20 December 2023 , 19:23
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Christine McGuinness admits feeling "massively misunderstood" before being diagnosed with autism aged 33.
The former Real Housewives of Cheshire star received her diagnosis in 2021 after her three children, shared with ex-husband Paddy McGuinness, were also diagnosed. While making her TV documentary Unmasking My Autism, Christine received the news about her own neurodiversity, a revelation she says just "made so much sense".
In a recent appearance on Vicky Pattison's podcast The Secret To, Christine admitted life was "really difficult" before she was told she has autism, just like her kids Penelope, Leo and Felicity, and that she struggled to understand herself and her own brain.
Christine opened up about being diagnosed with autism (SplashNews.com)
She admitted feeling 'misunderstood' (Instagram/ @thesecrettopod)"I just thought I was odd or weird and I was so hard on myself for being different and for feeling so different," she explained. "Thinking, why am I like this? Why do I have to have everything organised? Why do I insist on having white walls? I just thought I'm really difficult to live with, I actually felt that I was difficult to live with because of how I am."
Christine added: "Once I was diagnosed, I was like okay, it all makes sense now. I can have a laugh about it now, have a joke, but as a teenager I really struggled. I ended up with an eating disorder, I left school really early and partied a hell of a lot, drank a lot of alcohol from the ages of 14 to 19 and then I stopped and haven't drank since."
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The reality TV star says she was "massively misunderstood" and "didn't understand myself", adding: "If I was diagnosed earlier, I'd like to think those things wouldn't have happened.
"But, you know, I'm diagnosed now and for the last couple of years it's changed my life for the better. I think you go through a bit of a grieving process when you get a late diagnosis of something because you can't help but think about what life could have been."
She told Vicky about what her life could have looked like had her autism been discovered before her adult life. She said: "If I would have had that extra support at school, I might have gone on to sixth form, I might have gone on to university, who knows what I would have done, but I'm here now and I just get on with it most days. I think knowing about yourself and understanding yourself is massive, it's key to happiness, to success."
It comes after news Christine will be spending Christmas Day with her estranged husband as they continue to put their children first post-split. The mum-of-three and Top Gear presenter Paddy announced the end of their marriage in July last year but have carried on living together in their once marital home in order to put the needs of their three young children first.
"Of course [me and Paddy will be spending Christmas together] because we still live in the same house," Christine told Closer magazine. She went on to muse: "I think we've got to move on but it works for the children. We both go in and out and we've got a schedule we try to stick to and a routine for the children. The one thing we agree on more than anything is that we just wants what is best for the children, and that's to be a good mum and dad."
For help and support on eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders on 0808 801 0677.