Nadiya Hussain has told how she’s struggling with anxiety during lockdown – and that some days it’s meant she’s not wanted to get out of bed.

The TV star, who won Great British Bake Off in 2015, told BBC Radio 5 Live that her and her family had not been out of the house for more than six weeks because two of her sons are asthmatic.

Last year, Nadiya featured in a BBC documentary in which she spoke about her anxiety and sought treatment for panic attacks.

This week, she told BBC radio presenter Nihal Arthanyake that since lockdown it has been “really tough” and that her anxiety was the worst it had been for a long time.

Good and bad days

She said she’d had “good and bad days.”

“It’s something that I’m really honest about,” the mum-of-three said.

“I’ve struggled to get out of bed. There are days, when I don’t even want to get dressed.

“I know there are loads of people out there who are going to feel exactly the same way, whether they have mental health issues or not.

“It’s really hard to find a balance and I’ve really struggled with that at the moment.”

She added: “It’s really bizarre because everything we have been asked to do in lockdown - which is to stay indoors, to not meet with people, to self-isolate, to stay away from public places - all of those are things that I would naturally do if I was anxious.

More anxious

"So it’s completely counter-intuitive. I’m being told to do something that I would normally do if I was anxious, but I’m doing it and it’s making me more anxious.”

She added: “I know there are hundreds of thousands of people out there who suffer with mental health issues who know exactly what I’m saying and will understand that this is something that’s affected us in a way.

“For a second let’s put aside my own mental health, what about the people who are going to come out of this with mental health issues? That’s really scary for me. Just thinking about how that’s going to affect lots of people.”

If you’re struggling with your mental health during lockdown, there are thousands of professional, highly-qualified and skilled counsellors around the country who are currently offering therapy sessions via telephone or online platforms.

To find a counsellor or psychotherapist who can help you visit our Therapist directory.

Nadia: Anxiety and Me will be repeated on BBC One on Wednesday 6 May at 11.30pm

Image credit: BBC