Ellen DeGeneres Shares Osteoporosis, OCD and ADHD Diagnoses

Ellen DeGeneres Shares Osteoporosis, OCD and ADHD Diagnoses

As a dedicated follower of Ellen DeGeneres, her recent Netflix special “For Your Approval” has left me both inspired and empathetic. Her courage to openly discuss her mental and physical health journeys is truly admirable. At 66, she’s not just a human sandcastle, but a beacon of resilience in the face of osteoporosis and arthritis.


Ellen DeGeneres is getting more honest than ever before.

The comedian recently got candid about the mental and physical health journeys she’s undergone over the last few years, including a diagnosis of what she described as “full-on osteoporosis.”

In her recent Netflix special, “For Your Approval,” Ellen humorously admitted, “I’m not sure I should still be on my feet.” She compared herself to a fragile sandcastle that might crumble in the shower, acknowledging the challenge of discussing aging while maintaining an air of coolness.

And in addition to osteoporosis, the 66-year-old also detailed learning she had arthritis.

She shared, “One day, I experienced such intense discomfort that I believed I had injured a ligament or some other tissue. I underwent an MRI scan and was told, ‘It’s not a tear, it’s arthritis.’ I asked, ‘How did this happen?’ To which he replied, ‘Well, it’s just something that happens at your age.’

Besides her bodily issues, Ellen also shared insights into the emotional struggles she’s faced following the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2022, which was marked by claims of a toxic work environment.

In her latest program, Ellen openly discusses her experience of receiving an OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) diagnosis during her therapy sessions after leaving her show. This condition, as defined by Mayo Clinic, is characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts and fears that cause you to perform repetitive actions.

Ellen DeGeneres Shares Osteoporosis, OCD and ADHD Diagnoses

She explained, “I might have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), as a therapist suggested this and I agreed because I thought being organized was the definition of OCD. However, I didn’t understand what OCD truly meant until later. Growing up, I was brought up in Christian Science, a faith that doesn’t recognize illnesses or disorders. As a result, there were no open discussions about personal issues during my upbringing.

Now that she has gained fresh insights and knowledge, the former talk show host is beginning to identify specific patterns of behavior.

Looking back now, she acknowledges that her father likely had OCD. This condition can sometimes be inherited, as evidenced by his habitual behaviors. For instance, he’d check the doorknob 15 times before we left, always double-checked the faucet 15 times, and made sure to unplug all appliances before we left the house due to a fear of lightning striking and causing a fire.

Ellen DeGeneres Shares Osteoporosis, OCD and ADHD Diagnoses

Ellen mentioned that when she brought up the topic with her spouse of 16 years, Portia Di Rossi (from “Arrested Development”), the star promptly identified actions that matched the characteristics of the disorder. However, Ellen playfully stated that she’s always considered her own actions as “meticulous” instead of obsessive.

As an alumnus of Ellen, I shared my personal story about living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, which I call ADD on the show.

Ellen shared, “You know, my attention deficit disorder (ADD) makes it incredibly challenging for me to concentrate on tasks for extended periods. It’s been quite a struggle, I must say, even to complete what you see here.

She quipped, “I’ve got ADD, OCD, and memory issues. Yet, I consider myself quite balanced. I become fixated on things, but my focus isn’t strong enough to keep me engaged for long, and I tend to forget what I was initially focused on.

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2024-09-27 21:47