Lauren Goodger has been battling anxiety and panic attacks for "years".
The 33-year-old reality star has spent four years trying to cope with her health woes, but the situation came to a head over Christmas when she was rushed into hospital.
Lauren shared: "Believe me, my problems are a lot deeper than one day in A&E. I’ve suffered anxiety and panic attacks off and on for four years."
The TV star had previously been able to "deal" with her troubles – but by Boxing Day, she was left feeling overwhelmed and Lauren admits she simply "crashed".
Speaking to New! magazine, she recalled: "I thought I was dying.
"I’ve never been one to take anti-depressants, but this particular psychiatrist put me on a strong dose for my anxiety because my heart palpitations were out of control.
"I hated the thought of putting this medication into my body so I just stopped one day, which you aren’t meant to do. Apparently that’s what triggered it."
Lauren explained that problems in her personal life, coupled with her appearance in a BBC documentary – in which she agreed to promote a fake cyanide drink – pushed her over the edge.
She said: "Your body and your mind are like a computer and when it goes into overdrive, you crash. And I crashed.
"I couldn’t breathe. My heart rate was sky high, my eyes were in the back of my head, I was shivering. I was in a terrible way."
However, Lauren now feels she’s found a way to manage her anxiety.
She revealed: "I don’t want to talk to someone. I’m a practical person and I need to get things done.
"So I’m trying new things instead, such as courses and my exercise, things that make me feel good. I still have anxiety and I feel like s**t, but I’m managing it now."
Lauren Goodger: I’ve been battling anxiety for years
