Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon has received an outpouring of love and support after opening up about her anxiety.
To mark World Mental Health Day Samia shared a story about an 'awful' panic attack she suffered on a train to London to record the comedy panel show Celebrity Juice hosted by Keith Lemon.
The actress from Eccles was in tears for the entire journey and says she'll 'never forget' the kindness of the train manager who came to her aid with tissues and water.
"As it’s #worldmentalhealthday I thought I would share something," she wrote alongside a selfie taken during the break in filming the show.
"I took this selfie during a break when I was filming @celebjuiceofficial last year... what I didn’t tell anyone when I was filming the show that day was that I’d had an awful panic attack on the train on the way down to London.
"I’d been in tears the whole journey, so much so that the lovely train manager kept bringing me tissues and water and asking if I was ok. He was so lovely to me, I’ll never forget his kindness."
Samia, 38, managed to go ahead with filming and felt 'loads better' after having fun on the show.
She explained: "I didn’t think I’d be able to do an upbeat show like Celeb Juice feeling the way I felt but I did it because the thought of letting everyone down wasn’t an option, I would’ve just felt even worse.
"And after I’d done it I felt loads better, it actually took my mind off things and I had fun, as I always do with @keithlemon."
Urging people to 'be kind' because they may not know when others are struggling, she said: "I guess my point is that nobody knows when someone else might be struggling... the signs aren’t always obvious and behind someone’s smile you never know what they might have going on. #bekind shouldnt just be a trendy hashtag ...it should be something we all can do for others.
"Hope everyone reading this is ok.. and if you’re not, I hope you can talk to someone about it.. it really does help to talk @itv #britaingettalking #helpourhelplines."
Samia, who plays hair stylist Maria Connor in Corrie, was praised by her co-stars for speaking out.
Kate Ford, who plays Tracy Barlow in the show, told her: "Love to you my friend. I’m so glad that we can talk so openly to each other. I’m blessed to know you x"
Lucy-Jo Hudson, who played Katy Harris, said: "Proud of you for opening up Sammy, it’s not easy, but so many people will be able to relate to your story! You’re doing amazing, love you always xxx"
Charlie Condou who played Maria's ex Marcus Dent said: "Love you Sam."
And Alan Halsall, who played another of Maria's ex partners Tyrone Dobbs, sent a love heart.
Hayley Tamaddon, who played Andrea Beckett, said: "So much love for you beautiful girl."
The mother-of-two also opened up about her mental health in a chat with psychotherapist Sarie Taylor.
In a video shared on her Instagram she said she'd suffered panic attacks since she was 11-years-old.
"That was the first time I went to the doctors with anxiety because I couldn't breathe," she said.
"My mum took me to the doctors thinking I had some sort of asthma.
"The doctor gave me an inhaler because they thought I might have asthma and then later on we realised it was actually anxiety I was suffering with."
Samia says a couple of years ago she was suffering 'quite badly' and was prescribed with the beta blockers propranolol to slow her heart rate.
"I was sensing the tiger in the room all the time," she said.
Samia says she found that medication isn't the answer for her but yoga has helped.
