Jessie J has opened up about being diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) three months ago, saying it has made her “rethink” her entire life. The British singer-songwriter, whose son Sky Safir Cornish Colman was born last year, said motherhood had “exposed” the conditions more. Speaking in a post on Instagram, the 36-year-old said she had always known she was “a little different and felt things differently” and it “felt weird” when someone finally explained why.
According to the NHS, OCD is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. Meanwhile, ADHD can affect people’s behaviour. It can make sufferers seem restless, and they may have trouble concentrating and act impulsively. Jessie J admitted there were moments where she felt like she couldn’t discuss her conditions, adding: “Here I am talking about it.” She said she knew that ADHD was a “wide spectrum” and felt it was “a superpower as long as you look at it from the right perspective.”
Explaining that her diagnosis had made her love herself even more, she said: “I’m hugging 11-year-old me. Who would clean her trainers with a toothbrush when she was stressed and to this day has lived with a 1000 lists to not feel like life will crumble. Here’s to getting to know yourself even more through life. And loving yourself all the way.” Jessie J also said social media had given her the opportunity to relate, connect and “heal with strangers” who are going through similar things. She concluded that nothing in life defines people but rather helped them grow and become “a more wholesome version” of themselves.
Despite receiving a wave of supportive messages from fans and followers, some people criticised Jessie J for being “influenced” by a podcast from American YouTuber Jessica McCabe, who hosts the “How to ADHD” series on YouTube. However, Jessie J denied that she had been influenced by McCabe, saying the podcast had simply inspired her to talk about her own journey. McCabe also came to Jessie’s defense, stating that the singer had been “sharing her story”, which she described as “brave.”
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