Fiona O’Loughlin shock ADHD diagnosis at age of 57

Comedian Fiona O’Loughlin has opened up on a recent shock diagnosis — and how it’s stopped her from living in fear.

Fiona O'Loughlin was recently diagnosed with ADHD. Picture: Sarah Reed

Comedian Fiona O’Loughlin has opened up about her recent life-changing health diagnosis.

O’Loughlin, who has previously spoken about her battle with alcohol addiction, was told about three months ago she suffers from ADHD — attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

“What a thing to find out at age 57,’’ she said.

“Now I understand so much about how my mind works. It’s been suggested to me so many times that I’ve got ADHD and I dismissed it immediately because I’m not hyperactive.

“I had actually got addicted to this game, Gardenscapes, it’s like Candy Crush, and I played up to 10 hours a day. It was distressing me to no end but as soon as I started treatment I stopped playing.

“I just thought I was lazy and stupid. I’d been suffering more than I knew.”

O’Loughlin says it was an accidental diagnosis after going to the doctor for a frontal lobe check.

After winning I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! in 2018, she revealed last year that her struggle got so bad that when alcohol was unavailable she resorted to drinking hand sanitiser.

She is now feeling and looking better than ever after transforming from a brunette into a striking blonde.

“It’s like a seismic shift and very emotional to take in,’’ O’Loughlin said.

“I’m just feeling that good, it was hard to get used to because I was terrified I’d go back to where I was.

“I was always that mother who would desperately panic if I couldn’t find matching socks.

“It’s been three or four months since and touchwood I’m good.”

O’Loughlin will do two shows at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Unreliable Witness and No Lies.

“As I get older I’m more comfortable in front of a crowd,’’ she said.

“I’ve had to tone down my swearing, I swear like a sailor in my natural life.”