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Real Housewives star Tanya Bardsley recalls how she ‘didn’t understand the world’ before ADHD diagnosis as she gives an insight into chaotic family life

Real Housewives star Tanya Bardsley recalls how she ‘didn’t understand the world’ before ADHD diagnosis as she gives an insight into chaotic family life

Tanya Bardsley has recalled how she ‘didn’t understand the world’ before her ADHD diagnosis as she gave an insight into her ‘chaotic’ family life. 

The Real Housewives star, 43, who was diagnosed back in 2020, has been open about her struggle and her son Rocco’s diagnosis. 

Speaking ahead of their new six-part series reality show, The Bardlsey Bunch, which is set to air on ITVBe, Tanya spoke about her home life. 

The reality TV star and her footballer husband Phil, have four kids – Gabriella, Rocco, Renz and Ralphi – and also share their home with grandparents Julie and Steve, and Great Nana Irene. 

In an interview with OK! Magazine, Tanya described them as ‘more like the Clampetts who won the lottery’ than the Kardashians as she teased what fans can expect from their show.

Rocco, 16, received his ADHD diagnosis shortly after Tanya shared hers, and she has now told how they live in a house where ‘everyone is on the spectrum somewhere’.

Tanya Bardsley has recalled how she 'didn't understand the world' before her ADHD diagnosis as she gave an insight into her 'chaotic' family life.

Tanya Bardsley has recalled how she ‘didn’t understand the world’ before her ADHD diagnosis as she gave an insight into her ‘chaotic’ family life.

The Real Housewives star, 43, who was diagnosed back in 2020, has been open about her struggle and her son Rocco's diagnosis

The Real Housewives star, 43, who was diagnosed back in 2020, has been open about her struggle and her son Rocco’s diagnosis

She told the publication: ‘I’m really proud my children will grow up feeling differently to how I did, because I want them to feel accepted and proud of who they are.

‘I feel quite sad for the younger me. She struggled so much and didn’t really understand the world.

‘This world isn’t built for all of us, trying to sit in a classroom in a certain way and learn in a certain way. 

‘But Rocco just isn’t bothered by having ADHD at all, and actually he’s quite proud of it now.’ 

Tanya has previously spoken of the torment she suffered at the hands of cruel bullies which left her wanting to take her own life.

The model told how she threw herself in front of a moving car in her younger years, adding that she has tried to commit suicide three times in total.

Speaking to to Johnny Seifert on the Secure The Insecure podcast, Tanya said: ‘I tried to take my own life. I’ve tried to complete suicide three times in my younger years. Luckily, I failed every time which I’m so glad about. 

‘I think the universe has got bigger plans for you and maybe I had to go through that, too.

‘I always think you just have to tell your story if it’s bad or good and because it can help someone somewhere. You never know.’

In an interview with OK! ahead of her family's TV series launch, Tanya described them as 'more like the Clampetts who won the lottery' than the Kardashians (pictured last month)

In an interview with OK! ahead of her family’s TV series launch, Tanya described them as ‘more like the Clampetts who won the lottery’ than the Kardashians (pictured last month)

Her son Rocco, 16, received his own ADHD diagnosis shortly after Tanya with her admitting they live in a house where 'everyone is on the spectrum somewhere'

Her son Rocco, 16, received his own ADHD diagnosis shortly after Tanya with her admitting they live in a house where ‘everyone is on the spectrum somewhere’ 

The television personality said she was crippling shy when she was younger.

She explained how the bullying, as well as her needing to change schools often as he family moved around due to her father’s work with the army, made her feel very unsettled. 

Tanya said: ‘I was really, really shy, wouldn’t speak to anyone. And then I was really badly bullied, which I think most kids are at some point in the life, but I was really badly bullied. 

‘And then my dad was in the army, so we moved schools a lot, which I found that, because I kept having a fresh start each time, I was class clown.’

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