Fearne Cotton reveals she suffers with 'potent' night-time panic attacks
Fearne Cotton has previously spoken out about her mental health, in fact, she's built a business around it: Happy Place. And now, in an interview with The Times, the mum-of-two has revealed that she still suffers with 'potent' night-time panic attacks.
Speaking honestly about her life as a mum and as a former Radio 1 presenter, Fearne explained: 'I’ve got all these little triggers. If I’ve got to do something I haven’t done before, even if intellectually I know I’m safe, my body reacts.'
The Radio 2 DJ continued: 'It’s hellish. I haven’t driven on the motorway for three and a half years, since I had a panic attack on one.'
And Fearne admitted that even during the day, she can still struggle with 'mum guilt': '[It's] worse when they're tiny,' she said. 'I do still get it.'
Her solution? Honesty.
'With Rex, I’m very honest and practical with how I talk about what I’m doing, so he has an understanding. I just say, “Right, I’ve got to go upstairs now, Rex. I’m going to do some work. You know that thing I bought you last week? We can’t buy that unless Mummy goes.”'
But for Fearne herself, growing up with a hardworking mum isn't something new: 'My mum did jobs just to make ends meet,' she explains.
'She worked as an orthodontic nurse, delivered Next clothing in her car, cleaned our neighbours’ houses. As a kid, you take it for granted hugely, because that’s your normal.
'But now, as a working mum myself, I look back and think, how did she do it?'
Despite having to constantly manage these feelings, the 39-year-old has previously revealed to Red Magazine, that she is 'stronger and happier than ever.'
You can read Fearne's full interview with The Times here.
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