Helen Flanagan: My ADHD & OCD Battle

Helen Flanagan has shared candid details of her mental health journey, beginning with early signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) at age eight after a dispute with friends at her primary school in Bolton. This childhood incident, she believes, laid the groundwork for ongoing psychological challenges. Later, Flanagan was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), finding significant improvement with prescribed medication.

However, the ADHD medication, taken for nearly twenty years, led to a dependency. Flanagan describes taking triple the recommended dose, contributing to paranoia and irrationality. Her experiences with mental health worsened after leaving Coronation Street in 2012, battling deep depression and social anxiety, which included frequent panic attacks.

More recently, after the birth of her son Charlie, Flanagan experienced a severe bout of postnatal OCD. This included an intrusive fear that a midwife had swapped her baby with another on the ward. She also detailed harrowing racist intrusive thoughts, which she struggled to manage despite being anti-racist. She credits therapy and self-care over medication for her recovery.

Flanagan is now focusing on her acting career and a play at Bolton's Octagon Theatre, seeking a calmer life. She has also faced personal challenges, including her ex-partner Scott Sinclair's decision to sell the family home. Despite these difficulties, she finds strength in her three children.