Chynna Phillips says 'it's pretty crippling' as she opens up on dealing with 'severe case' of ADD over the years

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Chynna Phillips has opened up on about her struggles with “crippling” ADHD over the years. The 55-year-old singer posted a video on her California Preachin’ YouTube channel on Thursday, February 8, and revealed that she has a “severe case” of attention deficit disorder (ADD). 

According to the CDC, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders and can result in difficulty paying attention and controlling impulsive behaviors, or being overly active. 

What did Chynna Phillips say?

“I have a pretty severe case of ADD,” Phillips said in the video. “It’s pretty crippling, not funny. I have been talking to my doctor about this for a while because I’m not quite sure what to do about this situation because it’s gnarly,” she added.

The singer said she’s never really disclosed how “severe” her disorder is and shared that it’s typically “impossible” for her to focus for more than 30 seconds at a time, reports People.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand the severity of ADD and how much it can impact a person’s life in a negative way,” she said, adding “I am trying to come to terms with it and I think I’m going to seek serious counsel on what to do.”

Chynna Phillips has never gotten help with managing her ADHD

Phillips said she knows people will likely advise her not to take any drugs for her ADHD and insisted that she always looks at the other options first before turning to medication. She also revealed that although she’s sought medical attention for her anxiety and depression in the past, she’s never gotten help with managing her ADHD.

“I think it’s because I’m a little bit in denial about it,” she admitted, adding “I am afraid of changing my behavior and changing my patterns because I have relied on them for so long. I’m scared of what life will be like without ADD. I suppose there’s a part of me that’s afraid of who I am without my ADD. It defines me a little bit — my sort of zaniness and my inability to focus has sort of become my personality. I’m a little nervous about giving it up.”

Chynna Phillips admitted that she is 'in lot of pain'

Phillips shared that she’s also “in a lot of pain” because as she gets older, a lot of people, including her husband Billy Baldwin, have less of a threshold for it. She said ADHD “doesn’t serve me” and she's “causing my own interruption” with everyday tasks.

“If anybody else struggles with ADD and is identifying with what I’m saying, please comment below because I feel pretty alone in this, even though I know it’s an epidemic and that so many millions of people suffer from this,” she said in the video, adding “There’s a little bit of shame wrapped up around being ADD.”