Helen Flanagan opens up about hidden disorder with honest update to fans

Helen Flanagan has spoken candidly about her struggle with a hidden disorder after a 'really scary' breakdown.

The former Coronation Street actress stepped back from the limelight earlier this year and withdrew from her 'dream job'. Helen, who rose to fame as Rosie Webster in Coronation Street, opened up in March about her struggles.

The mum-of-three revealed to her fans that she'd been battling with her mental health since before Christmas. She then had a 'bad reaction' to ADHD medication earlier this year, which triggered a 'psychosis'.

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In her first interview since her health scare earlier this month, the former Blackburn student told the Mirror about the emotional turmoil she faced after ending her relationship with footballer fiancé Scott Sinclair after 13 years together. Her ordeal began following what seemed like an idyllic New Year's holiday in Bali with their children Matilda, eight, Delilah, five, and Charlie, three.

She said: "My kids weren't with me on Christmas Day because I like to be really fair with my ex, and it sounds so silly because it was only one day, but it hit me really hard. The plan was for me to take them to Bali for New Year instead, and although I enjoyed it, I didn't feel myself.

"I was struggling. I felt terrible when I got back. I was crying all the time, I felt so low."

Helen, 33, said she now realises she was carrying unresolved trauma over the 2022 split with Scott, 35. "I don't see it as a break-up, I see it as a divorce," she said. "We were together 13 years. But instead of processing it all, I threw myself into work and shut off my emotions.

"I just went into survival mode. Then it all came to the surface earlier this year and I was mentally and physically breaking down."

And Helen's openness and honesty with her fans and followers has continued as she revealed she's "always struggled" with her hormones and has been searching for a solution.

The mum-of-three shared how she turned to medication at the end of last year, opting to try a contraceptive pill to see if it would help with her hormones. However, she admitted it made her feel "so sick" and she was left looking for alternative ways to help. She's since began working with a womb and menstrual cycle awareness educator who she claims has helped her to "understand her body" more.

"So tired x the day before my period is due I'm always exhausted I know other women will feel me x," Helen wrote alongside a make-up free selfie as she pouted for the camera and held up a peace sign with her fingers. "I've always struggled with my hormones x they affect me more mentally than physically," she went on.

"I worked with my beautiful friend @graceprosser13 this year to help my PMDD and it was so amazing for me. I used to struggle so much before my bleed. I tried the pill in December to try and help my hormones but it didn't work for me at all (wasn't using for contraception) it made me just feel so sick, I had hyperemesis gravidum 3 times in all my pregnancies and it made me bleed very heavily x".

Helen then concluded her post: "What I've done with @graceprosser13 is really natural and it's really helped me understand my body and mind more."