Actor Rob McElhenney, 46, diagnosed with ‘host of disorders and learning disabilities’

Rob McElhenney has publicly revealed his battle with neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities in order to help others just like him.

Rob McElhenney attend the premiere of FXX's "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" Season 13 at Regency Bruin Theatre on September 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Rob McElhenney has revealed that he recently found out he has several neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities, adding that he decided to share the news publicly to help others feel less alone.

“I was recently diagnosed with a host of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities! At 46!” the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator tweeted, adding that he plans on detailing the diagnoses on his The Always Sunny Podcast with co-stars Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day in two weeks.

Rob McElhenney reveals he was diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities. Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

“It’s not something I would normally talk about publicly but I figured there are others who struggle with similar things and I wanted to remind you that you’re not alone. You’re not stupid. You’re not ‘bad’. It might feel that way sometimes. But it’s not true :).”

The Welcome to Wrexham star received plenty of support in the comments with one person writing, “We got you Rob!!” and another adding, “thank you for sharing and helping thousands who may be struggling.”

A third added, “And to come this far in spite of … impressive, sir!”

In 2021, the 46-year-old, who recently bought Wales’ Wrexham Association Football Club with Ryan Reynolds, talked about his mental health routine in 2021.

McElhenney bought Wales’ Wrexham Association Football Club with Ryan Reynolds in 2021. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Both celebrated with the Vanarama National League trophy as Wrexham win the Vanarama National League and are promoted to the English Football League after their victory in April 2023. Picture: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

“I meditate and practice TM [transcendental meditation],” he told Ilana Glazer in Interview Magazine at the time. “That’s been invaluable to me, and if you want to talk about exercise, I did find over the last few years — and I’m not trying to bro out or push some exercise agenda — but actual physical exercise has transformed not only my body, but my spirit.”

“Not to sound too woo-woo, but exorcising the demons through actual sweat alleviates so much anxiety and stress. And I truly feel better. But yeah, the closest thing I have to a spiritual practice would be TM,” he said.

I was recently diagnosed with a host of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities! At 46!

I go through the full diagnosis/prognosis on the @thesunnypodcast (which drops in 2 weeks)

It’s not something I would normally talk about publicly but I figured there are…

— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) July 11, 2023

The actor also discussed his ultra-fit physique in 2018 after he put on weight for his role on Sunny, then lost 31kg and bulked up in 2018.

“Look, it’s not that hard. All you need to do is lift weights six days a week, stop drinking alcohol, don’t eat anything after 7 P.M., don’t eat any carbs or sugar at all,” he joked on Instagram. “In fact just don’t eat anything you like.”

“Get the personal trainer from Magic Mike, sleep nine hours a night, run three miles a day, and have a studio pay for the whole thing over a six- to seven-month span. I don’t know why everyone’s not doing this. It’s a super-realistic lifestyle and an appropriate body image to compare oneself to. #hollywood,” he teased.

McElhenney lost 31kg and bulked up in 2018.

In 2021, McElhenney told Reynolds for a Men’s Fitness interview that he decided to get fit as a challenge for the comedy show.

“I’m fascinated with the presentation of the human body, and the way it’s been presented for the last 30 or so years, and what’s considered attractive versus what is considered realistic,” he said.

“For Sunny, I spend a lot of time in writers’ rooms with comedy writers, and our job is to tear each other apart and to tear the culture apart — what’s going on in the cultural conversation, and how can we satirise that in a way that nobody else is really doing?”

Rob McElhenney with wife Kaitlin Olson in May 2023. Picture: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

“I just thought: ‘Well, I want to try to build a body that’s absolutely ridiculous and truly impossible to keep up unless you devoted your entire life to it.’ So when people ask, ‘How did you get that ripped?’ everything I named in that post is exactly what I did, and it’s a completely unsustainable lifestyle.”

Elsewhere in the interview with Reynolds, he discussed the “impossible” standards men sometimes feel they have to live up to – physically and emotionally.

“I will say … that men … are held to a standard of masculinity that’s impossible to live up to or is probably essentially unethical to live up to: that sort of quiet, masculine tough guy who’s both jacked and ready to throw down at any moment but also sensitive – but not too sensitive,” he told the Deadpool star.

This article originally appeared in Fox News and was reproduced with permission