Natalie Imbruglia Opens Up About OCD, ADHD, and Perimenopause
Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia has revealed she has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and severe perimenopause symptoms. She views the diagnoses as her superpower.
The 51-year-old artist, best known for her global hit "Torn," shared her health struggles in an interview with The Sunday Times. Imbruglia has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She is also experiencing severe perimenopause symptoms.
The singer does not see these diagnoses negatively. "They are just labels. It's not a bad thing, it's my superpower," she said. However, she admits that the anxiety before performances, exacerbated by neurodiversity, is still hard to accept. Perimenopause has made these feelings more intense.
"It was like a grief process. I was very angry. It felt like I had fallen off a cliff and someone had taken away part of my personality," the Australian star shared. Seeking help, she turned to British TV host Davina McCall, who has spoken publicly about menopause. Imbruglia is now on hormone replacement therapy, which has helped reduce symptoms.
Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause when hormone levels begin to change. It typically starts after age 40. Imbruglia is glad that conversations about menopause have become more open and are no longer considered shameful or taboo.
Natalie Imbruglia rose to fame in the early 1990s on the Australian soap opera "Neighbours." Her international breakthrough came in 1997 with "Torn." She has sold approximately ten million records and appeared in films such as "Johnny English" and "Closed for Winter." In 2019, she became a mother to son Max Valentine through IVF using a sperm donor.
