The entertainment world was jolted when former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan laid bare a disturbing mental health crisis she grappled with. The 33-year-old actress, who portrayed Rosie Webster on the renowned British drama series, courageously took to Instagram to share the raw details of her intense psychological struggles with ADHD medication in late in 2022.
In the candid social media disclosure, Flanagan revealed that last December and January found her consumed by emotional turmoil in the aftermath of her romantic split 18 months prior from long-term partner Scott Sinclair, with whom she shares three young children. The newfound single mother was overwhelmed navigating the dissolution of her relationship compounded by the already daunting responsibilities of her working parent role.
Seeking reprieve, Flanagan pursued medical intervention, being prescribed medication intended to help manage her ADHD condition. The hope was this treatment would instill a sense of equilibrium, better equipping her to handle the compounding stressors weighing heavily. Sadly, in a cruelly ironic twist, rather than alleviating her fragilities, the ADHD medication ignited a terrifying counter-response - plunging Flanagan into the grips of a multi-day psychotic episode mere days before she was scheduled to commence rehearsals for an upcoming theatrical run.
"I had an extremely bad reaction to the medication which sent me spiraling into a state of psychosis for several days without even realizing it," the anguished performer recounted.
"This bad reaction was just a few days before rehearsals were starting and sadly I just wasn't mentally well enough to do it."
Flanagan had been scheduled to star as Miss Scarlett in the UK tour of the play Cluedo 2. However, her severe psychological break forced her to back out of the show at the last minute, despite her strong professional commitment to the project. As she poignantly explained, "I was heartbroken as I've always been professional as an actress, but I needed to stay at home and feel better for me and my kids, with the help of my amazing parents."
In her courageous Instagram message, the soap star did not go into specifics about the exact nature of the psychotic symptoms she endured. However, the medical crisis clearly left her shaken and focused on prioritizing her mental health recovery with the support of her family.
While the experience to the ADHD medication was no doubt harrowing, Flanagan says she has emerged from the ordeal in a much better place psychologically thanks to therapy. "I feel like I've worked on myself with things that were quite tough but I feel lighter now," she told her followers, crediting the treatment with helping her process the traumas she faced.
The actress' openness about her private struggles is being lauded by mental health advocates. By Breaking the Stigma and shame surrounding issues like psychosis, Flanagan is setting an important example - particularly for other single working moms who may be silently suffering. Her bravery in sharing her truth about ADHD medication reminds us that mental illness can impact anyone, even seemingly successful celebrities living charmed lives in the spotlight.
Flanagan's powerful testimony underscores the importance of erasing stigmas to encourage more people to speak openly about their psychological battles without fear or judgment. It also highlights the need for greater awareness surrounding potential side effects and health risks linked to psychiatric medications like those she was prescribed. Ultimately, the actress' disturbing experience contains vital lessons about prioritizing self-care, accepting help from support networks, and never minimizing the significance of mental health as we continue striving to safeguard the wellbeing of all.
