Will Young reveals battle with PTSD sometimes leaves him housebound
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Will Young has opened up about his battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The singer and actor quit Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 after struggling with his mental health.
He lasted just a few weeks on the show as he battled against the condition, but says that a year later he has “learned to live” with PTSD.
Young, who came out as gay in 2002, told The Telegraph: “With PTSD, sometimes it could be difficult for me to go to the coffee shop, or visit the bank — but I now know when to expect it.
“It’s just something I’ve learned to live with the best I can, and listen to my body.
“I’ve got really good at looking after my nervous system — it’s been the making of me. Self-care is what everyone should aspire to.”
He added: “I’m a very content person. People think that PTSD must be depressing. That’s not the case.”
The star, who now co-hosts an LGBT podcast, has been open about his mental health challenges in recent months.
Will Young (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)
He also spoke about struggling with a gay porn addiction earlier this year.
He told the The Times: “It was important for me to leave Strictly for my own wellbeing.
“It was a number of things. It was nothing to do with the people on the show, and it certainly wasn’t because Len Goodman dissed my salsa.”
He added that self-help books have helped him come to terms with his addictions to alcohol, shopping, pornography and love.
Young said: “I read these things very quickly and it was, like, oh, I get it! That’s why I watch a lot of porn, I’m a porn addict. S**t, didn’t realise that.
“That’s what goes on with the love [addiction] thing… didn’t realise that either. I kind of dealt with it all in nine months.”
The singer added that he saw a shaman to get treatment.
“I heard about her and thought, ‘I’ll give it a go.’ I don’t talk about what happens in the shamanic process because it goes beyond words.”
