Nelly Furtado struggled with symptoms of ADHD throughout her life, but it wasn’t until she became a parent to her youngest children that she received a diagnosis.
The singer opened up in an interview with People about how her two youngest children, a 6-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son, brought a new level of chaos into her life, leading her to recognize the disorder within herself. Furtado shared, “When I had my two youngest in close proximity, it made me very aware of my ADHD. It made me realize I had ADHD. I’ve been diagnosed.”
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ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, manifests in symptoms like lack of focus, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Furtado vividly recalls experiencing these symptoms in her college years, likening it to feeling like ‘Boing, boing, boing, boing.’
It’s important to note that many adults with ADHD go undiagnosed, especially women, as their symptoms may be less overt than in men. Getting a diagnosis is crucial as it opens doors to treatment options like therapy and medication. When left untreated, ADHD can have a significant impact on self-esteem, relationships, and performance.
For Furtado, exercise serves as a coping mechanism. She finds solace in dance, which she describes as grounding and helping to manage her ADHD.
As a mother of three, Furtado emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and presence. She asks herself daily how to stay grounded and focused, acknowledging the challenge in a world filled with distractions.
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