Will Young’s battle with post-traumatic stress disorder sometimes leaves him housebound.
The former ‘Pop Idol’ winner – who shot into the limelight in 2002 when he won the singing series – was diagnosed with the anxiety disorder, also known as PTSD, in 2012 and hit the headlines last year when he walked out of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ just three weeks in because he couldn’t deal with the pressure that came with the ballroom and latin competition.
And, although he’s learnt to recognise when he’s slipping down the slope, the 38-year-old singer has admitted sometimes his anxiety is so bad that he confines himself to the house.
Speaking to the Evening Standard newspaper, he said: "With PTSD, sometimes it could be difficult for me to go to the coffee shop, or visit the bank — but I now know when to expect it. It’s just something I’ve learned to live with the best I can, and listen to my body.
"If my nervous system is too much then I might not want to go round to a friend’s for dinner. If I push myself to do things it gets worse. It’s like having a broken leg if you are an athlete — you need time to recover and can’t push yourself. I’ve got really good at looking after my nervous system — it’s been the making of me. Self-care is what everyone should aspire to."
And Will has admitted a lot of people assume that he’s depressed but he’s adamant "that’s not the case" and he’s actually very "content" with his life – even though it’s up and down.
He explained to the publication: "I’m a very content person. People think that PTSD must be depressing. That’s not the case."
Will Young’s PTSD leaves him housebound
