Martine McCutcheon has opened up about being diagnosed with ADHD.
The former EastEnders star revealed she was living with the condition last year in a post on Instagram.
Martine has now discussed how she ‘sobbed’ upon receiving the diagnosis later in life during a recent appearance on the ADHD Chatter Podcast.
She said: ‘At first, I was like, ‘They’ve got it wrong’, and I forgot about it. And my mum was like, “Oh, you know; I know you said that you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, and there’s this book about women and how it’s very different”.
‘And I was like, “But I don’t have it; I think they got it wrong”. She was like, “What do you mean they got it wrong? Like, you did a full-on private like indulgent pretty fabulous test, Martine, and you were…your score was high”.’
She explained she felt she initially ‘wasn’t ready’ to face her diagnosis, as she was dealing with the death of her brother at the time.
Speaking of when she later felt ready, Martine continued: ‘I started reading more and more and then I sobbed.
‘One day, I just sobbed and I felt so sad for all the things that could have been so different if only I’d known all the choices that I would have made from a different place, from a different angle that would have been so much more kind and compassionate to who I was.’
Martine has previously told of how she is also living with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia and Lyme disease, which has caused her pain and exhaustion for over a decade.
The Love Actually actress – who split from husband Jack McManus after 18 years together earlier this year – posted on Instagram at the start of 2024: ‘I wanted to share these as my husband’s birthday was kind of an extra big deal for me this year – Last year was terrible. I was so dizzy I could barely stand, I had been in hospital with my CFS and to say Jack held the fort is an understatement.
‘His birthday was pretty rubbish, so I’m SO grateful and glad we got to enjoy this one… And that we got to see some friends! I’ve missed them so much! I don’t know about you but I have to plan things pretty last minute as I don’t know how my symptoms will be and I hate letting people down – We all live all over the uk too…
‘So now, I only surround myself with people who understand that if I need to cancel something (& that can happen often) it’s not a choice I want to make and that they go ahead and book something and if they see me rocking up, it’s a bonus! I also ask my friends to google CFS /fibro symptoms.
‘”If they love you, it’s the least they can do! Understanding helps with support. So thank you to our friends who came with a few hours notice! I forgot my sensory ear plugs Dammit! They are amazing if you are dealing with sensory overload or feel or feel like everyone is shouting (which is often the case with CFS and fibro etc…) But I just keep grinning that we did it.’
