How Nelly Furtado Realized She Had ADHD

Nelly Furtado had symptoms of ADHD her whole life, but it wasn’t until she started raising her youngest kids that she found her way to a diagnosis.

The “I’m Like a Bird” singer revealed in an interview with People that her two youngest kids — a daughter, 6, and a son, 5, whose names she hasn’t shared publicly — brought some, well, “chaos” into the house. While (we imagine) that was likely stressful for the star, it also sparked her realization that she might have the disorder. “When I had my two youngest in close proximity, it made me very aware of my ADHD,” Furtado explained. “It made me realize I had ADHD. I’ve been diagnosed.”

ADHD, which stands for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, causes symptoms like difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Furtado remembered experiencing symptoms when she was younger, saying, “When I was attending college, [I was like] ‘Boing, boing, boing, boing.’”

When it comes to living without a diagnosis, she’s not alone. Less than 20 percent of adults with ADHD get diagnosed, Mayo Clinic reports, and it’s worse for girls and women, whose symptoms are sometimes less obvious then those of boys — think disorganization, distraction, and forgetfulness instead of loud hyperactivity, per UCLA Health. Getting that diagnosis is crucial because ADHD is treatable through therapy, medication, and other means, but when left untreated, it can significantly impact self-esteem, relationships, and performance at work or school.

Exercise is one coping mechanism Furtado uses. “I like to go to the dance studio,” she explained. “It kind of grounds me mentally, sort of keeps the ADHD in check.”

The mom of three, who shares 21-year-old Nevis Gahunia with her ex Jasper Gahunia, also works to stay mindful and present. Every day, she says, she asks herself “How do we ground ourselves today?”, while noting that she’s far from the only person struggling with attention span. “How do we focus?” Furtado wondered. “We have so much distraction — you have to give yourself grace.”