Grayson Perry’s wife Philippa has warned it is now “trendy” to have ADHD, adding she is “worried” about the growing number of people being diagnosed with ADHD.
The mother-of-one, 65, who lives in Islington, revealed her belief that some people pretend to have the condition if they are forgetful or agitated, in order to avoid “own responsibility”.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is recognized by the NHS as a condition that affects people’s behavior and can cause them to act impulsively. It can also be linked to sleep disorders and anxiety.
Although she stressed that she doesn’t think “all labels are bad”, Philippa added that they aren’t always helpful when talking about mental health issues.
The psychotherapist, married to artist Grayson Perry for more than 30 years, said The temperature there is a risk that “buzzwords” become “part of someone’s identity.”
Psychotherapist Philippa Perry, 65, warned there is a danger that ADHD is a “fashionable” term that people use to avoid their “own responsibility”.
She argued that although ADHD is currently the mental health term on everyone’s lips, it has taken over bipolar disorder, which was once the “in” condition.
Philippa said: “It’s social contagion that’s causing this. You don’t know where your keys are. This doesn’t mean you have ADHD. You can’t sit still. This doesn’t mean you have ADHD…
“I am a bit worried. I’m not saying all labels are bad, I’m saying some give you an excuse to not take responsibility.
Research carried out by University College London between 2000 and 2018 found a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with ADHD.
Philippa, who has been married to artist Grayson for more than 30 years, said she doesn’t think all labels are bad.
Around 20 times more people were diagnosed with the condition in 2018 compared to 2000, with diagnoses around twice as high in the most deprived areas.
Dr Doug McKechnie, from the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Healthcare, author of the report, said: “ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions for ADHD medication by a GP have become more common over time.
“Although ADHD is more likely to be diagnosed in childhood, an increasing number of people are being diagnosed for the first time as adults. We don’t know exactly why this happens, but it may be that ADHD is better recognized and diagnosed.
Philippa, who suffers from dyslexia herself, argued that she might prefer to present herself as someone who doesn’t understand words very well, rather than giving her condition a label.
Elsewhere in the interview, Philippa recalled how she was considered “fat” as a child because she had difficulty reading.
After growing up in Cheshire and attending boarding school between the ages of 10 and 15, Philippa’s parents sent her to complete her studies in Switzerland, at the same establishment attended by Princess Diana.
She joked that her parents wanted her to meet a rich young man and marry well, thinking that would be her best chance to succeed in life.
Although she expressed skepticism in the “buzz” terms of the mental health lexicon, Philippa made a strong argument for therapy, which she believes is beneficial for many people – and noted his hope that politicians would one day be willing to use it. .
She revealed she started going to therapy in her early 30s, shortly after she first met her husband Grayson.
As for her marriage to the artist, who is known for cross-dressing under the alter ego name Claire, Philippa has previously revealed that she and her husband almost never argue.
We have our differences! Philippa said, speaking to The Times. ‘A lot. But then we figure out how much I can handle, how much he can handle, who can handle it the most, who can handle it the least.
And from there, if we are both fair, we can find a compromise.
The author, whose husband often appears in public, as well as in her own works as an alter ego, explained that most people experience relationship problems because they dwell on insignificant facts, while ‘They should just be honest and express how they feel.
“It’s such a waste of love when people don’t know how to argue properly,” she said. “Don’t talk about facts, talk about feelings.”
Philippa went on to talk about how the first month of the initial lockdown was a relief for her as she was able to clear her diary which had “got a bit out of control” and was making her “quite stressed”.
However, as time passed and the novelty wore off, she admitted she was “not doing well at all under lockdown.”
But for Philippa the problem stemmed from a physical crisis rather than psychological factors – adding that she and Grayson reacted very differently to the announcement of the government guidelines.
“I said, “Phew! And Grayson replied, “Well, I live in the future. My plans are what get me out of bed in the morning. Now I have nothing.”‘
And then he really learned all these things about appreciating everyday life, living in the present moment, all that.
“But I, Mrs. Therapist-Pants, took the opposite route. Because my body needs to be surrounded by other bodies. The rule that I find the most difficult is that of two meters.
Philippa also remembers bursting into tears when her daughter Flo, 28, dropped a shopping bag outside her door.
She went on to explain that even though she knew the big reason why Flo wasn’t hugging her, her body made up its own reason and interpreted it as a form of rejection.
Philippa and Grayson married in 1992 and have a daughter, Florence, together.
