Louis Walsh has revealed he received medical treatment during his time in the Celebrity Big Brother house.
Louis told The Sun that he suffered crippling insomnia in the house and had two panic attacks, which required off-camera treatment from medics.
"We weren't allowed to get up and do anything if we woke up in the night so I'd wake at three, four in the morning, and just lie there in the dark, worrying about things."
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Detailing all the things he thought about whilst he lay awake, Louis admitted the anxiety was unusual for him. "Worrying about my mother, my health, what I had said that day – for the first time ever, I suffered from anxiety," he said.
"They gave me my prescription sleeping pills but they would only give me one rather than two and after they wore off I was awake, panicking. The night times scared me."
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Louis recalled the "brilliant" medics who were on-call around the clock, during the show. "They spoke to me and calmed me down after I started having a panic attack and they really helped calm me down.
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"I’ve never had therapy before, not even when I was diagnosed with the cancer, but for the first time ever I spoke to psychotherapists when I was in that house."
Claiming he never saw the medics in person, Louis explained the "surreal" way he received help: "You just spoke to them through an ear piece – but they really helped me."
Louis finished in fourth place during the Celebrity Big Brother live final on March 22, after being nominated for eviction multiple times. Fellow finalists Fern Britton, Colson Smith and Nikita Kuzmin finished fifth, third and second, respectively.
It was Ibiza Weekender star David Potts who won the series, after providing weeks of drama and fun for viewers and the celebrity housemates.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, organisations who can offer support include the NHS, Samaritans on 116 123 or Mind on 0300 123 3393. Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov.
Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.
