Christine McGuinness has revealed she has been diagnosed as autistic along with her three children who all have the condition.
The media personality, 33, made the admission in her new book Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare and told how her husband Paddy McGuinness suspected it for years.
In an extract seen by The Mirror, she wrote: 'I have been confirmed as autistic. It's strange, but I've noticed there are little hints throughout my life that I'm autistic and more like my children than I ever could have imagined.
Candid: Christine McGuinness has revealed she has been diagnosed as autistic along with her three children who all have the condition
'My issues with food, my social struggles, how hard I find it to make friends and stay focused, and my indecisiveness. The way I float through life reminds me of how my eldest daughter Penelope is.'
Christine added that while she was not completely surprised by the diagnosis, it was emotional to accept.
The model explained that she was diagnosed in August after she and Paddy, 48, were invited to meet Sir Simon Baron-Cohen who is the director of Cambridge University's Autism Research Centre.
The couple both filled out an AQ Questionnaire which is designed to measure the expression of Autism-Spectrum traits in a person.
Honest: The media personality, 33, made the admission in her new book Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare and told how her husband Paddy McGuinness, 48, suspected it for years
Christine explained the scale goes from 0 to 50 and an average neurotypical person would score about 15, which Paddy did, while hers was 36.
On being given the diagnosis, Christine wrote: 'It was a lot to take in and once my appointment was over, I broke down in floods of tears. I think it's because the news conjured up a mixture of emotions and while I'm not totally shocked and it's a relief, I'm just really sad for my younger self.'
Christine said Paddy told her he suspected she was autistic for years and was always conscious that she had 'quirks' and was 'a bit different'.
She said it often takes her hours to get ready or making simple decisions like deciding between two plain T-shirts.
Family: The model shares twins Penelope and Leo, seven, and Felicity, four, with comedian husband Paddy
Christine said she never had a single night out during her 20s and never had a 21st or a 30th because she would make every excuse not to socialise.
The star added she is the best version of herself when she is with her kids Penelope, Leo, both eight, and Felicity, five, and believes this is because they are all autistic.
Christine said certain behaviours she has now make sense in the wake of her diagnosis like her need to rearrange hotel rooms when she checks in or her preference for beige food.
The model said she and Paddy have not told their children they are autistic yet but thinks telling them she is too will make it easier.
Christine acknowledged she is concerned people might treat her differently now her diagnosis is public however she feels she is 'living proof' people with autism can do anything.
Christine wrote: 'I have been confirmed as autistic. It's strange, but I've noticed there are little hints throughout my life that I'm autistic and more like my children than I ever could have imagined'
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