Latest news with #KimberleyNixon
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Kimberley Nixon feels 'lighter' after ADHD and autism diagnosis
A Welsh actress says a "huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders" after being diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Kimberley Nixon, star of Channel 4's Fresh Meat, developed perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), after giving birth to her son during the 2020 said her worries about her baby's well-being escalated into intense anxiety, with symptoms lasting around two and a half years. As she began to recover, other lifelong patterns started to make sense, prompting her to seek a diagnosis. Following a series of in-depth assessments and standard diagnostic tests, she was formally diagnosed with autism and ADHD on an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Nixon told presenter Behnaz Akhgar: "We all know what the NHS is like when it comes to waiting lists, so it's taken a while. "The assessments are incredibly thorough - they dig into every little nook and cranny of your life and your past."The actress, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, known for her roles in Wild Child and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, said she now feels "lighter" and is "kinder" to herself, which she described as "really lovely."Reflecting on the diagnosis, she said: "It's that square peg in a round hole feeling. "I've realised it's not that my brain is wrong - it's just different. "I don't process or interpret things the same way others do. "That always felt like a problem. "But now, it just feels like a difference." Nixon also spoke about her experience of being diagnosed with perinatal OCD, which is when you experience OCD during pregnancy or in the first year after giving is a mental health condition characterised by intrusive thoughts and compulsive years of IVF, she gave birth to her son during the 2020 pandemic, which she described as the "big catalyst" for her struggles."I went through a really tough time postpartum," she said. "Eventually, I was diagnosed with perinatal OCD - which I didn't even know was a thing. "Once you start looking into it, you realise it's actually quite common."Nixon said the condition did not present in the typical ways people associate with OCD. "I'm not a neat freak, I don't tick the usual boxes - but with perinatal OCD, I absolutely did," she said. "It involved really distressing intrusive thoughts, repetitive thinking, and punishing compulsions - just to relieve the anxiety."Last year, she told BBC Radio Wales' Books That Made Me with Lucy Owen: "I was just convinced that I wasn't doing things right. "I wasn't feeding him right. What temperature is he supposed to be?"Every time he cried I was just sort of shaking - I just got really hyper vigilant and terrified."Since learning more about the condition, Nixon has made it a priority to speak openly about it, saying it's "not as widely recognised as postnatal depression". In Thursday's interview, Nixon also spoke about her latest role in the ITV series Shardlake. She plays the character Joan in the four-part drama, which is based on CJ Sansom's historical mystery first season adapts the book Dissolution. The story follows lawyer Matthew Shardlake as he investigates a murder at a remote monastery during the reign of Henry a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, said the series was filmed in Budapest and it felt like "a little Hungarian Welsh college reunion", as fellow cast members Arthur Hughes and Anthony Boyle also trained at the same institution.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Fresh Meat and Death In Paradise star reveals life changing diagnosis at 39 saying she's in tears and ‘still processing'
A FRESH Meat and Death in Paradise star has revealed her life changing health diagnosis at 39, saying she's in tears and 'still processing.' Kimberley Nixon famously played Josie in Fresh Meat, who seemed like a very shy Welsh girl, but was actually foul-mouthed and short-tempered. 4 4 Before Fresh Meat, Kimberley had been in films Wild Child and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Since the show she's appeared in Ordinary Lies, Death in Paradise and ITV drama The Salisbury Poisonings. Now, the 39-year-old actress has revealed she has been clinically diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. Sharing a collage of photos of herself crying 'happy tears,' in a grey jumper, the star shared her update with fans. Kimberley wrote: 'Happy tears. Still processing. Haven't read the full report yet but… 'Today I was clinically diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. 'I feel lighter than I have in a long time because instead of feeling like my brain is 'broken', I know now that it was just doing things differently all this time.' She continued: 'I want to go back in time and give my younger self a cwtch and save her a lot of time and heartache but I can't change anything about how I got here really because then I wouldn't be me. 'I've always shared the ups and downs - so I wanted to share this with the most compassionate and accepting bunch I know - and that's been you lot over these past few years. Jack Whitehall reunites with Fresh Meat co-stars 12yrs after joining Channel 4 sitcom 'From the midst of brutal Postnatal OCD through to today's diagnosis, a lot of you have been with me every step of the way. Thank you, thank you.' Fans rushed to the comments to praise the star for her honest words, as one person wrote: 'Congratulations on the first day of the rest of your life.' A second penned: 'We hope it brings you some self-compassion and understanding,' and a third echoed: 'Welcomeeeeee 💛 Go gently with yourself as you adjust to a new inner reality! Xx' What is autism? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an incurable, lifelong developmental condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. It affects around one in 100 people in the UK and is three to four times more common in boys than in girls. Many people with ASD find it hard to understand other people's feelings and emotions, and they may have difficulty holding conversations. When they are young, their language development may take longer and they can struggle to use facial expressions, using gestures to communicate instead. They may also find it hard to connect with other people and to hold eye contact with unfamiliar individuals. Many children with ASD like to follow a routine, and changes to this can cause distress. High functioning autism is an informal term some people use to describe those on the autism spectrum disorder. The star is a proud mum to a little boy, and also has a dog, both of which she shares occasional photos of on social media. In a sweet Father's Day post recently, Kimberley praised her partner and posted a carousel of images of him with their adorable son. She wrote: 'To the Dads who not only have a newborn but a struggling partner to care for. 'To the Dads that show up ALL the time even if they're knackered or grumpy or even more knackered. To the Dads who care so deeply but show so little. 'To the Dads that really mean it when it's 50/50. Or 60/40 or 70/30 depending what's going on in life. 'To the Dads who hug and kiss their children and leave them in no doubt how loved they are. To the Dads who always stand up for their partner. 'To this Dad, who never looked away even when things got tough. Who always saw straight through to the heart of me when I lost myself and even I couldn't see it. Who loves me and our son unconditionally but that doesn't mean he'll let us get away with stuff. 'Sometimes Dads get left out of the perinatal mental illness conversation. I've found in a lot of instances, they're the silent, sidelined heroes keeping everything together. Remember that there's help and support for Dads too.' 4 4
The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Fresh Meat and Death In Paradise star reveals life changing diagnosis at 39 saying she's in tears and ‘still processing'
A FRESH Meat and Death in Paradise star has revealed her life changing health diagnosis at 39, saying she's in tears and 'still processing.' Kimberley Nixon famously 4 A Fresh Meat and Death in Paradise star has revealed her life changing health diagnosis at 39, saying she's in tears and 'still processing" Credit: Instagram/Realkimberleynixon 4 Kimberley starred in Fresh Meat, Wild Child and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, as well as many more shows Credit: Getty - Contributor Before Fresh Meat, Kimberley had been in films Wild Child and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Since the show she's appeared in Ordinary Lies, Death in Paradise and ITV drama The Salisbury Poisonings. Now, the 39-year-old actress has revealed she has been clinically diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. Read More on Fresh Meat Sharing a collage of photos of herself crying 'happy tears,' in a grey jumper, the star shared her update with fans. Kimberley wrote: 'Happy tears. Still processing. Haven't read the full report yet but… 'Today I was clinically diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. 'I feel lighter than I have in a long time because instead of feeling like my brain is 'broken', I know now that it was just doing things differently all this time.' Most read in News TV She continued: 'I want to go back in time and give my younger self a cwtch and save her a lot of time and heartache but I can't change anything about how I got here really because then I wouldn't be me. 'I've always shared the ups and downs - so I wanted to share this with the most compassionate and accepting bunch I know - and that's been you lot over these past few years. Jack Whitehall reunites with Fresh Meat co-stars 12yrs after joining Channel 4 sitcom 'From the midst of brutal Postnatal OCD through to today's diagnosis, a lot of you have been with me every step of the way. Thank you, thank you.' Fans rushed to the comments to praise the star for her honest words, as one person wrote: 'Congratulations on the first day of the rest of your life.' A second penned: 'We hope it brings you some self-compassion and understanding,' and a third echoed: 'Welcomeeeeee 💛 Go gently with yourself as you adjust to a new inner reality! Xx' What is autism? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an incurable, lifelong developmental condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. It affects around one in 100 people in the UK and is three to four times more common in boys than in girls. Many people with ASD find it hard to understand other people's feelings and emotions, and they may have difficulty holding conversations. When they are young, their language development may take longer and they can struggle to use facial expressions, using gestures to communicate instead. They may also find it hard to connect with other people and to hold eye contact with unfamiliar individuals. Many children with ASD like to follow a routine, and changes to this can cause distress. High functioning autism is an informal term some people use to describe those on the autism spectrum disorder. The star is a proud mum to a little boy, and also has a dog, both of which she shares occasional photos of on social media. In a sweet Father's Day post recently, Kimberley praised her partner and posted a carousel of images of him with their adorable son. She wrote: 'To the Dads who not only have a newborn but a struggling partner to care for. 'To the Dads that show up ALL the time even if they're knackered or grumpy or even more knackered. To the Dads who care so deeply but show so little. 'To the Dads that really mean it when it's 50/50. Or 60/40 or 70/30 depending what's going on in life. 'To the Dads who hug and kiss their children and leave them in no doubt how loved they are. To the Dads who always stand up for their partner. 'To this Dad, who never looked away even when things got tough. Who always saw straight through to the heart of me when I lost myself and even I couldn't see it. Who loves me and our son unconditionally but that doesn't mean he'll let us get away with stuff. 'Sometimes Dads get left out of the perinatal mental illness conversation. I've found in a lot of instances, they're the silent, sidelined heroes keeping everything together. Remember that there's help and support for Dads too.' 4 The actress with the Fresh Meat cast Credit: Handout 4 Kimberley has a little boy and a dog Credit: Instagram/@realkimberleynixon
Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Fresh Meat and Death In Paradise star reveals life changing diagnosis at 39 saying she's in tears and ‘still processing'
The star opened up in a candid statement on social media HONEST STAR Fresh Meat and Death In Paradise star reveals life changing diagnosis at 39 saying she's in tears and 'still processing' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FRESH Meat and Death in Paradise star has revealed her life changing health diagnosis at 39, saying she's in tears and 'still processing.' Kimberley Nixon famously played Josie in Fresh Meat, who seemed like a very shy Welsh girl, but was actually foul-mouthed and short-tempered. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 A Fresh Meat and Death in Paradise star has revealed her life changing health diagnosis at 39, saying she's in tears and 'still processing" Credit: Instagram/Realkimberleynixon 4 Kimberley starred in Fresh Meat, Wild Child and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, as well as many more shows Credit: Getty - Contributor Before Fresh Meat, Kimberley had been in films Wild Child and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Since the show she's appeared in Ordinary Lies, Death in Paradise and ITV drama The Salisbury Poisonings. Now, the 39-year-old actress has revealed she has been clinically diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. Sharing a collage of photos of herself crying 'happy tears,' in a grey jumper, the star shared her update with fans. Kimberley wrote: 'Happy tears. Still processing. Haven't read the full report yet but… 'Today I was clinically diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. 'I feel lighter than I have in a long time because instead of feeling like my brain is 'broken', I know now that it was just doing things differently all this time.' She continued: 'I want to go back in time and give my younger self a cwtch and save her a lot of time and heartache but I can't change anything about how I got here really because then I wouldn't be me. 'I've always shared the ups and downs - so I wanted to share this with the most compassionate and accepting bunch I know - and that's been you lot over these past few years. Jack Whitehall reunites with Fresh Meat co-stars 12yrs after joining Channel 4 sitcom 'From the midst of brutal Postnatal OCD through to today's diagnosis, a lot of you have been with me every step of the way. Thank you, thank you.' Fans rushed to the comments to praise the star for her honest words, as one person wrote: 'Congratulations on the first day of the rest of your life.' A second penned: 'We hope it brings you some self-compassion and understanding,' and a third echoed: 'Welcomeeeeee 💛 Go gently with yourself as you adjust to a new inner reality! Xx' What is autism? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an incurable, lifelong developmental condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. It affects around one in 100 people in the UK and is three to four times more common in boys than in girls. Many people with ASD find it hard to understand other people's feelings and emotions, and they may have difficulty holding conversations. When they are young, their language development may take longer and they can struggle to use facial expressions, using gestures to communicate instead. They may also find it hard to connect with other people and to hold eye contact with unfamiliar individuals. Many children with ASD like to follow a routine, and changes to this can cause distress. High functioning autism is an informal term some people use to describe those on the autism spectrum disorder. The star is a proud mum to a little boy, and also has a dog, both of which she shares occasional photos of on social media. In a sweet Father's Day post recently, Kimberley praised her partner and posted a carousel of images of him with their adorable son. She wrote: 'To the Dads who not only have a newborn but a struggling partner to care for. 'To the Dads that show up ALL the time even if they're knackered or grumpy or even more knackered. To the Dads who care so deeply but show so little. 'To the Dads that really mean it when it's 50/50. Or 60/40 or 70/30 depending what's going on in life. 'To the Dads who hug and kiss their children and leave them in no doubt how loved they are. To the Dads who always stand up for their partner. 'To this Dad, who never looked away even when things got tough. Who always saw straight through to the heart of me when I lost myself and even I couldn't see it. Who loves me and our son unconditionally but that doesn't mean he'll let us get away with stuff. 'Sometimes Dads get left out of the perinatal mental illness conversation. I've found in a lot of instances, they're the silent, sidelined heroes keeping everything together. Remember that there's help and support for Dads too.' 4 The actress with the Fresh Meat cast Credit: Handout
