Abbie Chatfield has opened up about her challenging year, living with ADHD.
The 28-year-old TV star has shared a video talking about her struggles before meeting her new boyfriend Adam Hyde, one half of the Australian music duo Peking Duk.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Emotional Abbie Chatfield speaks of her ADHD challenges.
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Chatfield has spoken openly on her podcast, It’s A Lot, about the difficulties she was facing. After fans listened, they flooded the former star of The Bachelor with support.
Speaking on Instagram, Chatfield was clearly close to tears.
“You know how hard of the time I’ve had recently and, you know, particularly in the past year or so,” the podcast, TV and radio star said.
“Like, all of 2023 and also in general, with men and dating and just in life.”
“I never thought that someone would love me so much with my ADHD or with other trauma that I have. Like, CPTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and all these things.
ADHD affects the brain’s executive functioning and ability to self-regulate and control thoughts, words, actions and emotions.
“A lot of the stuff you guys don’t even know about, that’s happened. There’s been a lot of things really, really bad things that have happened, particularly last year.”
While Chatfield did not go into detail, she said had been cheated on “a million times” but that was not the worst of it.
“Someone cheating on me isn’t even like the surface layer of what I’ve been through in my life and in relationships,” she explained.
The F-Boy Island host said that with her previous boyfriends, she would present a “masked” version of herself, however with Hyde that is not the case.
“I always thought that I’d be settling in some way or masking in my relationships, and last night walking to dinner, I just realised I never mask with Adam,” she said.
Chatfield ended the message by assuring those struggling to find love that everything works out.
“There is someone out there (for you), and if there isn’t, you’re going be OK and you’re better off alone,” she told her listeners.
“I know that’s weird to hear … but I wish that when I was single, I just let myself be a jellyfish in the ocean and like ride the wave rather than freaking out about it.
On Thursday Chatfield and Hyde confirmed their relationship on her podcast.
Chatfield received her ADHD diagnosis aged 26 and announced the news on her radio show in 2022, Hot Nights With Abbie.
She had been having trouble sleeping because of her constant flow of thoughts and went through periods of “hyperactivity”.
The radio host also said she was forgetful and had difficulty remembering where things were.
“My whole anxiety is feeling that I’m always behind on something, you know, like on holiday and you think you’ve forgotten something very important?” Chatfield said.
“That’s my feeling at all times.
“(Being diagnosed with ADHD) is kind of like, I’m confirmed.
“There is something that’s — not wrong — but is different, that can be fixed.”
“The psychiatrist said that I can listen to podcasts, and there’s lots of different coping mechanisms that I can research.”