Robbie Williams, a 52-year-old British artist, has revealed that he has been diagnosed with autism. The singer spoke about this during the launch of his new clothing brand. He said that the diagnosis had helped him to better understand his own characteristics, and that working on his looks and designs allows him to take his mind off his anxiety and panic-inducing thoughts.
Briefly about the main points
- Williams announced his diagnosis during the launch of his clothing brand.
- Creative activities help him take his mind off his anxiety.
- The artist had previously spoken about ADHD and Tourette’s syndrome.
- Williams described his public image as a form of disguise.
How the singer took the news of his diagnosis
Robbie Williams He said that he «actually likes» the news about his autism, as it explains a lot to him. Jokingly, he added that he can now blame his autism whenever people talk about his «strange antics».
He made these comments during a question-and-answer session marking the launch of his fashion project.
Creativity as a way of coping with anxiety
The singer explained that he can lose himself completely in creating images, new characters and humorous ideas. Such activities, he says, take his mind off himself and the worrying scenarios that his «incredibly creative» mind is capable of conjuring up.
Williams linked this experience to ADHD: a person can concentrate on a single task with extraordinary intensity, whilst being unable to focus in the same way on anything else. He gave the example of the intrusive thoughts that occurred to him during the flight, and said that he prefers to train his brain for creative pursuits rather than for worrying.
According to the artist, designing and creating visual images helps him to focus his attention on activities that take his mind off his panic.
I’ve spoken before about ADHD, Tourette’s and masking
Williams has long spoken publicly about his mental health struggles, as well as about ADHD and Tourette’s syndrome. Last year, on the podcast *I’m ADHD! No You’re Not*, he described himself as an «Olympic champion in disguise».
According to the singer, over the years he had cultivated a bold, self-assured and flamboyant public persona, which helped him attract the public’s attention and sell tickets. At the same time, he said that deep down he constantly felt like the complete opposite of that persona.
In January, Williams said that it had taken him nearly two decades to come to terms with his mental health issues, and that he now feels he is «on the other side» of that experience.
