Millie Mackintosh has revealed that she 'self medicated' with alcohol while undiagnosed with ADHD, and also opened up about her panic attacks in a new interview. The reality star-turned-influencer, 36, is celebrating four years sober this summer, having quit alcohol in 2022.
Struggles with Undiagnosed ADHD
Millie was undiagnosed with ADHD during her school years, which made her education 'really difficult' and led her to attend five different schools. She discovered alcohol in her early teens and admitted using it 'as a mask' to create a persona she thought others would like.
'That [alcohol] was the most accessible medicine I could find. It was also socially acceptable and you're encouraged to drink,' she explained. 'I'd reached that point where my brain just slowed down, like there wasn't suddenly all this noise, and I had that relief. Then I just wanted to keep that feeling and keep drinking. I didn't really have an off switch.'
Journey to Sobriety
After quitting alcohol, Millie said she needed to 'take the mask off.' Speaking on the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, she said: 'When you're learning to socialise and you're using alcohol to feel comfortable, you're masking who you actually are. You don't even really know who you are yet, but you're becoming somebody that's not very authentic.'
Two years after giving up alcohol, she shared her ADHD diagnosis with fans. In an interview with Women's Health UK, she insisted she had to 'completely abstain' from alcohol because she couldn't handle just one drink. When asked if she would describe herself as an alcoholic, she replied: 'I think it depends on your definition. I wasn't a drinker who depended on alcohol every day, but whenever I drank, I wanted to drink to black out. I recognise that urge is very unhealthy for me, and it is better to completely abstain.'
Panic Attacks and Coping Techniques
The mother-of-two also opened up about her panic attacks, revealing she experiences three different types. 'I have different variations of panic attack,' she said. 'One where I feel like I'm going to pass out, with blurry vision and dizziness. Another where I feel very nauseous, like I'm going to throw up. The scariest one is that I'm going to die, with throat constriction, chest pains, and pressure on my chest. It feels like I can't breathe, and I start hyperventilating.'
She uses grounding techniques to cope: 'I try to get into my body and out of my head. I carry an essential oil for smelling, change my temperature with a cold shower or running my wrists under cold water, or put something cold on the back of my neck to switch on the vagus nerve.'
Dietary Changes for ADHD
Millie previously revealed her diet, which has 'helped with her ADHD.' She cut out refined sugar and focuses on whole foods. 'I cut out refined sugar about a year ago,' she shared on Instagram. 'I felt so good after a 10-day sugar detox that I've followed it closely, focusing on wholefood eating. It's an 80/20 approach, and it's honestly really helped with my ADHD.'
She starts her day with bone broth, followed by protein-filled meals. 'Eating this way has changed how I think about food. It's about nourishment and thinking of food as medicine,' she said.
