Love Island’s Indiyah Polack revealed that she has been diagnosed with ADHD during an interview with H๏τ Girl Talks on Capital XTRA on Friday.
The TV personality, 26, confessed that she avoided speaking about her diagnosis because she was concerned it was going to impact her career.
She confessed to Shayna Marie and Zeze Millz that while it has been ‘tough’, the diagnosis has made certain aspects of her life more clear.
Indiyah said: ‘It’s been tough. There’s a lot of things that have happened with me like mentally.
‘As a black woman, I had been shy to disclose, so recently I have been diagnosed with ADHD.
‘And that was something I was very up in the air about talking about.
Love Island’s Indiyah Polack (pictured) revealed that she has been diagnosed with ADHD during an interview with H๏τ Girl Talks on Capital XTRA on Friday
The TV personality, 26, confessed that she avoided speaking about her life-changing diagnosis because she was concerned it was going to impact her career (pictured in 2023)
‘Because I didn’t want that to be a factor of my career, or the factor of whether I get booked for jobs, or just a factor in everything.
‘Because I feel like being a black woman, we have a lot of things already against us.
‘So, to go and chuck in another thing, it is just something I’d rather not tell them about.’
Indiyah added that she is ‘not in a position where I’m like it’s okay, it doesn’t define me’ yet.
‘And I think it made a lot of things clearer in my life as to why certain things happened,’ she went on.
‘I started seeing things happening in my adult life, even in this industry, that affected me, and I was like ‘oh that happened in secondary school.’
‘So, I feel it’s more of an understanding, but I think it’s sort of checking into your mental, finding out if there is something wrong or if you’re not feeling okay.’
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Before entering the famed villa in 2022, Indiyah worked as a waitress in a H๏τel and has built a glamourous career after placing third alongside her boyfriend Dami Hope
Indiyah rose to fame on Love Island in 2022 placing third alongside her boyfriend Dami Hope.
She previously worked as a waitress in a H๏τel but has now built a glamourous career off the back of her TV fame, including regular appearances on the Aftersun panel.
Indiyah’s career has been a huge success since leaving the villa as she has bagged many brand deals with clothing lines and hosted various glamourous events.
One includes The MOBO Awards which she hosted alongside Eddie Kadi at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on February 18.
Listen to Capital XTRA Breakfast with Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie on weekdays from 06:30 -10:00 across the UK and on Global Player.
WHAT IS ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK.
Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include:
Constant fidgeting Poor concentrationExcessive movement or talkingActing without thinkingInability to deal with stress Little or no sense of danger Careless mistakesMood swingsForgetfulness Difficulty organising tasks Continually starting new tasks before finishing old onesInability to listen or carry out instructions
Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this.
ADHD’s exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person’s brain function and structure.
Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk.
ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette’s and epilepsy.
There is no cure.
A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.
Source: NHS Choices