Dani Dyer has spoken out about her anxiety difficulties in advance of her documentary on the subject.
The 26-year-old has admitted that some triggers, such as parenthood and winning Love Island in 2018 with ex partner Jack Fincham, have heightened her sentiments.
She thinks that by talking about it, she will dispel some of the stigmas associated with mental illness.
‘I first started to notice my anxiety when I was around 18,’ she explained to Metro.co.uk.
‘It was after my first breakup as I didn’t really know how to handle my emotions. I then went on Love Island. It was the best summer ever. I wanted to stay in the villa forever, but it was a lot of change. I went into the villa as one person and came out as another.
‘Soon after that, I became a mom.’
Dani, who is presently expecting twin girls, gave birth to her son Santiago in January 2021. After her divorce from Sammy Kimmence, she suddenly became a single mother.
‘I didn’t really know how to handle being a mum. My own worries were taken from me and went to looking after my little boy. I just wanted to get everything right. It made me more anxious, as I was trying to make everything perfect.’
Dani has accepted that this may always be part of her personality: ‘I’ve now come to realise that I’m an over-thinker and a worrier. I have to accept that I’m always going to be this person. I can’t really change that.’
Dani consults with a specialist on a regular basis to help with her anxiety.
‘I’ve had therapy from a young age to cope with it. Whenever I have a moment, I pick up the phone and speak to the therapist and it always helps.’
She also has Jarrod Bowen’s backing, and she’s overjoyed that she selected the 26-year-old West Ham footballer as her partner.
‘Jarrod doesn’t understand anxiety because he’s never suffered with it but he’s absolutely amazing and always so supportive. He’s so good to have a chat with about it all.
‘I’ve always said that you absolutely need to fancy your partner, but they need to be your best mate as you’re going to be with them forever and you’re going to get uglier together. That’s the relationship we have.’
Dani has also shared for the first time how the couple met: ‘He was my neighbour. There was absolutely nothing going on at all at first. I was busy being a mum. I might have occasionally seen him while taking the bins out. Things then changed between us after he messaged me on my birthday.’
She’s grateful for the support of her family and friends, since the pregnancy has been fraught with problems, which have exacerbated her anxiousness.
‘This pregnancy has definitely been harder in many ways because I’m obviously pregnant with twins. I’m having constant scans – every two weeks – because there is a high risk. They are sharing the same placenta.
‘It was a little bit scary in the beginning, but I am doing better now. I’m enjoying getting out and about this pregnancy. Whereas with Santi it was during the lockdowns so I was just on the sofa watching Luther.’
Dani Dyer: Is This Anxiety? is set to air on E4 and All4 soon.
