In a candid revelation, Dr. Alex George, the former A&E doctor and Love Island star, has opened up about how being diagnosed with ADHD and OCD has “completely changed” his life. The 30-year-old, who grew up in Carmarthenshire but now resides in London, is calling for improved waiting times for assessments, as he had to pay thousands of pounds for private tests.
In his new book, “Am I Normal?”, George describes the process of getting diagnosed, stating that the symptoms of his conditions have been apparent since childhood. “I was being blamed for things in school, even though I wasn’t in attendance that day,” he told BBC News. “I wasn’t nasty or naughty, I was just exploring the world in my own way.”
George was diagnosed with ADHD in 2022, at the age of 30, and later received an OCD diagnosis in October 2025. He also paid privately for an autism assessment. The lack of a formal diagnosis as a child meant he struggled throughout his schooling, with teachers telling his mother that the family should “lower [their] expectations of Alex”.
The TV personality believes an earlier diagnosis of both conditions would have “completely changed [his] life”. “There’s so much suffering that I have endured that I would not have endured if I’d been diagnosed when I was younger,” he said. “I could’ve harnessed my superpowers so much younger. I’m incredibly creative, and when I focus on things, there’s no stopping me.”
George’s youngest brother, Llŷr, who took his own life in 2020, was also neurodivergent, highlighting the challenges faced by those without proper support and understanding.
The doctor’s experience is not unique, as many neurodivergent children are left to “fall through the cracks”. In England, over 236,000 people were waiting for an autism assessment as of June 2025, while some adults face an eight-year wait to access NHS ADHD services. In Wales, there were 16,812 children and young people waiting for an ADHD or autism neurodevelopment assessment as of 2023.
George, who paid £3,000 for private assessments, believes the waiting lists are “unacceptable” and is calling for action to improve access and support. “The question is, are we going to accept that, and what are we going to do to change it?” he said.
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched an independent review into the rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism treatment, but George argues that these conditions are actually under-diagnosed, not over-diagnosed. “When we say things like we want to look into the over-diagnosis of something, it implies that there is an over-diagnosis,” he said. “The absolute fact of the matter is that it’s categorically incorrect.”
The Welsh government has already taken steps to address these challenges, announcing a further £13.7 million to improve neurodivergence services and reduce waiting times for autism and ADHD assessments. However, the battle to ensure timely and accurate diagnoses, as well as adequate support, continues.
