Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown has opened up about her ADHD diagnosis, saying she spent ‘years being ashamed’ of her mental health troubles.
The cook, 36, learned she had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in January, explaining she also has depression, post traumatic stress disorder and chronic phobia.
During an appearance on Loose Women on Friday, Candice said: ‘I’ve spent so many years being ashamed of this mental health. I suffered trauma which led to the depression and PTSD.
‘It took me so long to realise it’s not my fault, it was something that’s quite wrong.’
The television personality explained she had struggled with her mental health for seven years before she rose to fame on GBBO in 2016.
She said: ‘I got diagnosed with ADHD in January last year which kind of explains that it’s not just me being completely disorganised, completely late, completely a bumblebee, which is what my family call me.’
Candice admitted she struggled to come to terms with her mental health troubles as she felt ashamed (Picture: ITV)
ADHD is a condition that affects how people behave, with most people getting a diagnosis between the ages of six and 12. Few adults are diagnosed or treated.
Symptoms in adulthood include difficulty in following directions, trouble remembering information, and poor concentration and organisation.
It can cause anxiety, depression, impulsiveness, low self-esteem, mood swings, relationship problems and substance abuse or addiction.
Candice went on to explain she did not recognise the symptoms within herself despite previously working in the special needs department of a school as a teacher.
The star added: ‘I function quite highly, it’s OK to not be OK, and it’s OK to ask for help.
‘Cooking has always been my kind of happy place, my go to place, the kitchen. I would be all-consumed by it. It’s one of the only things that would hold my attention.’
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.
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Credit: Original article published here.You can read this post on My Celebrity Life.