Millie Mackintosh: "I'm ADHD—But Am I Autistic Too?"
The Hidden 20%
Intro
This chapter explores one individual's journey of self-discovery amidst struggles with ADHD and addiction, reflecting on the role of anxiety and alcohol as coping mechanisms. It emphasizes the importance of community support and open conversations regarding mental health issues.
The Made in Chelsea reality star turned author and entrepreneur, Millie Mackintosh has spent years in the spotlight while secretly grappling with undiagnosed ADHD, Dyspraxia and a complex relationship with alcohol.
In this chat with Ben, Millie opens up about late diagnosis, the blurry overlap between ADHD and Dyspraxia, and how alcohol became both a crutch and a crisis to escape from rejection, grief, social anxiety and self-doubt. She shares how motherhood reshaped her perspective, the realities of sobriety, and why she’s questioning if she might be autistic too.
From EMDR therapy to people-pleasing, sensory overload, and parenting with ADHD - Millie gives her top tips for navigating life with late diagnosed ADHD.
00:00 Introduction
1:47 Dyspraxia Diagnosis: How, What, When & Why?
3:45 Dyspraxia & ADHD Traits Overlap
4:30 History of ADHD Diagnosis in Society
5:00 Late Diagnosis in Women: “She’s Dyspraxic and has a vision problem”
5:35 Being Bullied & Trying to Fit in As a Neurodivergent Person
7:20 Dyspraxia VS Alcohol
10:52 Reflecting on Undiagnosed ADHD: The Toxic Escapism
12:01 Finding the ‘Millie’ Wild Party Girl Persona
15:27 Easily Influenced and People Pleasing as a Neurodivergent Person
16:36 Millie’s Daughters: “I don’t want them to go through what I went through”
19:18 Pre Diagnosis: “What did you know about ADHD?”
19:58 The ADHD Moment of Realisation
21:00 My Sober Mental Breakdown
22:14 Millie’s ADHD & Medication Journey
25:45 The Best Bits of ADHD
26:30 Hyper-fixation VS Cream Loungewear
27:21 ADHD & The Keto Diet
30:05 Routine VS ADHD
31:08 Personal and Public Reactions to ADHD Diagnosis
31:56 Navigating Parental Resistance to ADHD Diagnosis and Finding Resolution
33:38 Coming Out As Sober VS Revealing ADHD Diagnosis
34:32 The Challenges of ADHD: Navigating Parenting and Overwhelm
38:10 The ADHD Battle With Emotional Regulation and Parenting
42:21 Hugo the Husband VS Millie’s ADHD
43:52 Millie: “I’m ADHD But Am I Autistic As Well?”
44:25 Empathy VS Autism
46:40 The Effects of Rejection & ADHD
47:32 Made In Chelsea
48:47 Health Anxiety & ADHD
51:07 The Power of EMDR: From ADHD Panic Attacks on Planes to Yawning
51:51 Social Anxiety & ADHD
58:11 What do you say to Late Diagnosed Female ADHD’ers?
1:00:51 Millie’s Top Tips for Managing ADHD
1:01:40 “Do My Kids Have ADHD?”
1:02:25 Spreading Dyspraxia Awareness
1:04:12 Millie’s Chosen Person For The Green Badge of Honour
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On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.
Host: Ben Branson
Head of Production: Bella Neale
Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné
Video Editor: James Scriven
Social Media Manager: Charlie Young
Music: Jackson Greenberg
Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348
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Website: www.hidden20.org
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Ben Branson @seedlip_ben
Millie Mackintosh @milliemackintosh
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