The Star: May 12, 2022

Thursday May 12 2022 The Star
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NEWS 7
relief, but isn’t an excuse for his actions
“I feel a little bit of a relief,
because deep down I thought,
am I just a c***? Or, am I just a
horrible person? Why am I doing
these bad things? That makes no
sense, because I’m a good person.
“I want to make it clear, that
I’m not being slapped with this
hefty court thing, and then all of
a sudden coming out the week
later and saying, look Zac Guildford’s
got ADHD, another f******
excuse.”
In his mind, the diagnosis
offers an explanation as to why
others could spend $50 on a
night out and he would spend
the “whole $500”.
His employer, who requested
not to be named, said it became
apparent something wasn’t right
within the first two weeks of him
living and working with them.
“He lacked focus on tasks that
made him uncomfortable or
were boring. But the things he
loved he was fully focused on.
He would fidget, leave the room
when it wasn’t appropriate. But
then apologised profusely for not
listening.”
She said he was someone who
wanted to change but had been
struggling with how this would
look and how to do it.
“Basically Zac was exhausted
and felt that he had tried everything
and nothing was ever
going to work.”
Part of the reason she wanted
him to be screened was because
a nephew had faced similar issues
and he became a “different
man” after being diagnosed with
ADHD.
She said Guildford’s job with
the company had had to be
“changed around a bit to suit
him”, but he would work in human
resources.
“In his spare time to keep
himself busy he is building a
long-term business plan of selling
sports/gym equipment, and
researching men’s multivitamins
and food supplements. This
seems to be something he is
interested in so is really focused
on making this happen.”
Psychotherapist
Kyle MacDonald
said people who
have ADHD are
more likely to
develop impulse
Kyle
MacDonald
control issues.
“We’re talking
alcohol, we’re
talking drug
use, impulsive spending and
of course gambling. But that
doesn’t mean everyone who
has ADHD does those things.
But you are at increased risk for
it, and that’s because decision
making tends to be focused more
RUGBY: Guildford played 10 tests for the All Blacks
between 2009-2012.
PHOTO: GETTY
on the short-term than the longterm.”
However, he said ADHD is not
the cause of the offending.
“I just really hope for his sake,
he really gets the help that he
needs now and we don’t feel the
need to punish him for what he’s
done wrong but (have) understanding
that hopefully leads to
treatment and a better outcome.”
Guildford said he is hopeful
he can find the right medication
and said he wants to gain more
knowledge and do behavioural
therapy to help with his ADHD.
At sentencing, Guildford’s
uncle told the court he had been
exposed to gambling from a
young age and was given too
much money when he was too
young.
Guildford said he believes he
may have started gambling when
‘I became bored. Who
becomes bored with
becoming an All Black?’
– Zac Guildford
he was three and still in nappies.
One example he pointed to on
the impact ADHD may have had
on his life was how he “walked
out” on his rugby career that he
had worked hard for since he was
a child.
“I became bored. Who becomes
bored with becoming an
All Black? Who becomes bored
with earning half a million dollars
in France and just having to
go to the gym? Bored of being
this person that everyone else
wanted me and told me to be. I
just couldn’t control it.”
Guildford played 10 tests for
the All Blacks between 2009 and
2012 and was a member of the
2011 Rugby World Cup-winning
squad, scoring four tries in
New Zealand’s 79-15 win over
Canada.
He was also part of the New
Zealand side that won the
under-20 World Cup in Tokyo
in 2009, scoring two tries in the
final. The occasion was marred
by the tragic and sudden death of
his father, Robert, as he watched
the game from the stands.
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