Ellen DeGeneres Opens Up About OCD, ADHD, and Life After Talk-Show Fame
The second half of Ellen DeGeneres’ revelations shifted from the physical challenges of aging to the emotional adjustments that came with life after fame. During For Your Approval, DeGeneres told audiences she also received mental-health diagnoses while navigating the backlash that emerged in 2020, when she exited her talk-show era during widespread accusations of a “toxic” work environment. With her schedule suddenly clear, she spent time in therapy, where she learned she has obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
She did not shy away from the complexity of these discoveries, offering both honesty and levity. DeGeneres explained that her first reaction to being told she had OCD came from misunderstanding the term entirely. “I told her I was very organized and thought that was the ‘O,’” she mentioned. “I had no idea what OCD actually meant.” She added that her upbringing in Christian Science meant discussions about illness or mental health were nearly nonexistent during her childhood. Looking back, she now recognizes signs of the disorder within her family. “He checked everything—door locks, faucets, appliances—over and over. They say it can run in families.”
DeGeneres said she even approached her wife, Portia de Rossi, for insight after the therapist suggested OCD. De Rossi’s response was immediate: “Yes, you do.” For DeGeneres, the acknowledgment brought clarity—another moment where self-reflection met humor.
Her ADHD diagnosis, she said, also presented unique challenges. Writing and performing a full comedy special required focus she joked she had trouble maintaining. “My ADD makes focusing a nightmare,” she quipped. “You have no idea how rough it was for me to put this show together. Actually, you wouldn’t know that. Why would I even ask that?”
Despite the personal weight of these admissions, DeGeneres closed the topic with wit, noting that the combination of distractions, compulsions, and forgetfulness sometimes balances itself out. “I’m obsessive, but I’m also easily distracted and forget what I’m obsessing about,” she said. “So in a weird way, it all cancels out—and I come out pretty well-adjusted.”
Her final special marks the end of an era, but it also shows an entertainer embracing transparency, finding humor in vulnerability, and sharing her health journey with millions watching.