Kit Harington.Photo:Robin L Marshall/WireImage
Robin L Marshall/WireImage
Kit Haringtonis sharing that he was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during a stay at a rehab clinic.
The actor, 37, discussed the diagnosis, as well as his experiences with alcoholism, social anxiety and mental health challenges — and particularly how he grappled with them while starring inGame of Thrones— onThe Hidden 20%, a new, neurodivergence-focused podcast launching on Jan. 17.
In an article published Saturday in U.K. newspaper,The Times, which previewed some of the conversation in the upcoming podcast episode, Harington revealed toThe Hidden 20%,host Ben Branson that he had previously tried another rehabilitation program before he went to an American clinic, which is where he received his ADHD diagnosis,
“I realised that my life was hinging on this. Luckily it was the right place at the right time. I managed to forge a new life from there," the actor said in the podcast, perThe Times.
Although it was not indicated whether Harington revealed the date of the rehab stay that led to his ADHD diagnosis during the podcast, the actor said he is now a good father to his two children (ason, 2½, and adaughter, 6 months, whom he shares with his wife andGOTcostarRose Leslie) because he is now sober and “present” — though challenges do arise from his ADHD.
“My head wants to go to every other thing in the room at once,” he told Branson.
Kit Harington.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
The actor also said he struggles to stick to just one task or game, particularly while playing with his toddler son. While his son may be content playing a game with him in which a dragon is a stick, for example, he finds himself wanting to move on “because I’m restless.”
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Harington also revealed that he experiences challenges when it comes to juggling his parental responsibilities with his acting career.
“The practicality of getting down to my work at the moment [I am] finding quite tricky. I don’t multitask well,” he said. “If there’s more than one thing going on in my head I get overwhelmed. I get incredibly fretty, anxious.”
“My head’s all over the shop,” he added. “I can’t deal with it.”
Elsewhere in the upcoming episode, Harington reflected on how his mental health struggles worsened as he shot into stardom afterGOTgained intense popularity, perThe Times.
He was “trying to project this image of utter sophistication and coolness about what I was doing but genuinely being sort of terrified about everything,” he said.
The actor said he would spiral after seeing what people said about him and his eight-season stint as Jon Snow on the beloved series.
Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington in ‘Game of Thrones.'.HBO
His off-screen struggles also worsened during this time, he said.
Harington, who had enjoyed drinking alone since his teen years — “because it took me out of myself, took me out of that headspace, took me out of that anxiety instantly” — said he had a “breakdown” afterGOTwrapped.
But his “rock bottom moment” came when he was starring in a play,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 said in the podcast, perThe Times.
In 2019, ahead ofGame of Thronesseries finale airing, Harington’srep confirmed to PEOPLEthat he had entered treatment to “work on some personal issues.”
Meanwhile, in 2021, the actor discussed his “mental health difficulties” and taking time out afterGOTduring an appearance onSiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Showin August 2021.
“I went through, kind of, some mental health difficulties afterThronesand during the end ofThrones, to be honest. And I think it was directly to do with the nature of the show and what I’ve been doing for years,” Harington told host Jess Cagle at the time.
He added: “I think I took, sort of, a break afterThroneswhere, so, I don’t want to work for a year [and] I want to really kind of concentrate on myself. I think I’m really happy I did that.”
Rose Leslie and Kit Harington.Marc Piasecki/WireImage
Marc Piasecki/WireImage
When Harington goes into this “sort of freeze mode,” she often instructs him to shower, he said in the new podcast, perThe Times.“And I go, ‘OK,’ because it’s like my brain short-circuits.”
After showering, which helps to reset his brain, he “can start the day again,” he said.
source: people.com
