Steph Claire Smith has revealed that she has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The model and fitness influencer, 30, bravely opened up about her health update in a vulnerable confession, admitting she felt “relieved” when a doctor confirmed her diagnosis.
Speaking on KICPOD, the podcast she hosts alongside fellow influencer and business partner Laura Henshaw, Steph said she was first prompted to get tested after inviting Em Rusciano on the show to talk about her experience with ADHD.
“The other week I was diagnosed with combined ADHD,” he said on the podcast.
“I had Em and she talked about her subsequent ADHD diagnosis, and during the conversation, there were a lot of things I didn’t realize, but I was nodding and agreeing with her story and relating to her.
“At one point, she said it might be a little neuro-spicy, and at that point I was like, ‘I don’t know.’
The model went on to detail the screening process that a woman in her 30s underwent and confessed that she was worried about not receiving a diagnosis.
“I think one of the scariest parts of the process was, ‘What if I don’t get the diagnosis?’ And then I feel more lost than ever, because there are all these things, there are these traits that have frustrated me so much over the years.” throughout my life,” he added.
Steph Claire Smith, 30, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with ADHD. The model and fitness influencer bravely opened up about her health update in a vulnerable confession on her podcast.
‘I have never been able to change them or the habits that I feel I can’t get rid of or the things that I feel are much more challenging than anyone around me seems to find.
‘Now that I have the diagnosis, I’m excited to learn more about it and find different tactics and ways it can help me a little more. And also being able to talk about it with my loved ones and the people around me so that they can understand it better too.
“It’s made me understand a little better why things have maybe been more challenging than they should have been.”
In a tearful video shared on Instagram, Steph documented her emotions following her ADHD screening appointment.
In a tearful video shared on Instagram, Steph documented her emotions following her ADHD screening appointment.
The model burst into tears because she was worried about not getting a diagnosis.
“It felt good talking about it, but I have this incredible hope that this process will help me understand myself,” she said through tears.
‘I’m not afraid of being diagnosed. I think I’m more afraid of not being diagnosed. For example, if I don’t have it or something else, what happens to me?
The clip below showed Steph after her third and final evaluation, where she was diagnosed with combined ADHD.
‘Actually, I didn’t know when I was going to feel it. “I didn’t know if I was going to feel confused or angry or like… I don’t know,” she said.
‘I’m not afraid of being diagnosed. I think I’m more afraid of not being diagnosed. For example, if I don’t have it or something else, what happens to me? Steph said through tears.
He also reflected on his younger self and wished he hadn’t ignored the symptoms.
“Maybe I could have been a little less hard on myself, but I would have also found ways to manage it,” she continued.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder affects approximately one in 20 Australians.
It is characterized by persistent patterns of inattentive, impulsive and sometimes hyperactive behavior, and is often accompanied by emotional regulation challenges, according to ADHD Australia.
While ADHD is the most common disorder among children aged four to 11, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says about half of girls the same age are diagnosed.
That’s not because girls don’t have ADHD, experts say, but because they generally have the inattentive type of condition, meaning their symptoms can go unnoticed.