Race Across the World's Scott Mills feared 'I was going to die' in crippling health battle
Race Across the World star Scott Mills revealed he “thought he was going to die” as he battled a major health condition.
The 51-year-old has previously spoken about the struggles he faced with anxiety and depression when he was a youngster. The former BBC Radio 1 DJ spoke out because he wanted other people to know they are “not alone”.
Scott said he would have crippling panic attacks that led to him taking time out of school because he felt so low. It left him fearing he would never make it in radio, despite going on to become one the nation’s best-loved stars.
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Previously, Scott told the Mirror : “When I had my anxiety I didn’t know anyone else who had had a similar experience so I thought I was going mad. I kept wondering, ‘Do I need a psychiatric home?’
“At my worst, I felt so ill I called an ambulance once. A panic attack came on without warning and I genuinely thought I was going to die, because my mind was playing tricks on me. I was tingling all over because of the lack of oxygen.
“When they arrived I felt like a complete idiot because I wasn’t that kind of ill, but they were very kind.”
Scott says he was supported by his mum at the time and also received counselling. He encouraged people in a similar situation to seek out support from the likes of mental health charity, Mind.
He added: “Do try to see someone and keep to the appointments. You can’t just put a plaster over how you’re feeling and it’ll be fixed. It’s a process that can take months and years.
“I was given anti-depressants and had counselling. There was no obvious trigger but now, what used to be bad nerves when I felt as though I couldn’t breathe are now positive nerves.
“Working at Radio 1 and being thrown in at the deep end with interviews has been so good for me. I was worried my career would suffer at one point. I questioned whether I wanted to continue in my profession and go on to a higher level because of how I felt.
“But something inside me told me I wanted to do well. I never felt like I had determination back then but I obviously did.
"I used to spend weeks at home and even simple things like leaving the house felt like a chore. Now I can be calm even under a lot of pressure.”
Scott moved from Radio 1 to Radio 2 in 2022. He closed his mid-afternoon show with Chris Stark by telling listeners to “turn on the radio” if they ever feel “lost”.
He said: “If things are tough at school, or at work or at home, or if they’re tough with your parents or in your relationship, or if you feel a bit lonely, we’re your friends. It’s not an act, or a performance, we’re your friends.
He added: “If you ever feel there is no one there, or you feel lost, or there’s nothing good around you, I’ll say one thing to you, turn on the radio.”
Scott and his husband Sam Vaughan will be appearing on the final leg of Celebrity Race Across the World tonight as they compete with three other celebrity pairings to reach Frutillar, Chile. Each pairing has had to navigate across South America, without a mobile phone or access to the internet, with just a £1,100 budget.
They are given a GPS tracker, map, and a travel guide as they race between five checkpoints. Scott and Sam will be competing against former glamour model Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy, Ted Lasso star Kola Bokinni and his cousin Mary Ellen, and This Morning presenter Jeff Brazier and his son Freddy.
Prior to leaving for South America, Scott revealed he often doubts himself, while Sam is the more competitive of the two. He said: ‘Like I said, when I do these things, I'm more, 'Am I going to be able to do it?’
“Then ‘I'm going to win it.’ It's like the treadmill thing, I was like, ‘I don't think I'm going to be able to do it.’ And the panto, ‘Not sure I’m going to be able to do it.’ I always do it and it always seems to work out okay. I'm not win, win, win like Sam is. He really is."
Celebrity Race Across the World airs on BBC One at 9pm.