.'
WHAT IS ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK.
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
Inability to deal with stress
Little or no sense of danger
Careless mistakes
Mood swings
Forgetfulness
Difficulty organising tasks
Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
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.
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Sharing their thoughts on the moment, fans wrote: 'The way ben speaks to and about women is actually disturbing,'; 'Ben you've given the whole Uk the ick,'; 'Who does Ben think he issss. Seriously Toni is too good for him anyways,'; 'Ben you've given ME the ICK,'; 'Ben wants to be the main character so damn bad,'; 'How do we boot this big man child? I'm already sick of him,'; 'Ben is the type of person to be arrested for drunk driving and blame the manufacturer,'; 'Ben is so damn annoying. feels like i'm watching a 16 year old boy in a grown man's body,'; 'Why is Ben talking like a villain yeah,'; 'Why couldn't Ben just be like 'no hard feelings, I don't think we have a connection' instead of all this? 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But the dating hopefuls were left shaken on last night's show, only the second episode of this series, as Sophie was dumped from the Island. Shakira (left) tells Toni (right) that Ben said he 'gave her the ick' and suggests she pulls him for a chat about it Tonight's episode also saw the arrival of two new bombshells: semi-pro footballer Shea Mannings and fitness influencer Remell Mullins. It comes after bombshell Toni caused a stir with her late entrance to the Love Island villa on Monday night's episode. Shea, a scaffolder from Bristol, revealed he has a young son and will be taking that 'into consideration' when coupling up. He added: 'She needs to be bubbly and we need to have that initial spark. She needs to have a nice personality - like I think I have - so that we match together.' Remell, meanwhile, is a self-improvement content creator with a massive 18million likes and half a million followers on TikTok. 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At the moment I'm only finding ones draped in red flags and 'do not cross' signs IF YOU WERE THE CEO OF SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I'm the CEO of empowerment. I want women to feel beautiful and validated in themselves and feel their best self. NAME: Dejon Noel Williams AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Semi-pro footballer and personal trainer WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy CLAIM TO FAME? My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I've met all kinds of famous people through him. When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice. Megan Moore NAME: Megan Moore AGE: 25 FROM: Southampton OCCUPATION: Payroll specialist WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'd like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile. He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt, right now. But we're going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits! Tommy Bradley NAME: Tommy Bradley AGE: 22 FROM: Hertfordshire OCCUPATION: Landscape Gardener WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A girl who is very ambitious, with a big personality, caring, but also someone that doesn't take themselves too seriously. I don't know if that's asking for too much, but I want a bit of everything. I haven't got a specific type in terms of looks, though. WHAT WOULD YOU BE CEO OF? Taking hours to do my hair NAME: Alima Gagio AGE: 23 FROM: Glasgow OCCUPATION: Wealth Management Client Services Executive WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A tall man with a handsome face. You know when you just look at a guy and they have that Disney prince look to them? That's it WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I think she'd hire me because I'm a good flirt. I always ask guys on a night out to guess which country I'm originally from. If they get it right, they can get my number. But they never guess correctly so it works really well if you don't want to give a guy your number. I'm originally from Guinea Bissau. If they're close and I really fancy them, I'll give them my number anyway. NAME: Ben Holbrough AGE: 23 FROM: Gloucester OCCUPATION: Private Hire Taxi driver WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone sexy, good looking, good chat, good vibes, nice teeth and good eye contact - they're all the traits I look for. Oh, and also a cute smile, I just look at you and know I can be around you all day, every day. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt. I'd have been out of business a long time ago. That's exactly why I'm here. NAME: Helena Ford AGE: 29 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Cabin Crew WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Somebody funny or Northern. I feel like Northern people have much more banter than Southerners. If you look through my previous dating history, you'll see I clearly go for personality. You can pretty much laugh me into bed. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I would say hire but then quickly fire soon after. It would only be a temporary contract. NAME: Megan Forte Clarke AGE: 24 FROM: Dublin OCCUPATION: Musical theatre performer and energy broker WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they're not bad looking, that's always a plus. I love a boy that's a bit pasty, like Timothée Chalamet. I don't mind scrawny, or a bit of a 'dad bod'. I'm 5ft1 so any height really. CLAIM TO FAME? Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton. Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I've also done Panto. NAME: Blu Chegini AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is family oriented, has a lot of love to give and a lot of love to receive. Personality goes a long way. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? She'd fire me, but I've got the charm to smooth things over with a girl. The fact I speak fluent Spanish comes in handy when it comes to flirting! Shakira Khan NAME: Shakira Khan AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Booming, but they're all frogs. It's a busy love life but I've not found 'the husband', I'm looking for 'the one'. I'm looking for the ring. NAME: Harry Cooksley AGE: 30 FROM: Guildford OCCUPATION: Gold trader, semi-professional footballer and model WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The girl next door that makes me laugh and can hold eye contact with me. I don't think I'd go for the most obvious girl, I like a real sweet girl. CLAIM TO FAME? I'm the body double for Declan Rice. So when he does a shoot, any body close ups will actually be me. You'll never see my face, but you'll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing. NAME: Conor Phillips AGE: 23 FROM: Limerick OCCUPATION: Professional rugby player WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?Someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic. I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? Definitely hire. I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby. It doesn't work, but it gets them laughing. It's an ice-breaker, not a serious question of course! NAME: Toni Laites AGE: 24 FROM: Connecticut OCCUPATION: Las Vegas Pool Cabana Server WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm looking for darker hair, definitely muscular but not too muscular. Super fit. Clean hair cut. Someone that can make me laugh - I'm super outgoing. And someone that's quite active. Maybe one day we could start our own family together. I WANT TO DATE A BRITISH GUY BECAUSE... I've lived in three different states and I'm still single. It's time to try something new! I have some British friends and they're pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners. NAME: Kyle Ashman AGE: 23 FROM: Stafford OCCUPATION: Water operative WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone that's fun, confident and just themselves. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I'd say I'd be hired. I just go with it, find something to compliment a girl on and go from there. NAME: Shea Mannings AGE: 25 FROM: Bristol OCCUPATION: Scaffolder WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? She needs to be bubbly and we need to have that initial spark. She needs to have a nice personality - like I think I have - so that we match together. Also, I have a little boy, so I'll be taking him into consideration with who I couple up with, too. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? Definitely hire. I'm confident to go up and introduce myself and say, 'You look beautiful', to get a conversation flowing. NAME: Remell Mullins AGE: 24 FROM: Essex OCCUPATION: Self Improvement Content Creator WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A bubbly, confident, ambitious and fun girl. One feature that stands out to me is a nice smile, nice teeth and someone that can keep me on my toes. IF YOU WERE THE CEO OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I'm the CEO of flirting. Sometimes it's just unintentional.
