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Olivia Attwood says ADHD diagnosis ‘completely changed’ her life

Olivia Attwood says her ADHD diagnosis "completely changed the way" she lives her life.

The former ‘Love Island’ star has opened up on the importance of labels when it comes to mental health, and how useful it can be for someone to have a definition of what they are dealing with.

She told The Sun newspaper: "When I got my diagnosis it completely changed the way I live my life and ADHD is now something I have managed to take control of.

"I understand what triggers me now, and others need to. And now I like to use my platform to talk about it, because there are so many people going through this, and not having the help I did."

The 29-year-old star was in primary school when she was diagnosed with the condition – a group of behavioural symptoms including impulsiveness, inattentiveness and hyperactivity – which she continued to suffer with as an adult.

She added: "Someone with an ADHD brain is like a computer with too many tabs open, all the windows open at once, and you have 100 balls in the air.

"I sought help from a psychiatrist who questioned if I’d had an ADHD diagnosis. That’s when I discovered it can follow you into adult life.

"I was unaware I was living with it, but we found it was the root of my anxiety and depression. Getting diagnosed again changed everything for me."

Olivia has turned to coping strategies like writing lists to help, while she has also been open about taking antidepressants each day.

She previously raised awareness by sharing her morning routine with her fans on her Instagram Story, and she described the medication she takes for her mental health as "happy pills".

She posted a photo of her daily vitamins, alongside the caption: "I try and drink at least two pints of water soon as I wake up, sometimes with lemons.

"And then I take my vitamins, I rotate what I take quite a lot, but this is today (Oh, and my happy pills of course) (sic)"

She told fans she started taking the medication five years ago for both anxiety and depression.

She explained: "So, happy pills … unfortunately, no, not something you can just go and buy over the counter – that is my name for the medication I take for anxiety and depression combined.

"I’ve been taking them for nearly five years – on a very low dose now, which I probably could just come off."