Jermaine Pennant opened up on his life-changing diagnosis on Good Morning Britain yesterday.
The former Liverpool FC player told broadcasters he had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit HyperActivity Disorder (ADHD) in September. The retired winger's career was plagued with controversy as he fell out with then-Reds' manager, Rafael Benitez, during a turbulent time on Merseyside.
The 40-year-old said the diagnosis has helped him understand the issues he has faced throughout his life. He said: "It is lifechanging because I would ask myself so many questions over the years.
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"Why do I leave destruction in my path? How have I got myself in certain situations? I just thought it was down to me being a lunatic or just not well or having serious issues. But not actually identifying what they were so I was just round in the circles making the same mistake and telling myself I know I'm not a bad person, but why am I doing this?"
Pennant detailed some of the symptoms of ADHD as she said: "Having ADHD means you take risks. You have no consideration of danger, you have no consequences for other people, you are forgetful, when things are getting stressful or you can't cope, you will seek any validation, which could put yourself in danger.
"You don't think about work. You are regardless of any form of emotion as well."
Statistics on Good Morning Britain revealed there has been a 400% rise in adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis. The NHS' website said it is "difficult to define" the symptoms of ADHD in adults.
However, it lists the following symptoms as being associated with ADHD in adults.
NHS' ADHD symptoms in adults
- carelessness and lack of attention to detail
- continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
- poor organisational skills
- inability to focus or prioritise
- continually losing or misplacing things
- forgetfulness
- restlessness and edginess
- difficulty keeping quiet, and speaking out of turn
- blurting out responses and often interrupting others
- mood swings, irritability and a quick temper
- inability to deal with stress
- extreme impatience
- taking risks in activities, often with little or no regard for personal safety or the safety of others – for example, driving dangerously
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