Helen Flanagan has opened up about having cognitive behavioural therapy to help her cope after giving birth to her first child in 2015.
The Coronation Street star revealed how her anxiety hit its peak after welcoming daughter, Matilda, which led her to look for help.
Helen explained that she underwent cognitive behavioural therapy, a type of talking therapy which focuses on how thoughts, beliefs and attitudes affect feelings and behaviour.
The 28-year-old said: "I've always struggled with anxiety and it was at its peak after having Matilda.
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"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, who also gave birth to daughter Delilah in June, is also an advocate for breast feeding and has always spoken openly about becoming a mother.
The actress was recently shamed by a stranger for feeding Delilah in public. She said: "A girl about my age came to sit across from me. I was feeding quite happily with my blankets and I could see her saying to her boyfriend: 'Oh, that's disgusting.'
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"She eventually got up and made a big deal of having to leave, like: 'I've just got to go!'
"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.
"I don't really care if someone doesn't approve of me breastfeeding, I just care about my baby being happy and fed."
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Helen regularly shares snaps online of her breastfeeding in a bid to encourage her followers to 'normalise it in public'.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@hjgflanagan/@scotty_sinclair
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