Rebecca Gibney announces she is taking a break from social media after receiving backlash for ADHD and autism diagnosis announcement

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Rebecca Gibney is taking a break from social media, just a week after sharing her diagnoses of ADHD and autism.

On Friday, the 61-year-old actress from Packed To The Rafters announced on Instagram that she’s taking a short break from social media.

She explained that she’s been wasting a lot of time on her phone, scrolling through negative news, unwanted ads, and updates from strangers. While she enjoys the occasional funny post, she feels it’s ultimately a drain on her valuable time.

The star shared that they’ve been feeling disconnected and want to focus on enjoying life with their husband, dogs, and rediscovering themselves.

Gibney thanked people for the supportive reactions to her recent announcement about being diagnosed with ADHD and autism, but also responded to some of the unkind comments she received.

I’ve noticed some negative reactions, so I wanted to address those who told people to ‘get over it,’ said ‘it’s not cancer,’ accused them of ‘bandwagoning,’ or claimed ‘nobody cares.’ Please remember that you don’t know everything about someone’s situation, so avoid making assumptions or leaving unkind comments.

Gibney shared that much of her life had been marked by personal challenges.

For 45 years, I was told I had severe anxiety, but that wasn’t the real issue. Growing up, I experienced a lot of domestic violence and also struggled with depression. So, telling someone to just ‘get over it’ isn’t supportive or useful at all.

I’m sharing my experiences to let others facing difficulties know they aren’t the only ones going through a tough time, and to offer them hope.

Honestly, Gibney’s sign-off really got to me. He ended things beautifully, saying if anyone needs him, he’ll be somewhere peaceful – by a river, walking the dogs, gardening with his husband, and just connecting with nature. It was such a sweet and simple message, reminding everyone to be kind to themselves and to each other. He said he’d see us soon, maybe… and it felt so genuine and hopeful.

Gibney’s post included a photo of her two dogs and footage of a beautiful lake.  

Gibney’s post received a lot of supportive comments, including one from singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Bassingthwaighte wrote that Gibney is a bright and inspiring person, and that her openness makes others, including herself, feel comfortable sharing their own experiences.

Enjoy being completely yourself! Embrace everything that makes you, you – you deserve it and so much more, she said.

Media personality Melissa Hoyer meanwhile wrote: ‘Look after YOU – sending love, love & more love.’ 

Rebecca recently shared in an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly that she’s been diagnosed with both ADHD and autism, and the news quickly gained attention.

ADHD is a condition that makes it hard to pay attention, stay calm, and control impulsive behaviors. Autism, on the other hand, impacts how people communicate, connect with others, and understand the world around them.

Autism is considered a ‘spectrum’ because the severity varies among individuals.

It’s been a difficult and emotional time. I’ve been crying much more recently than I have in years, which I thought I’d put behind me. I really believed I had dealt with those feelings,” the Millionaire Hot Seat host explained.

Rebecca learned she had a health condition while talking to a therapist, stemming from difficulties she experienced after appearing on Dancing With The Stars earlier this year.

She admitted she’s still processing the information, as it’s finally explained many things from her past – including her panic attacks and the years she spent hiding her true self, which began when she was very young.

Masking happens when people with ADHD or autism feel they need to hide parts of themselves – their natural behaviors and ways of being – in order to blend in and be accepted by others.

Rebecca also revealed that her diagnosis has been somewhat a double-edged sword.

Rebecca says that after years of dealing with shyness, anxiety, and panic attacks, receiving a diagnosis has finally helped her make sense of what she’s been through.

However, it has also prompted feelings of grief and disappointment. 

It’s a little sad to think about the past. If I’d understood things differently 40 or 50 years ago, I wonder if I would have made the same choices and experienced everything I did.

Looking back, having support during high school might have helped, as I dealt with a lot of mental health challenges back then.

Like a growing number of Australian public figures, Rebecca recently received an ADHD diagnosis as an adult.

Mia Freeman, a co-founder of Mamamia, was diagnosed with ADHD at age 49, and actress Sigrid Thornton received the same diagnosis much later in life, at 65.

I’ve been following Em Rusciano and Clementine Ford for years, and I was so moved when they both publicly shared their diagnoses. It turns out Em discovered she has ADHD and autism at 43, while Clementine found out she had ADHD at 41. It’s incredibly validating to see these amazing women open up about their experiences, and it’s helping so many of us feel less alone.

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2026-04-03 03:20