Helen Flanagan has always been candid about motherhood and how she has struggled with adapting to life with her two little girls.
The Coronation Street star is mum to two beautiful daughters, three-year-old Matilda and Delilah, who is 16 weeks, with her fiance, footballer Scott Sinclair.
She has now opened up about how she needed cognitive behavioural therapy following the birth of her first daughter.
This was due to crippling anxiety, she has revealed.
The 28-year-old explained that she wants women to be able to talk about their mental health struggles.
She said, ''I’ve always struggled with anxiety and it was at its peak after having Matilda.''
“It was partly why I wanted to go back to work. I didn't get post-natal depression, but my anxiety got unbearable. I had cognitive behavioural therapy. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Helen also spoke about breastfeeding and why she feels that it's important for women to be comfortable doing it in public.
She said, ''women shouldn't feel they have to cover up, it’s the most natural thing.”
She discussed a woman in a cafe who shamed her when she was feeding baby Delilah.
She said, ''a girl about my age said to her boyfriend: ‘Oh, that’s disgusting.’ She eventually got up and made a big deal of having to leave.''
She continued, “I mean, how ridiculous? I just thought it was really immature. I’m doing a really natural thing. So I just ignored her and carried on feeding my baby.
“Sometimes I’m discreet and other times not so much because I’d rather Delilah was comfortable – she’s my priority.''
We hear you Helen, and thank you for speaking up about having therapy - we're sure a lot of other mums can relate.
