Linda Robson says 'Loose Women' mental health interview was 'the scariest thing she's ever done'

Linda Robson has admitted her searingly honest Loose Women interview about her battles with depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was one of the scariest things she’s ever done.

She had been absent for a year from the ITV chat show panel while she dealt with mental health issues, but made her return last week to talk to her co-stars about what she’d been through.

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During the interview, Robson opened up about taking four baths a day and washing her bedding every day, and has now thanked fans for their support over “one of the scariest things I’ve ever had to do”.

Posting a happy family Christmas snap on Instagram, she captioned it: “I’ve always been an open and honest person but talking about my mental health and everything me and my family have been through over the last year and a half was one the scariest things I’ve ever had to do.

“I’m overwhelmed by the messages of support I’ve received over the last couple of days – from friends and strangers.

"I wanna thank my family, my friends and my Loose Woman team for all their patience and love, I couldn’t have done it without them. Looking forward to a healthier, happier year in 2020.

"See you all soon.”

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Birds of a Feather star Robson had explained that cutting out wine for a sugar-free diet had seen her change her sleep medication, which had sparked a bad reaction.

The 61-year-old said: “I had a proper meltdown.

“I had really bad anxiety, really bad depression and my OCD kicked into overdrive. I was like… everything needed to be spotless.”

Robson added that she had turned to drinking “anything” to help her to get through the day, and that the police had even been called to her house because her family had been locking her in for her own safety.

But she said that she felt she had finally made a good recovery and had enjoyed Christmas at home.