Justin Baldoni Discusses His ADHD Diagnosis at 40
Justin Baldoni opens up about his recent ADHD diagnosis, revealing its influence on his life. During an appearance on the December 4 episode of Elizabeth Day’s "How to Fail" podcast, the 40-year-old director and actor shared his feelings about learning he had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder after years of personal struggles in school, PEOPLE reported.
Baldoni recalled, "I was officially diagnosed at 40, having turned 40 in January." He mentioned how his therapist encouraged him for years to seek a diagnosis. He pointed out that feelings of inadequacy frequently surfaced in therapy sessions. The actor expressed, "I’ve lived most of my life feeling like I had a deficit like I was behind, and unlike others."
Baldoni reflected on signs of his ADHD in childhood when he received remarks about being unruly. He described being told he was "out of control," "didn’t pay attention," and "disruptive." Negative school experiences also lingered in his memory. "I don’t really have any positive memories of school," he shared, adding that reading was consistently difficult for him.
"I recall needing to reread pages repeatedly because I would forget what I read," he said. He also noted that his interest in certain subjects helped him excel while struggling in others.
Despite his challenges, Baldoni felt isolated without anyone to discuss his feelings or diagnosis. He suspected his parents might share similar challenges but said they decided against assessment or medication. "Not wanting me to be doped up on something," he explained, adding that ADHD wasn’t well understood at the time — making it seem like a deficiency.
Baldoni noted, "They didn’t want me to feel broken." Ironically, the lack of communication left him feeling just that — broken.
Receiving the ADHD diagnosis significantly transformed Baldoni’s mindset. He attributes the diagnosis to providing "compassion" to his childhood self. "This diagnosis allows me to embrace that little boy who felt alone, who thought differently from his peers," Baldoni remarked, recognizing the struggles he faced.
He reassured that the traits he once resented about himself could be sources of his future success. Baldoni articulated, "I can remind him that the way your brain works, all those things you dislike, will enable you to flourish one day."
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