Stars with OCD who have opened up about their struggles
Several celebrities have used their platforms to speak openly about what living with obsessive-compulsive disorder can actually feel like.
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British pop star Robbie Williams opened up about his experience recently being diagnosed with autism.
Williams, 52, shared his diagnosis during the latest launch event for his clothing brand Hopeium, according to the Daily Mail and several other outlets. It comes after the “Angels” singer revealed he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Tourette syndrome, as well as grappling with intrusive thoughts.
“I have ADHD, and I just found out I have a bit of autism as well, which I actually…love because it explains so much,” Williams said, per the newspaper.
Autism spectrum disorder, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is a condition related to brain development that affects how people see others and socialize with them.
Williams speaks about ADHD
According to the Daily Mail, Williams gave insight into how ADHD impacts his everyday life and creative process: “With the ADHD you can completely and utterly concentrate on something 1000 percent, but with absolutely everything else, you just cannot do it. Ask my kids.”
“What I’m completely and utterly obsessed with is creating images and making funny things,” he added. “If I’m creating images and funny things, I’m not thinking about me because my brain is incredibly creative, and it can be creative about everything in the world that you panic or (are) scared about.”
Other celebrities, such as R&B songstress SZA and singer Elle King, have shared their autism diagnoses with fans. Last month in an interview with Us Weekly, King said her experience has provided clarity, stating, “Everything makes so much sense now.” It also helped her prioritize self-care.
“I’ve had a lot of not my proudest moments, and so especially with my autism diagnosis, I am putting new kinds of safety barricades, and I just want to be around people that I feel safe around, and I just want to do things that bring me joy,” King previously told the publication.
Contributing: Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.