'It's almost killed me': TV chef Gizzi Erskine discusses living with ADHD and admits her oppositional defiant disorder has 'ruined relationships'
Gizzi Erskine has spoken candidly about living with both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
The TV chef, 43, described having ADHD as her 'superpower', however she admitted if it was possible to take away her ODD then she would because it has been 'problematic' and 'ruined relationships' for her in the past.
Gizzi explained that the disorder causes a vicious cycle where she explodes then has to apologise and rebuild trust with people, before it happens all over again.
![Speaking out: Gizzi Erskine has spoken candidly about living with both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61695741-11142887-image-a-32_1661368792159.jpg)
Speaking out: Gizzi Erskine has spoken candidly about living with both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
The half British half Scottish star also touched on her issue with the 'cool' depiction of ADHD on social media and confessed she struggles with the way it is glorified when it is something that has 'almost killed her'.
Speaking on the Mind Matters with Dr Sian segment, Gizzi was asked if the disorders could be taken away, would she want that?
She said: 'Take away my ODD, you can have that. That's, that's been very problematic and ruined relationships. And I spend my life going from explode, apologies, have to prove yourself, making up with people, suddenly everyone trusts you again, and then do it again. I mean, this is my vicious cycle of life, constantly.'
![Candid: The TV chef, 43, described having ADHD as her 'superpower' however she admitted if it was possible to take away her ODD then she would because it has been 'problematic' and 'ruined relationships' for her in the past (pictured Rock Oyster Festival in July 2022)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61695017-11142887-image-a-29_1661368266346.jpg)
Candid: The TV chef, 43, described having ADHD as her 'superpower' however she admitted if it was possible to take away her ODD then she would because it has been 'problematic' and 'ruined relationships' for her in the past (pictured Rock Oyster Festival in July 2022)
Gizzi, who is an advocate and innovator of the pop-up and underground food scenes, admitted however that she would 'definitely' keep her ADHD.
The media personality explained how many she people work with have the same disorder and when you put them all together they create a 'cosmic' space.
She explained: 'When you put all these ADHD people in the same room, and they become hyper focused together. And you suddenly see this real magic operational sort of thing where everyone's skills come into play.
'And you know, the next person is going to be handing you whatever utensil you need next and will be handing you your sauce to finish your dish!'
![Detailing: Gizzi explained that the disorder causes a vicious cycle where she explodes then has to apologise and build trust with people again, before it happens all over again](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61695009-0-image-a-28_1661368172293.jpg)
Detailing: Gizzi explained that the disorder causes a vicious cycle where she explodes then has to apologise and build trust with people again, before it happens all over again
Gizzi went on to discuss her 'problem' with social media and its portrayal of ADHD as a 'very cool' disorder to have.
She said: 'I mean, it's one of the top trending subjects in the world at the moment on Tiktok and Instagram. There are big shopping brands out there that are making T shirts, like merch for ADHD and people don't understand that it's neurodivergent.
'Your brain is built a different way. It operates in a completely different way. You function completely differently to everyone else.
'And people have traits. And you can read these, take these quizzes or read these things, we'll see people doing a dance that is meant to show your ADHD and a lot of people are now going and trying to get a diagnosis, which on one hand is brilliant.
'So a weird dichotomy, because you've got this real important side, where you've got, you know, I really, I'm glad I had the help. I'm glad I had the information, the knowledge to know that I have got some issues that I really need to look after - my brain is different.
'And it's made me like myself, again. That said, the NHS waiting list is completely out of control now. And well, of course, the government needs to be investing more money, but there aren't the doctors, there isn't the help.
'So, we've also got to manage that for the people who really are genuinely struggling. It’s not a fun thing. It's not a trend. It's not cool. I've had so many issues, and I will be honest and say at moments…it's almost killed me.'
Gizzi was diagnosed as an adult and explained that as a child she was 'very in her own head' and did not have the outlet of energy typically associated with ADHD.
She said: I was just in my own head, screaming, actually, to try and be able to be heard and be seen for all of this information that was like constantly going off in my brain.
'And I think what happens often with boys is that they become really hyperactive and bounce off the walls. And that sort of becomes their natural ADHD release. Whereas for me, I was very introverted, and this little explosive brain that was having the hyperactivity, but in a very insular way.
'I didn't have the ability to run around which, ironically, is how I've become now as an adult. I mean, I'm definitely hyperactive. I mean, I've got all three types of ADHD, one is hyperactivity. One is hyper-distraction. And the other is a combined type, which creates this ability to do both at the same time, which, I believe is becoming one of the biggest superpowers, you know.
'I believe it to be one of the contributors to my success, where I can actually take on a situation and give it more welly than your average person and really be invested in a moment with this really extreme hyper-focus.'
![Growing up: Gizzi was diagnosed as an adult and explained that as a child she was 'very in her own head' and did not have the outlet of energy typically associated with ADHD](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61695007-11142887-image-a-30_1661368700108.jpg)
Growing up: Gizzi was diagnosed as an adult and explained that as a child she was 'very in her own head' and did not have the outlet of energy typically associated with ADHD
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