'I Am Like A Human Sandcastle': Ellen DeGeneres Reveals Three Diagnosis

In her latest Netflix special, For Your Approval, Ellen DeGeneres openly discussed her experiences with ageing, her health struggles, and her mental health journey. The special, which was released on September 24, sheds light on her triple diagnosis of osteoporosis, ADHD, and OCD, which followed her decision to step away from her talk show after allegations of creating a toxic workplace environment.

Ellen DeGeneres Opens Up About Ageing and Triple Diagnosis

At 66 years old, DeGeneres humorously addressed her health challenges, telling her audience about the surprising discovery of her osteoporosis. "I don’t even know how I’m standing up right now. I’m like a human sandcastle. I could disintegrate in the shower,”  she joked. 

She explained how a routine bone density test revealed the full extent of her condition. Osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and makes them more prone to fractures, was something she never expected to face.

Recounting how she discovered the diagnosis, Ellen shared that she initially thought she had torn a ligament due to severe pain. However, after undergoing an MRI, she was informed that the pain was due to arthritis, a condition often associated with age. Her doctor told her that these kinds of issues "just happen" as one gets older, however, she admitted that it is “hard to be honest about ageing and seem cool.”

DeGeneres on Mental Health, ADHD and OCD

Beyond physical health, DeGeneres opened up about her mental health struggles. After stepping away from her talk show, following backlash over workplace toxicity allegations, she started therapy to deal with the emotional toll. It was during this time that she was diagnosed with both ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

In her usual comedic style, DeGeneres recalled how she misunderstood what OCD stood for, joking, "I thought the O in OCD stood for 'organised.' I didn’t know what OCD was." She explained that growing up in a Christian Science household meant that discussions about mental health and disorders were largely absent. This lack of awareness contributed to her late diagnosis.

DeGeneres then humorously shared how her ADHD makes it challenging to focus, even while working on her Netflix special. "My ADD makes it really hard to sit down and focus on anything at all. I mean, do you know how hard it was for me to put this together? Of course you don’t. Why would I ask that question?" she quipped, to the laughter of the audience.

As Ellen DeGeneres candidly shared her experiences with ageing in her latest Netflix special, it invites a closer look at how other actors have reflected on their own journeys with growing older. Tap here to discover more stories of actors and how they approach their ageing journeys.