Helen Flanagan's Devastating Mental Health Battle After Becoming a Mother
Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has courageously revealed the severe mental health crisis she experienced following the birth of her daughter Matilda, describing the ordeal as "brutal and relentless." In her new memoir Head & Heart, the actress details how her world completely collapsed amid disturbing intrusive thoughts and overwhelming anxiety.
Vivid and Violent Intrusive Thoughts
Flanagan discloses how her mind became a "battlefield" of sinister thoughts, including a horrifying fantasy about throwing her baby daughter down the stairs of the six-bedroom home she shared with former fiancé Scott Sinclair. "These thoughts were vivid and often violent," she writes. "It was brutal and relentless. I loved [my daughter] so much that I ached, and that's what made the thoughts all the more unbearable."
The actress reveals she endured a potentially life-threatening mental health breakdown after welcoming baby Matilda with Sinclair, confessing that many of the troubling thoughts that plagued her as a new mother "are far too disturbing to share publicly." She even developed paranoid delusions, convincing herself that one of her neighbours was a drug smuggler working with Sinclair to harm her.
Spiraling Anxiety and Obsessive Behaviours
Flanagan explains how becoming a mother sent her anxiety spiraling to unprecedented levels, despite initially finding joy in simple maternal activities. "Scott and I had been on cloud nine when our beautiful daughter Matilda was born, and I'd thrown myself headfirst into motherhood," she recalls. "I found joy in the simplest of things: pushing the pram around the streets, walks in the park, popping to the supermarket with Matilda in the baby carrier."
However, normal new mother concerns escalated into unhealthy fixations and obsessive behaviours. "I started to obsess about germs and didn't want other people touching Matilda in case they passed something on," Flanagan admits. "I didn't trust anyone else with my baby, sometimes not even Scott." These thoughts would become so overwhelming that she experienced panic attacks, with disturbing images flashing through her mind "as clear as day."
Relationship Breakdowns and Additional Trauma
Another difficult period for Flanagan's mental wellbeing came following the breakdown of her romance with world champion boxer David Haye, compounded by widespread speculation about her involvement in a "throuple" with Haye and his partner Sian Osborne. Despite initially resisting Haye's advances after recently separating from Sinclair, Flanagan eventually spent time with him, leading to an uncomfortable situation at a boxing event.
"The night of the fight, I wore a sexy corseted leather dress and headed to the arena," she recalls. "David was ringside with Sian and his daughter. After the fight Sian approached me and, honestly, she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen." Flanagan firmly stated that a threesome wasn't something she'd consider and requested Haye take her home, but felt terrible about the situation afterwards.
The Breaking Point and Lingering Trauma
When Flanagan chose to end the relationship with Haye, she claims he struggled to accept the rejection. "I don't think David is used to women saying no to him," she says. "He was seething. 'I expect perfection from you,' he said. 'Why are you speaking to me like this? Did you speak to Scott like this? No wonder he left you. You do not speak to me in this way.'"
The breakup proved to be the breaking point that triggered a crisis which had been building for years. "Finishing with him was a bit like escaping a burning building – I'd made it out alive, but the toxic smoke lingered in my lungs," Flanagan describes. "A breakdown was just around the corner. I was hurtling towards disaster – and there was nothing I could do about it."
Flanagan reveals she had battled mental health issues even before landing her role on Coronation Street in 1999 as Rosie Webster when she was just nine years old. As she matured and Rosie's character became increasingly sexualised, public scrutiny and pressure mounted, creating additional challenges that would eventually culminate in her severe postpartum mental health crisis.
