Tonight, Martina Colombari will be a guest at Belve, where, after years of silence, she will also talk about the difficulties she experienced with her son Achille, son of former footballer Billy Costacurta. A complex story, marked by a painful journey of suffering, late diagnosis and daily struggles. Over the years, Achille has faced extreme moments, marked by addictions, behavioral difficulties, and above all by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
As Martina declared on Dancing with the Stars, up to now she has tried to protect her son and keep her private life away from the spotlight, but now Achille has chosen to tell his story. A story that was not easy for her to deal with, especially due to the exploitation of her son’s difficulties by the media. His family has often been the subject of hasty judgments: “son of a bourgeois, wealthy, rich family, who knows what kind of life they will have given him.” Martina forcefully underlined how much this criticism hurt her, highlighting the difficulties in having to respond to those who accused her of not having been a good mother, of not having noticed Achilles’ problems in time.
The Diagnosis of ADHD
Achille was a “complicated child”, as Martina herself defines him, a boy who didn’t respect the rules, who often ended up in trouble, but all this was only understood later thanks to the diagnosis of ADHD. This disorder, in fact, allowed Martina and Billy to better understand Achille’s behavior, which did not depend on “bad education”, but on a neurodivergence that made his brain different from that of others.
When Achille was in a juvenile penal center in Parma, Martina said that it was like “not having a child”, due to his apathy and emotional disconnection. At that time, the family experienced constant frustration, trying to understand where they had gone wrong, but without being able to get answers. Only after taking a step back, recognizing that perhaps they, as parents, could not be of help at that moment, did they understand that they had to do everything to protect Achilles, without judging him, but trying to support him in the best way possible.
What is ADHD Disorder
ADHD, as underlined by Martina herself, is a disorder that does not simply concern “rebellious behavior” or a “difficult phase” that every child must overcome. It is a neurobiological condition that affects how a person manages attention, impulses and activity level. Those who suffer from ADHD have a brain that works differently, often without the ability to self-regulate in everyday situations that require concentration and calm. This can generate frustration, both in the child and in the parents, who do not always understand the nature of the disorder.
Achille, like many boys with ADHD, had to face incorrect and incomplete judgments: those who saw him as a “problem”, when in reality he was just a boy who was unable to communicate his discomfort appropriately. This, unfortunately, also led to difficulties on an academic and social level, making it even more evident how important it was to intervene with an adequate diagnosis.
The recovery journey: the light at the end of the tunnel
Today, thanks to a timely diagnosis and targeted therapy, Achille has managed to embark on a recovery path that has led him to improve significantly. Despite the initial difficulties, awareness of the disorder and the right therapeutic approach allowed Achille to change his life. His recovery journey was long, made up of ups and downs, but today he himself is more aware of himself and his difficulties.
Martina, despite having experienced moments of great suffering, today is proud of her son’s progress and states that, although the journey has been complex, seeing Achille engaged in his growth process fills her with hope. Despite the difficulties, Achille is fighting with determination, trying to put his pain at the service of others, with the aim of raising awareness about mental health and the need to support those experiencing similar situations.
The story of Martina Colombari and Achille Costacurta is not only that of a family that has faced a difficult path, but is also a testimony of courage and resilience. Achille’s story reminds us that ADHD is not a whim or a lack of education, but a condition that deserves understanding and treatment. Furthermore, Martina’s story demonstrates how important it is to never judge too hastily, but to offer the necessary support and love to those who are going through a difficult period.
In a world that often does not know how to deal with the difficulties related to mental health, the story of Achille and his family is an invitation to reflect on the need to break down prejudices, to listen to those who suffer and to seek solutions that go beyond simple superficial judgement.
