Speaking with openness and honesty, Charley explained that she’s only in the initial stages of formal medical investigation, but many of the symptoms she’s dealt with throughout her life now seem to align with neurodivergent conditions.

“I’ve sort of just been diagnosed with that,” she said of ADHD. “I don’t want to confirm it because I’m only at the initial stages. More autism—autistic/ADHD. I’m like, what? I’ve just started the process.”

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Misunderstood for Years

Charley revealed that certain personality traits—ones she’s been criticised for her whole life—may actually be linked to traits associated with autism. “People think I’m cold,” she said, “but that could just be like a little bit of the autistic side of me.”

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She added that she’s never been one to fake emotions or offer a smile unless it feels genuine. “I’m not the biggest smiler… I only smile if I really mean it,” she shared. “People just smile because they think it’s the thing to do, whereas I don’t.”

Over the years, this has caused people to misread her character. But now, she’s learning to own her authenticity, adding:

“I don’t need to be all over everyone and love everyone immediately. It takes me a minute. I’m very like, yes or no. I like you or I don’t like you. There’s never an in-between with me.”

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Sensory Overload and ADHD Awareness

Discussing ADHD more broadly, Charley spoke about how overstimulation in noisy environments has always been a struggle.

“Noise for me—it’s a trigger. I go from nought to 60 in one second. If I go somewhere really busy, I find it so overwhelming.”

She reflected on how little awareness there was around ADHD when she was younger and expressed relief that these conversations are now more common. “Years and years ago, nobody talked about it,” she said. “Now it’s everywhere. And I think that’s really important.”

Charley also noted that ADHD often runs in families, and understanding it may help not only her—but also those close to her.