LIVING with ADHD is like having a “superpower”, reality TV star Jake Quickenden said as he opened up about being diagnosed with the condition as an adult.

The reality star, who lives in Boxted, has told his Instagram followers he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder last year.

The 35-year-old, who rose to fame on the ITV singing competition The X Factor, said his diagnosis has helped him make sense of lots of aspects of his life and that he sees it as a superpower.

The Dancing on Ice winner wrote: “[ADHD is] something I always thought I might have after being told by everyone that I had it, and it makes sense now.

“I’ve had a lot of time to process it and my mind works differently, but that’s ok. It also answered a lot of questions for me, explained why I can feel anxious, how I can feel unbelievably motivated but some days feel flat and unmotivated.”

He added: “Yes I am extremely impulsive and slightly annoying at times I have too much energy and feel guilty if I’m just sat around, but also if harnessed in the correct ways it makes me hyper focused on certain things, extremely loving and empathetic.

“I also am not writing this for any reason other than to say being slightly different isn’t a bad thing.

“Been talking to [actor Danny Hatchard] a lot while away about it and it’s helped me a lot talking to him someone else that can relate.”

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The NHS says ADHD is a condition which affects people’s behaviour, causing symptoms like restlessness and concentration issues.

Jake admitted he “can be a little forgetful” and sometimes makes impulsive decisions like organising his wardrobe late at night.

“This is me just saying it out loud and hopefully it can reach one person and help,” he added.

Responding to comments, he said he is “undecided” on how to treat his condition.

He wrote: “After 35 years with it I kinda feel I know how to deal with it best with exercise and meeting certain goals.”

Who is Jake Quickenden?

Jake Quickenden appeared on the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012, getting as far as the judges' houses.

He auditioned again two years later, getting through to the live shows, where he was eliminated in the third week.

Later that year, Jake participated in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! finishing as the runner-up to Carl Fogarty.

He later went on to win the tenth series of Dancing on Ice and has since appeared on other TV shows and in musicals.

The 35-year-old grew up in Scunthorpe but has since relocated to Essex.