Little Mix star Perrie Edwards has bravely opened up about her mental health on Instagram, letting the world know that she battles with anxiety.
“Over the past few years I have suffered really badly with anxiety and panic attacks,” Perrie said. “When I first started to feel the effects of anxiety, I thought I was losing my mind and it terrified me. I felt so alone and like I was the first person in the world to ever experience it.”
Perrie even explained how scary her first panic attack was – she had no idea what was happening. “The first panic attack was so intense and overwhelming, I felt like I was having a heart attack, I was so scared and confused and had no idea what was happening to me,” she continued.
“I’m not sure what triggered that first one but it soon spiralled [sic] & I found myself in a really dark place, feeling alone and scared. I had people around me but I couldn’t explain to them what was happening to me or why. It affected me so badly that I didn’t even want to leave the house. I would step foot out the door and feel the overwhelming need to go straight back inside. It completely took over my life.”
Perrie continued to explain that even though the “physical attacks” have stopped, she still struggles with anxiety today.
Sometimes, she feels “like a prisoner” in her “own head.”
What has helped her pull through is “discovering” she’s not “alone.”
“I’m not the only person going through this,” Perrie continued. “There are people all over the world feeling the exact same way I do! As soon as I realised [sic] I wasn’t going insane I felt more eager to beat it. I had therapy and I [surrounded] myself with my loved ones. Talking to someone relieves you of SO MUCH STRESS. I worked out coping mechanism’s and learned what the triggers are so that I can fight the attacks before they take hold. I restricted my time on social media which often made me feel trapped and claustrophobic. I took control of my life and accepted what I couldn’t control.”
She concluded, “I don’t want to hide it anymore. I suffer from anxiety and I want you to all know if you suffer from anxiety you’re not alone ♥️.”
WE LOVE YOU PERRIE!
If you, or someone you know needs help, speak confidentially to a trained counsellor 24 hours a day:
Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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