Countdown star Rachel Riley has confessed that being on Strictly Come Dancing gave her PTSD.
The 38-year-old, who appeared on the BBC show in 2013 said she now believes all Strictly participants should be offered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) after the show. While attending the Inspirational Women Awards in London, she said: “I know from my time on it, 11 years ago, even the most sane, solid, grounded people, it can do something to you
“And there’s so many people that I’ve seen in subsequent years that have that shared experience. I don’t think even production are aware of quite what it does to people.”
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Rachel, who wedded former Strictly dancer Pasha Kovalev, said she was recommended to take CBT while on the show. And for her, it made the experience a positive one.
CBT, a talking therapy, can aid patients by altering how they view their troubles.
It’s a common treatment for anxiety, depression and PTSD, and focuses on improving a person’s mental state. Treatment with an NHS therapist usually consists of between six and 20 hour-long sessions.
Rachel’s comments come after actress Amanda Abbington’s dramatic departure mid-series from the BBC show. Rachel isn’t the first to admit their Strictly adventure was challenging.
Last year, Amanda Abbington left Strictly Come Dancing for “personal reasons” but reports claimed she didn’t get along with her pro partner Giovanni Pernice.
Amanda reportedly asked for videos of them practicing to show she had PTSD at the time. However, the TV star who appeared in the show Sherlock, isn’t taking it further with the BBC now.
(Image: BBC)
The BBC have also revealed they are now looking ahead. Talking to The Sun, Amanda said: “I was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons and I told a few people about that, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were happening in my life at the time both professionally and personally.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
