The condition Geena Davis was diagnosed with at the age of 41
Appearing on ITV’s Loose Women, back in October 2022, Geena Davis revealed how her ADD diagnosis came about.
“I started with a therapist and I think by the second session she said, ‘Has anyone told you, you have ADD?'”
Geena said: “I thought there was something wrong with me because I couldn’t finish or start a lot of things.”
Because of this, Geena felt like she carried a “huge burden of shame” throughout her life.
“But when I found out there’s a reason and I’m not a bad person, it was very interesting,” Geena added.
Sharing more about her diagnosis in a later interview with Chris Evans on Virgin Radio, Geena said she “found out at 41” that she had ADHD, without the hyperactivity (H) part.
“I assumed that it would be impossible that I had that, because I was profoundly not hyperactive,” said Geena.
“I was kinda shocked, and had some testing and it showed that I really did, but it explained so much.”
Geena explained: “All my life, I had struggled with not being able to start things that needed to be done, start the homework or whatever. And also not being able to finish a lot of things.
“And it was like a very shameful secret that I tried to hide from everybody, because I thought it was a character flaw, rather than a brain function.”
ADHD and ADD
The NHS says ADHD can be categorised into two types of behaviours:
- Inattentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focusing)
- Hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
When a person had problems with concentrating and focusing, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness, it’s known as ADD.
Signs of inattentiveness can include:
- Having a short attention span and being easily distracted
- Making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork
- Appearing forgetful or losing things
- Being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
- Appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
- Constantly changing activity or task
- Having difficulty organising tasks.
Signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness can include:
- Being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
- Constantly fidgeting
- Being unable to concentrate on tasks
- Excessive physical movement
- Excessive talking
- Being unable to wait their turn
- Acting without thinking
- Interrupting conversations
- Little or no sense of danger.
“As ADHD is a developmental disorder, it’s believed it cannot develop in adults without it first appearing during childhood,” the NHS says.
If you suspect you could have ADHD, the first port of call would be your doctor.
Geena Davis starred in Thelma and Louise, which is showcasing on Friday, July 7 at 11.40pm on BBC One.
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