EXCLUSIVE: TV star Doctor Alex George has opened up on the moments he was diagnosed with ADHD and autism, but admits that young people are being failed by the system
Doctor Alex George admits to being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism was a weight lifted off his shoulders. Alex, who found fame on Love Island in 2018, was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30 in 2022.
In October 2025, he was also diagnosed with OCD, before paying for a private autism assessment, which confirmed his diagnosis earlier this year. But for Dr Alex, now 35, the symptoms of his conditions have been apparent since he was a child.
“I think the goal in life is to be able to totally accept yourself,” he told the Mirror. But growing up, he says, not having an understanding can cause “distress”. Now, having his diagnosis, he says it’s a “huge relief” to be able to understand himself.
However, Alex says he thinks it’s “totally wrong” that ADHD and autism are assessed separately. Statistics show that 30 to 80 per cent of people with autism also have ADHD, while up to 50 per cent of people with ADHD also meet the criteria for an autism diagnosis.
He said: “It’s like saying there’s a condition that if you have a heart condition, you’re 50 per cent likely to have a lung condition and not scanning the lungs and not scanning the lungs. If you find something you know that’s likely for the other, you test for both.”
During his autism assessment, Dr Alex questioned his psychiatrist as to whether he would benefit from the assessment, having already been diagnosed with ADHD, which he says was the “best decision I’ve ever made”. But after his ADHD diagnosis, he says he felt frustrated and angry over things not being picked up sooner.
“With autism, it was much more relief, acceptance,” he said. Now, he says people understand him better if he comes across as blunt, or if last-minute plans have been moved. “I don’t always read the cues, I’m not good at recognising who the good people are and who the bad people are,” he said.
Currently, it takes between six months and five years on the NHS to recieve a neurodivergent diagnosis. Via the Right to Choose system in the UK, the time is between two and 12 months. “It’s the system that needs to bend for the young people, not the young people bending for the system,” he said
Dr Alex says we are “letting down neurodiversion children and young people,” with many now being assessed in their 20s, 30s and sometimes 40s. Since appearing on Love Island, Dr Alex previously explained he starved himself and refused to eat meals that weren’t controlled. “I felt awful,” he told Sky News.
Two years ago, Dr Alex wanted to end his life, but it was a run and a phone call with a friend that saved him. “That was a difficult day,” he said. Despite having worked in mental health for several years, he said this doesn’t make people “invincible”. It was his OCD, which he says drove him to the point of contemplating taking his life after a “terrible spiral”.
He says he started to lose insight, “and that’s very frightening,” Dr Alex said. He ultimately decided to head on a run because he was “frightened” by his own feelings. “I was below the floor, it gave me just enough lift off the floor, where I gained some sense of grounding and clarity,” he said.
As soon as he returned home, Dr Alex phoned his best friend, Paul, and realised he wasn’t in the right place, before getting an emergency appointment with his psychiatrist. In the months after the incident, Dr Alex spoke to Paul for “hours” every night. “When you’re in the darkness, it’s very hard to see light; it’s hard to imagine a day when you feel better.”
“You can feel absolutely awful and still get better,” he said. Dr Alex has teamed up with Bioglan as part of their In Bioglan Balance series, helping people recognise their whole selves and adopt a broader approach to wellbeing. “I think the research was really interesting, I’m fascinated by the gut-brain connection,” he said, adding: “Most people go away, experiencing unease, the science behind it is really interesting.”
Dr Alex says multiple factors cause people not to feel their best while abroad, including the lack of movement on an aircraft and the dehydration on board planes. While people who choose pool holidays often tend to eat more carbs and heavier meals.
“It’s not just your brain that gets jet lag,” he said, adding: “You get a microbiota or microbiome gut jet lag as well. So essentially, your gut bacteria become used to receiving food at regular intervals and regular times of the day, and then they know when they’re on and when they’re off. It’s kind of like shift work.”
This, he says, can contribute to the feeling of unease. Dr Alex also explained that when people don’t feel their best mentally, it also affects the gut. “It’s quite interesting, I guess,” he said. He praised Bioglan’s inulin for being useful for people abroad, due to different cultures often eating much later than in the UK.
“I think fibre in a diet is even more important, the fibre feeds the gut bacteria, which dictates a lot of your experience with your gut.” Dr Alex admits he finds airports stressful due to his autism, which can often spoil his holidays, or at least the first few days of his trip. “Stress can affect you quite a lot,” he said.
Speaking about his go-tos when it comes to supplements when it comes to travelling, Dr Alex said: “I take quite a lot of supplements, to be fair, because I’ve got ADHD, autism, and I’m also aware of general health.
“I take some of them for different kinds of reasons, but one that’s very important is Omega 3, you can get that with Bioglam, they’re superficial oils. I take magnesium as well, which is really helpful. And magnesium is actually, it’s good for ADHD, but it’s also good for people in general to sleep and relax.
“It seems to be good for triggering a sense of calm and relaxation. I can find that really helpful.” Other supplements Dr Alex takes include ashwagandha, fibre, Vitamin D, and multivitamins. “It’s just remembering the supplements are supposed to be supplementary; most of your stuff should come from your diet.”
Dr Alex George has partnered with supplement brand Bioglan for their In Bioglan Balance series. Visit bioglan.co.uk to check out their Biotic Balance range and watch their In Bioglan Balance series for inspiration on finding balance in everyday life
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
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