20 Celebrities Who Have Opened Up About Having ADHD

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Simone Biles, Justin Timberlake and Reneé Rapp.Photo:Terry Wyatt/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty; Dia Dipasupil

Terry Wyatt/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty; Dia Dipasupil

These celebrities have shared their experience of living with ADHD.

Olympic gold medalistSimone Biles, directorGreta Gerwig, pop starJustin Timberlakeand more have discussed the impact that ADHD has had on their lives, from childhood struggles to present-day effects.

On ADHD Awareness Month, see what Biles, Gerwig, Timberlake and more stars have said about their experiences with ADHD.

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Simone Biles

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

“Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of [and] nothing that I’m afraid to let people know,” she wrote inanother post.

02of 20Reneé RappReneé Rapp hosts her ‘Snow Angel’ album release party on Aug. 17, 2023, in L.A.Christopher Polk/Billboard via GettyIn an interview with the UK’sOfficial Charts,Reneé Rapprevealed that she thought she was just “really dramatic” as a kid but now understands and appreciates her ADHD.“When I’m writing a song, 10 songs are coming out of that concept. My brain is in 10 different places. I actually really enjoy it. It’s exhausting, don’t get me wrong, but it’s really fun,” the actress and singer explained.She continued, “I think it really helps my comedy and my ability to deal with things. … I’m always thinking of what’s next, which gives me better lyric ideas and more opportunity. More avenues to go down.”

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Reneé Rapp

Reneé Rapp hosts her ‘Snow Angel’ album release party on Aug. 17, 2023, in L.A.Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

In an interview with the UK’sOfficial Charts,Reneé Rapprevealed that she thought she was just “really dramatic” as a kid but now understands and appreciates her ADHD.

“When I’m writing a song, 10 songs are coming out of that concept. My brain is in 10 different places. I actually really enjoy it. It’s exhausting, don’t get me wrong, but it’s really fun,” the actress and singer explained.

She continued, “I think it really helps my comedy and my ability to deal with things. … I’m always thinking of what’s next, which gives me better lyric ideas and more opportunity. More avenues to go down.”

03of 20Justin TimberlakeJustin Timberlake.Andrew H Walker/Variety/Penske Media via GettyDuring a 2008 interview withCollider,Justin Timberlakestated that he had “OCD mixed with ADD” [short for attention deficit disorder, a formerly used acronym that is now referred to as ADHD].“You try living with that,” he added.

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Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake.Andrew H Walker/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Andrew H Walker/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

During a 2008 interview withCollider,Justin Timberlakestated that he had “OCD mixed with ADD” [short for attention deficit disorder, a formerly used acronym that is now referred to as ADHD].

“You try living with that,” he added.

04of 20Greta GerwigGreta Gerwig attends a press junket and photo call for ‘Barbie’ in L.A. on June 25, 2023.Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImageAhead of theBarbiemovie’s release in 2023,Greta GerwigtoldThe Observerthat as a child, she had “a ton of energy.““Now, as an adult, I have ADHD — they diagnosed me,” Gerwig said. “I’ve always had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. I was just interested in, like, everything. I had a really active imagination. I had a lot of really deep feelings. I was emotional.”

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Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig attends a press junket and photo call for ‘Barbie’ in L.A. on June 25, 2023.Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

Ahead of theBarbiemovie’s release in 2023,Greta GerwigtoldThe Observerthat as a child, she had “a ton of energy.”

“Now, as an adult, I have ADHD — they diagnosed me,” Gerwig said. “I’ve always had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. I was just interested in, like, everything. I had a really active imagination. I had a lot of really deep feelings. I was emotional.”

05of 20Mark RuffaloMark Ruffalo attends the 29th Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Jan. 14, 2024.Taylor Hill/FilmMagicMark Ruffalotold theChild Mind Institutethat he had grown up with undiagnosed ADHD, dyslexia and depression.“One of the things that was always very difficult for me was grade school: Feeling like I was strange and unique and freakish. I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere,” theAvengersactor said.Addressing his younger self, Ruffalo affirmed, “There’s help and that there are ways to deal with it and to manage it and to overcome it.”

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Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo attends the 29th Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Jan. 14, 2024.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Mark Ruffalotold theChild Mind Institutethat he had grown up with undiagnosed ADHD, dyslexia and depression.

“One of the things that was always very difficult for me was grade school: Feeling like I was strange and unique and freakish. I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere,” theAvengersactor said.

Addressing his younger self, Ruffalo affirmed, “There’s help and that there are ways to deal with it and to manage it and to overcome it.”

06of 20Barry KeoghanBarry Keoghan attends the ‘Masters of the Air’ premiere in Los Angeles on Jan. 10, 2024.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagicAs the cover star ofEsquire,Barry Keoghanexplained that he had always suspected he had ADHD but only received a diagnosis three years ago. When he started medication, he described the difference as “day and night.““My mind used to be like a traffic jam, crazy, and then with the medication it’s like: One car goes, then another car goes,” theSaltburnstar elaborated.

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Barry Keoghan

Barry Keoghan attends the ‘Masters of the Air’ premiere in Los Angeles on Jan. 10, 2024.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

As the cover star ofEsquire,Barry Keoghanexplained that he had always suspected he had ADHD but only received a diagnosis three years ago. When he started medication, he described the difference as “day and night.”

“My mind used to be like a traffic jam, crazy, and then with the medication it’s like: One car goes, then another car goes,” theSaltburnstar elaborated.

07of 20Channing TatumChanning Tatums attends the ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ photo call in Madrid on July 11, 2024.Paolo Blocco/FilmMagicIn a 2014 profile withT, The New York Times Style Magazine,Channing Tatumopened up about his dyslexia and ADHD causing him to feel inadequate in academic settings.“I have never considered myself a very smart person, for a lot of reasons,” he stated. “Not having early success on that one path messes with you.“He credited the arts for giving him an alternative path and said, “I’ve learned more from people than I have from school or from books.”

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Channing Tatum

Channing Tatums attends the ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ photo call in Madrid on July 11, 2024.Paolo Blocco/FilmMagic

Paolo Blocco/FilmMagic

In a 2014 profile withT, The New York Times Style Magazine,Channing Tatumopened up about his dyslexia and ADHD causing him to feel inadequate in academic settings.

“I have never considered myself a very smart person, for a lot of reasons,” he stated. “Not having early success on that one path messes with you.”

He credited the arts for giving him an alternative path and said, “I’ve learned more from people than I have from school or from books.”

08of 20Paris HiltonParis Hilton attends the pre-Grammy Gala in Los Angeles on Feb. 3, 2024.Gilbert Flores/Billboard via GettyParis Hiltonpenned a personal essayforTeen Voguein 2024 about how her ADHD symptoms resulted in her being sent to a troubled teen facility as a child.“Growing up, I was always told that I was too energetic, too distracted, too talkative — just tooeverything,” Hilton began the essay. Because her school could not accommodate her “constant need” for stimulation, she was enrolled in Provo Canyon School, where she wassubjected to severe abuse.“I wish someone had asked, ‘What’s really going on with her?’ Instead, I spent years feeling misunderstood, punished for the way my brain worked,” she continued. It wasn’t until adulthood that she found the beauty in her diagnosis, which she called a “superpower.““ADHD is the reason I’ve been able to anticipate trends, it’s given me the creativity to build an empire, the drive to keep pushing the limits, and the empathy to connect with people on a deeper level,” Hilton explained.

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Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton attends the pre-Grammy Gala in Los Angeles on Feb. 3, 2024.Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Paris Hiltonpenned a personal essayforTeen Voguein 2024 about how her ADHD symptoms resulted in her being sent to a troubled teen facility as a child.

“Growing up, I was always told that I was too energetic, too distracted, too talkative — just tooeverything,” Hilton began the essay. Because her school could not accommodate her “constant need” for stimulation, she was enrolled in Provo Canyon School, where she wassubjected to severe abuse.

“I wish someone had asked, ‘What’s really going on with her?’ Instead, I spent years feeling misunderstood, punished for the way my brain worked,” she continued. It wasn’t until adulthood that she found the beauty in her diagnosis, which she called a “superpower.”

“ADHD is the reason I’ve been able to anticipate trends, it’s given me the creativity to build an empire, the drive to keep pushing the limits, and the empathy to connect with people on a deeper level,” Hilton explained.

09of 20Julia FoxJulia Fox attends the LVMH Prize Cocktail as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 02, 2023.Pascal Le Segretain/GettyIn a response to a fan onTikTok,Julia Foxsaid it’s been"really tough"living with ADHD.“I have bouts of great productivity, where I’m on top of the world and just feeling like I’m invincible. And then I have moments of deep, deep, deep, stagnant type of feeling, like I just can’t f—ing move,” theUncut Gemsstar described.

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Julia Fox

Julia Fox attends the LVMH Prize Cocktail as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 02, 2023.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

In a response to a fan onTikTok,Julia Foxsaid it’s been"really tough"living with ADHD.

“I have bouts of great productivity, where I’m on top of the world and just feeling like I’m invincible. And then I have moments of deep, deep, deep, stagnant type of feeling, like I just can’t f—ing move,” theUncut Gemsstar described.

10of 20Will.i.amWill.i.am visits SiriusXM studios on Aug. 20, 2024, in N.Y.C.Jason Mendez/GettyWill.i.amadmitted toThe Daily Mirrorthat his ADHD can make it hard to focus or know when to stop or slow down, but he has ways to keep it under control.“Those traits work well for me in studios and in meetings about creative ideas,” the former Black Eyed Peas member said. “If you listen to the songs I write, they are the most ADHD songs ever. They have five hooks in one and it all happens in three minutes. I figured out a way of working with it.”He called music his “therapy” and “straitjacket” at the same time.“Music keeps me sane and keeps my mind on something,” the rapper concluded.

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Will.i.am

Will.i.am visits SiriusXM studios on Aug. 20, 2024, in N.Y.C.Jason Mendez/Getty

Jason Mendez/Getty

Will.i.amadmitted toThe Daily Mirrorthat his ADHD can make it hard to focus or know when to stop or slow down, but he has ways to keep it under control.

“Those traits work well for me in studios and in meetings about creative ideas,” the former Black Eyed Peas member said. “If you listen to the songs I write, they are the most ADHD songs ever. They have five hooks in one and it all happens in three minutes. I figured out a way of working with it.”

He called music his “therapy” and “straitjacket” at the same time.

“Music keeps me sane and keeps my mind on something,” the rapper concluded.

11of 20Nelly FurtadoNelly Furtado attends Searchlight Pictures “The Greatest Hits” premiere at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 15, 2024.MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/GettyNelly Furtadowasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until after she had two children within 14 months. Shetold PEOPLEin September 2024 that the “chaos” of raising her two younger kids led to her diagnosis.“When I was attending college, [I was like] ‘Boing, boing, boing, boing.’ I’ve had it my whole life,” Furtado explained. “But when I had my two youngest in close proximity, it made me very aware of my ADHD.“To keep her ADHD “in check,” Furtado likes to go to the dance studio and work with her choreographer to turn out TikTok videos.

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Nelly Furtado

Nelly Furtado attends Searchlight Pictures “The Greatest Hits” premiere at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 15, 2024.MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/Getty

MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/Getty

Nelly Furtadowasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until after she had two children within 14 months. Shetold PEOPLEin September 2024 that the “chaos” of raising her two younger kids led to her diagnosis.

“When I was attending college, [I was like] ‘Boing, boing, boing, boing.’ I’ve had it my whole life,” Furtado explained. “But when I had my two youngest in close proximity, it made me very aware of my ADHD.”

To keep her ADHD “in check,” Furtado likes to go to the dance studio and work with her choreographer to turn out TikTok videos.

12of 20Kit HaringtonKit Harington attends the ‘Industry’ season 3 premiere in New York City on Aug. 5, 2024.John Nacion/Variety via GettyKit Haringtonsharedthat he received an ADHD diagnosis during his stint in rehab on the neurodivergence-focused podcastThe Hidden 20%,“My head wants to go to every other thing in the room at once,” he said of trying to focus on one person in a crowded room. He added that he found it hard to stick to one task because he’s “restless.““I don’t multitask well,” theGame of Thronesstar continued. “If there’s more than one thing going on in my head I get overwhelmed. I get incredibly fretty, anxious.”

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Kit Harington

Kit Harington attends the ‘Industry’ season 3 premiere in New York City on Aug. 5, 2024.John Nacion/Variety via Getty

John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Kit Haringtonsharedthat he received an ADHD diagnosis during his stint in rehab on the neurodivergence-focused podcastThe Hidden 20%,

“My head wants to go to every other thing in the room at once,” he said of trying to focus on one person in a crowded room. He added that he found it hard to stick to one task because he’s “restless.”

“I don’t multitask well,” theGame of Thronesstar continued. “If there’s more than one thing going on in my head I get overwhelmed. I get incredibly fretty, anxious.”

13of 20Busy PhilippsBusy Philipps attends the 2024 Writers Guild Awards in New York City on April 14, 2024.Theo Wargo/GettyBusy Philippswas diagnosed with ADHD at age 39, realizing she had the disorder while seeking treatment for her daughter.“It wasn’t until we were sitting there with my daughter’s doctor and he was going through the checklist that my ex-husband and I started looking at each other, and I had all of them,” she recalledto PEOPLE in May 2024.She detailed an “internal chaos” that she was “managing constantly,” with her brain struggling to prioritize tasks and organize her life. Now, she takes Qelbree, a non-stimulant medication, to manage her ADHD.“Since knowing what it is, it allows me to not feel terrible about myself,” Philipps said. “And not have this nagging feeling that I’m failing in some way.”

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Busy Philipps

Busy Philipps attends the 2024 Writers Guild Awards in New York City on April 14, 2024.Theo Wargo/Getty

Theo Wargo/Getty

Busy Philippswas diagnosed with ADHD at age 39, realizing she had the disorder while seeking treatment for her daughter.

“It wasn’t until we were sitting there with my daughter’s doctor and he was going through the checklist that my ex-husband and I started looking at each other, and I had all of them,” she recalledto PEOPLE in May 2024.

She detailed an “internal chaos” that she was “managing constantly,” with her brain struggling to prioritize tasks and organize her life. Now, she takes Qelbree, a non-stimulant medication, to manage her ADHD.

“Since knowing what it is, it allows me to not feel terrible about myself,” Philipps said. “And not have this nagging feeling that I’m failing in some way.”

14of 20Michael PhelpsMichael Pehlps attends the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation 2023 Gala on Aug. 18, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California.Tiffany Rose/GettyMichael Phelpssat down with theChild Mind Instituteto talk about his struggles growing up with ADHD, particularly at school. The all-time great swimmer remembered one teacher telling him that he’d “never amount to anything” and"never be successful."“I think the biggest thing for me, once I found that it was okay to talk to someone and seek help, I think that’s something that has changed my life forever,” he says. “Now I’m able to live life to its fullest.”

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Michael Phelps

Michael Pehlps attends the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation 2023 Gala on Aug. 18, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California.Tiffany Rose/Getty

Tiffany Rose/Getty

Michael Phelpssat down with theChild Mind Instituteto talk about his struggles growing up with ADHD, particularly at school. The all-time great swimmer remembered one teacher telling him that he’d “never amount to anything” and"never be successful.”

“I think the biggest thing for me, once I found that it was okay to talk to someone and seek help, I think that’s something that has changed my life forever,” he says. “Now I’m able to live life to its fullest.”

15of 20Solange KnowlesSolange Knowles attends the Harper’s Bazaar Cocktail Party during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 4, 2024, in N.Y.C.Nina Westervelt/WWD via GettyWhenSolange Knowleswas first diagnosed with ADHD, she didn’t believe it — until another doctor reaffirmed it.“I had a whole theory that ADHD was just something they invented to make you pay for medicine, but then the second doctor told me I had it,” she informedBlackDoctor.org, adding that she thought many in the music industry seemed to share similar symptoms.

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Solange Knowles

Solange Knowles attends the Harper’s Bazaar Cocktail Party during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 4, 2024, in N.Y.C.Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty

Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty

WhenSolange Knowleswas first diagnosed with ADHD, she didn’t believe it — until another doctor reaffirmed it.

“I had a whole theory that ADHD was just something they invented to make you pay for medicine, but then the second doctor told me I had it,” she informedBlackDoctor.org, adding that she thought many in the music industry seemed to share similar symptoms.

16of 20Tallulah WillisTallulah Willis attends the premiere of ‘Maxxxine’ in Hollywood, California, on June 24, 2024.Kevin Winter/GettyIn 2023,Tallulah Williswrote an emotional personal essayforVogueabout how her body dysmorphia led to the development of anorexia. She also explained how her ADHD medication played a role in her eating disorder.Taking her stimulant medication made her feel smart “for the first time,” Willis said, but she did add that the “appetite-suppressant side effect” also contributed further to her disordered eating.In 2024, she revealed thatshe also received a diagnose of autism spectrum disorder.

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Tallulah Willis

Tallulah Willis attends the premiere of ‘Maxxxine’ in Hollywood, California, on June 24, 2024.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

In 2023,Tallulah Williswrote an emotional personal essayforVogueabout how her body dysmorphia led to the development of anorexia. She also explained how her ADHD medication played a role in her eating disorder.

Taking her stimulant medication made her feel smart “for the first time,” Willis said, but she did add that the “appetite-suppressant side effect” also contributed further to her disordered eating.

In 2024, she revealed thatshe also received a diagnose of autism spectrum disorder.

17of 20Jessie JJessie J attends a ‘Barbie’ screening in London on July 20, 2023.Dave Benett/Getty ImagesJessie Jshared ahealth updateonInstagramin July 2024, in which she revealed that she had been diagnosed with OCD and ADHD. She admitted noticing signs of the two disorders after welcoming her sonSky Safirin May 2023"It’s weird when you know you have been a little different and felt things differently your whole life, and finally one day when you least expect it, someone really explains why and you can’t avoid it. ADHD has such a wide spectrum it’s like a mystery putting your version of it together, that’s how it’s felt for me,” wrote Jessie in the caption.The “Price Tag” singer stipulated that she felt like ADHD could be a “superpower” — with the right perspective and a support system.

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Jessie J

Jessie J attends a ‘Barbie’ screening in London on July 20, 2023.Dave Benett/Getty Images

Dave Benett/Getty Images

Jessie Jshared ahealth updateonInstagramin July 2024, in which she revealed that she had been diagnosed with OCD and ADHD. She admitted noticing signs of the two disorders after welcoming her sonSky Safirin May 2023

“It’s weird when you know you have been a little different and felt things differently your whole life, and finally one day when you least expect it, someone really explains why and you can’t avoid it. ADHD has such a wide spectrum it’s like a mystery putting your version of it together, that’s how it’s felt for me,” wrote Jessie in the caption.

The “Price Tag” singer stipulated that she felt like ADHD could be a “superpower” — with the right perspective and a support system.

18of 20Rachel LevissRachel Leviss attends the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles on April 1, 2024.Jesse Grant/GettyOn her podcast,Rachel Goes Rogue,Rachel Levissshared how getting diagnosed with ADHDchanged her life. TheVanderpump Rulesalumna said that school was “very difficult” growing up, but she never realized her brain was “structured in a different way.““I just thought I wasn’t intelligent,” Leviss said.After her diagnosis, she could “take control” over her life and received the necessary accommodations for school.She concluded, “That was truly life-changing for me.”

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Rachel Leviss

Rachel Leviss attends the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles on April 1, 2024.Jesse Grant/Getty

Jesse Grant/Getty

On her podcast,Rachel Goes Rogue,Rachel Levissshared how getting diagnosed with ADHDchanged her life. TheVanderpump Rulesalumna said that school was “very difficult” growing up, but she never realized her brain was “structured in a different way.”

“I just thought I wasn’t intelligent,” Leviss said.

After her diagnosis, she could “take control” over her life and received the necessary accommodations for school.

She concluded, “That was truly life-changing for me.”

19of 20Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneres attends the premiere of ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ in Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2019.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagicIn her final Netflix specialFor Your Approval,Ellen DeGeneresmade light of her physical and mental healthstruggles with osteoporosis, OCD and ADHD.“My ADD makes it really hard to sit down and focus on anything at all,” she explained. “I mean, do you know how hard it was for me to put this together? Of course you don’t. Why would I ask that question? It’s hard for me to focus.”She joked that the combination of ADHD and OCD takes her “all the way around to being well adjusted.”

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Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres attends the premiere of ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ in Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2019.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

In her final Netflix specialFor Your Approval,Ellen DeGeneresmade light of her physical and mental healthstruggles with osteoporosis, OCD and ADHD.

“My ADD makes it really hard to sit down and focus on anything at all,” she explained. “I mean, do you know how hard it was for me to put this together? Of course you don’t. Why would I ask that question? It’s hard for me to focus.”

She joked that the combination of ADHD and OCD takes her “all the way around to being well adjusted.”

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Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah during an interview on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on October 23, 2018.Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Trevor Noahsat down with CBS' Leslie Stahl in 2021 for a60 Minutesinterview where he delved into his struggles with ADHD and depression.

Noah continued, “If I’m not careful in how I sleep, how I eat, how I manage my routine, I can become overwhelmed and it can just feel like the whole world is just too heavy to bear.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please go toNationalEatingDisorders.org.

source: people.com