Sam Thompson reveals how his girlfriend Talitha Balinska helps him to navigate his ADHD after struggling to stay 'fully locked' into their conversations

Sam Thompson has shared rare insight into how he navigates his ADHD with his girlfriend Talitha Balinska, after admitting he can struggle to stay 'fully locked' into their conversations.

The presenter, 33, was first diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and autism in 2023, after displaying tell-tale symptoms during his childhood.

Sam began dating influencer and DJ Talitha in September, and in an interview with Daily Mail, he spoke about how he's developed methods to stay present during conversations with her.

The former Made In Chelsea star said that while he 'loves her very much,' his ADHD means he can become distracted at times.

Sam has shared insight into his ADHD journey after releasing a children's book titled You, Me and ADHD, which offers advice to young fans who have been diagnosed with the condition.

The star spoke about his relationship while sharing how his diagnosis impacted those closest to him, including his mum and dad and sister Louise.

He said: 'In relationships, friendships, for example, I am not very good at replying to text messages. In fact, I'm terrible.

'I've had many a fallout with my friends, it's not massive, but when they're like, ''you don't text enough, you don't reply enough, you just leave us for like weeks on end and then float back in'' and they are completely right.

'But they understand now, that is a really big struggle I have just in general, which is formulating a schedule of getting back in touch with friends and replying to text messages and emails. It's not just them, it's my whole life.

'Relationships as well, I've got a girlfriend that I love very much. I'm very aware that there won't always be a time where you're having a conversation with somebody and you are, especially with my brain, fully locked into that conversation.

'But what I try and do now is I try, if I can, to ask three questions. So if I'm being asked, if I'm being spoken to and I'm being told a story and I can feel myself, let's say a dog's barked outside and my attention's completely gone over there and then a siren's gone over there. 

'Then I'm like, ''oh God, I'm not even here, I haven't heard what she just said.'' And then I'm like, ''oh my God, I'm now hearing my voice in my head instead of my girlfriend's voice.''

'And then you start having an inner monologue that's louder than the actual genuine voices coming at you, I can feel kind of like a s***y boyfriend, but what I try and do now is ask three questions, even if I'm not in the room as much, and at least make them feel heard, because I can still do that.

'That's something that I try not to do as well, is just, as I said, where it's almost a shield. ''I've got ADHD, so I'm not going to bother listening to you at all, because I'm away with the fairies''. And it's like, I can at least try.

'I might not do very well, but I can at least try. So I have a three-question rule with my girlfriend and with other people as well. I also have sort of a communication thing where I'm like, ''I'm really sorry. I'm struggling to concentrate at the moment.''

'And I think if you just speak in your relationships and friendships and stuff, people really give you a lot more respect.'

Sam said that as a child, his parents could be 'dismissive' towards his bad behaviour, but explained that at the time, ADHD wasn't a condition that was universally recognised.

The star added that his sister Louise used to 'get annoyed at him' for struggling to sit still after family dinners, but she tearfully apologised when he received his diagnosis.

He added: 'My mum's the same thing. I know she'll read this book, I think, because she's learned so much about it.'

Sam said his diagnosis certainly had an impact on those closest to him, but one person who always 'knew who he was from an early point,' was his best pal Pete Wicks, who gets a mention in his book.

The duo have been pals since 2017 and host the Staying Relevant podcast together, with Sam saying that Pete was one of the people most aware of how to support him when he was diagnosed as part of a Channel 4 documentary three years ago.

He said: 'Pete is an interesting one because Pete has always known who and what I am from a very early point.

'Pete's actually got neurodiversity in his family. And so, I think he's been around it more than maybe he talks about, he keeps his private life rather guarded, but he's got neurodiversity in his family. 

'And so he's always known me and who I am, and he was actually in the documentary when we did it years ago. 

'And he just said to me the thing that he would say to me now, which is like, ''mate, all that matters is that you know who you are and you're around people, surrounded by people who love who you are and what you're about.'' And he goes, ''I will never judge you for anything. And you can be f*****g annoying at times.'' 

'But he was like, ''I wouldn't want you any other way, mate.'' And he's still the same person now, Pete's probably the most accepting of who I am out of all of my friends – no, no that's not true most of my best friends are the same - but Pete is so accepting, as he should be, because he's my best mate.

'So it hasn't changed anything, actually, because one of Pete's beautiful abilities as a brother is to be able to read you very well and then accept who you are after that reading. He's always, always, always championed me being who I am. 

'He can always tell when I'm not. Pete can always tell when I'm masking as well, which I find very interesting. He'd be like, ''you're not being yourself''. If we're in a social situation, he'll be like, ''you're putting too much on or you're not saying, you're trying to mask yourself a little bit too much.'' And he's always right.

'So I think just by spending the amount of time we spend together, he knows me more than anyone I'd say.

'We couldn't work with each other as much as we do, to be honest with you. We genuinely couldn't. We see each other at least twice a week, all day.

'I've literally seen him all day yesterday. I'm seeing him all day tomorrow. It's so funny because I think finally people have realised that we're actually best friends. 

'Because people sit there and they're like, ''oh, you just can't really be that close.'' It's like, I think people are finally starting to be like, ''oh, wait, actually, they are.''

Speaking about his book, Sam described it as a 'how-to guide for a mini version of himself,' and said he spoke to teachers, and his own parents, while researching it.

In it he includes tips and exercises for children who may have an ADHD diagnosis, including how to handle school, social media and speaking out in situations where they may feel overstimulated.

He said: 'At the start, I was really nervous to do it. 

'I wasn't actually sure that I wanted to do it, because I've got a bit of imposter syndrome I think, and stepping into the neurodiverse space, I presented the documentary and spoke about it on the jungle, and I've done a few things here and there, but I get a little bit nervous to dip my toe into this world because I know how important it is to so many people.

'So I've never really wanted to say the wrong thing or just get something wrong. But in the back of my head, I've met so many young people with ADHD and the conversations we have.

'There was this one mum, I was at a premiere a couple of years ago and she was like ''can my daughter have a hug? She just loves the way that you talk about ADHD. It's made her feel more seen,'' and I was like, ''oh my God, like I've never had this before''. 

'And her kid ran up to me and wrapped her arms around my waist and gave me a massive hug.

'Ever since those kinds of moments, I'm like, ''do you know what? I don't care.'' I want to do something where I can try and make a difference in this space.

'I got really nervous because I don't want to say the wrong thing or whatever, but it's kind of, it's about... I like to think of it as like a how-to guide for a mini Sam Thompson is how I would describe it to somebody.

'It's not meant to be preachy at all, and I would hope by the end of it, the kid in question will know and understand themselves a little bit more, maybe have a couple of tips and tricks to help them through certain moments. 

'And to be honest with you, it's kind of the book, the book I wish I had had when I was younger and my parents, if I can say that, I wish my parents had maybe read, when I was younger as well.

'So all of that sort of into one, there's actually a moment at the end of the book where when I was actually doing the audio book and I got a bit emotional because I wanted the end to almost be a little nod to myself and to my younger self. 

'And so I felt kind of like I was talking to a younger version of me at the very, very end, and I got a bit emotional in that, because I really hope it will help, and I think it might. So yeah, really nervous for it to come out.'

You, Me and ADHD by Sam Thompson is on sale now.