Coronation Street star Simon Gregson has revealed his devastating battle with a health condition. The Steve McDonald actor has opened up about his long battle with anxiety.
I’m A Celeb star Simon told how he has always been desperate for people to like him. But after consulting with a psychiatrist he got to the root of his problems.
Diagnosed with anxiety, Simon has worked out coping mechanisms to help him deal with his condition. And now he’s speaking out to help others.
He told The Sun: “Everyone has a mental trigger that can help with recovery. For me, it was thinking, ‘Do I want to be surrounded by my family on my deathbed wishing I had worried more?’
“No, I didn’t. That was a eureka moment. So now I just let things go. I’ve learned to train my brain not to hold on to stuff that doesn’t matter.”
He added to Cheshire Life magazine: “I was always really anxious growing up, worrying about what people thought of me. There were also times of depression.
“You can’t keep brushing stuff under the carpet when your kids start to notice things. I saw a psychiatrist and he said I’d had anxiety for more than 20 years.”
Simon also opened up about the toughest Coronation Street storyline he ever had to film. Viewers watched two years ago as Steve and Leanne lost their young son Oliver.
The youngster developed a life-limiting condition. He was just three years old when he died leaving his parents and wider family devastated.
Read more: Coronation Street fans demand end to ‘disgusting grooming storyline’
The actor revealed: “While Steve was reading Mr Men books to his dying child, I would be going home reading Mr Men to my three-year-old, so that was tough. As an actor you want to do a great job on sensitive subjects but there can be a danger of getting in too deep.”
Coronation Street usually airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV.
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