Actress Helen Flanagan reveals psychosis episode

Actress Helen Flanagan has said she suffered an episode of psychosis after a “bad reaction” to ADHD medication.

The former Coronation Street star said she had been “emotionally struggling” after splitting with her long-term partner 18 months ago.

Flanagan said she had “struggled mental health-wise” in December and January and took the medication to help her cope better.

But several days of psychosis meant she had to pull out of a theatre tour.

The actress, 33, best known for her role as Rosie Webster in Coronation Street, broke up with footballer Scott Sinclair in October 2022, the father of her three children, Matilda, seven, Delilah, five, and Charlie, two.

In her first Instagram post since January, she wrote: “Had a few months off from social but I’m back now.

“So basically I really struggled mental health wise December/January. I felt really not great in my head over Christmas and I didn’t really feel that much different when I took the kids away for new year.

“I had a lot of difficult things going on things I just can’t talk about on Instagram.

She added that in the run-up to her theatre tour, which she was excited about, she had felt “terrible” and had taken some medication “so I’d feel better, and be able to cope better with being a working single mum of three, and I was emotionally struggling with the break up from the father of my kids”.

What is Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that affects people’s behaviour.

People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.

Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old but sometimes it is diagnosed later in childhood.

However, on other occasions ADHD was not recognised at all when someone was a child and they are diagnosed later, as an adult.

Source: NHS England

She added: “I had a really bad reaction though to the medication (an ADHD medication) and it sent me into a psychosis for a few days which I didn’t know I was in.

“I just love my kids so much x this bad reaction though was a few days before rehearsals were starting and sadly I just wasn’t mentally well enough to do it.

“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.”

Flanagan said she was now in a “really good happy place”, and has found therapy to be “amazing”.

She added: “I feel like I’ve worked on myself with things that were quite tough to me but I feel lighter now.”

Flanagan was replaced in role of Miss Scarlett in the UK tour of Cluedo 2 by Strictly Come Dancing winner Ellie Leach.

At the time, it was announced that Flanagan had withdrawn from the show for “medical reasons”.