Kit Harington opens up about ADHD diagnosis and rehab: 'My life was hinging on this'

Kit Harington is opening up about his attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, which he received while at a rehab clinic. 

The actor talked about the diagnosis and other challenges, including alcoholism, social anxiety, and mental health more broadly, during an episode of The Hidden 20%, a new podcast on neurodivergence that launches on Jan. 17. The first episode was previewed by The Times.

"I realized that my life was hinging on this," Harington told host Ben Branson, founder of the non-alcoholic drink company Seedlip, The Times reports. "Luckily, it was the right place at the right time. I managed to forge a new life from there."

Harington's mental health struggles worsened during his time on Game of Thrones, as he gained fame amid the show's omnipresent popularity. He said he was "trying to project this image of utter sophistication and coolness about what I was doing but genuinely [was] sort of terrified about everything."

That included spiraling when he'd see what people said about him during the show's run. "That is a dangerous rabbit hole to fall down because you find all of the bad stuff that people are saying as well as the nice stuff," he said, adding that he had a "breakdown" after the show wrapped.

However, his "rock bottom moment" came later, while starring in True West in London's West End in 2018 and 2019. "It was during that play that I sort of collapsed and told people around me what was going on and finally took action," he explained on the podcast.

The actor said that his most recent rehab visit — which wasn't his first attempt at rehab — and his ADHD diagnosis helped him be sober and more "present" with his two children, which he shares with Game of Thrones costar Rose Leslie.

Many people with ADHD experience symptoms including "inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting), and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought)," according to the American Psychiatric Association. "ADHD is considered a chronic and debilitating disorder and is known to impact the individual in many aspects of their life, including academic and professional achievements, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning."

While the diagnosis appears to have helped the actor, ADHD continues to pose challenges. "My head wants to go to every other thing in the room at once," he said.

Harington told Branson that his anxiety and mental health have improved since the latest rehab visit. When he enters a "sort of freeze mode," his wife tells him to shower as a way of coping. "And I go, 'OK,' because it's like my brain short-circuits," he said on the podcast, per The Times. Then, he's able to "start the day again."

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