Christine McGuinness has revealed that she has been diagnosed with autism and that her husband Paddy had suspected it after noticing quirks in her behaviour
Model Christine McGuinness has opened up about her struggles in her book A Beautiful Nightmare after her behaviour sparked rows with her husband Paddy.
All three of Paddy and Christine’s children, Felicity and twins Leo and Penelope, were diagnosed with autism early in their lives.
She adds that looking back on her own childhood that “there are little hints throughout my life that I’m autistic and more like my children than I ever could have imagined”.
(Image: Getty Images)
The TV star added Paddy had always noticed that she had little quirks to her personality, and that when the diagnosis came, he said to her that “”he expected it and he’d suspected that I was autistic for years.”
She said: “Patrick was always conscious that I was a bit different and had my little quirks, but he never understood exactly what it was.”
Paddy also can get annoyed with her behaviour, saying: “There are times when he gets really frustrated with me, for example when it takes me hours to get ready.
“Not even when I’m getting fully glammed up, but simple things like picking between two plain T-shirts and not being able to decide which one to wear.”
The model says it “has caused so many arguments” between them as Paddy gets frustrated with Christine struggling to answer a simple question, but he has learnt to understand her.
Her diagnosis came while she and Paddy were filming a new documentary about autism, which is due to be broadcast later this year.
During a visit to the University of Cambridge, they spoke to Dr Simon Baron-Cohen, who confirmed that Christine had the condition after the pair both took tests to determine their levels of autism.
Christine says her autism diagnosis “makes total sense” to her now she’s been diagnosed, as she says she rearranges the furniture of a hotel room when she stays there, and says she “finds the carpets and curtains too much” to handle.
She also refused to get the flight home from Marrakesh after filming for Real Housewives of Cheshire, saying she had an “autistic meltdown” in the airport.
Panicking Christine delayed the flight and was only convinced to sit down after meeting the pilot and realised she knew him from her children’s school.
The model also opened up about struggling with her appearance, saying that when fans message her on Instagram to tell her she’s beautiful, she won’t believe them.
* Preorder Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare (RRP £20, out 25 Nov) and save £5 with the offer code XA9. Order online at Mirrorbooks.co.uk
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
