Latest news with #agoraphobia
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Perrie Edwards' secret anxiety disorder that stopped the Little Mix star leaving the house
PERRIE Edwards has shared the secret anxiety disorder that stopped her from leaving the house. The singer, 32, rose to fame in girl band Little Mix from 2011 until 2022. 4 4 They initially formed on The X Factor before achieving worldwide success. Perrie discussed her experience with agoraphobia in a recent interview. The star, who also shares a three-year-old son with ex-England footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, said she feels "fully in her element" while performing on stage. She added to The Telegraph: "But as soon as I'm back home behind closed doors, that's when the anxiety kicks in and I'm just me again." Perrie clarified she has "quite a thick skin" with online comments about her appearance or clothes. She continued: "[I can't help] but catastrophise about the everyday things that should be easy, like getting into my car and driving to London. "At the end of last year, my agoraphobia got so bad I could barely leave the house." The star also revealed having been "painfully shy" before her time on The X Factor. It comes as Perrie's bandmate Jade Thirlwall addressed being diagnosed with disordered eating at the height of Little Mix's fame. Since leaving Little Mix, Jade has admitted to putting on weight after the pressures put on her to be "stick-thin" while in the pop group. Perrie Edwards says she still cries over Jesy Nelson leaving Little Mix five years on - but insists 'we did everything we could' But the scrutiny on her changing body has not eased and Jade admitted feeling the temptation to go on weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro, or Ozempic as is the brand name in the US. "Little Mix fans were all about empowerment and celebrating your body however you look," Jade said in an interview with The Guardian. "Now I'm in my 30s and the healthiest I've ever been, but every time I post a picture, there are comments saying, 'She must be pregnant'... people are used to seeing me in a group environment five or 10 years ago when I was stick-thin because I was in my early 20s with an eating disorder.' Jade added that she did not realise in the moment that she had a disordered eating issue. "But when I look back at photos of periods when I was quite unhappy, I think, 'wow, girlie, you were very, very thin'," she explained. Help for mental health If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, 116 123 CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) 0800 585 858 Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) 0800 068 41 41 Shout (for support of all mental health) text 85258 to start a conversation Mind, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary). YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too. Rethink Mental Illness, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate). Heads Together, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. "The pattern was there. Historically, if I've ever felt that something is out of my control, then restricting food has been a means of controlling my life in a very toxic way.' The Angel Of My Dreams singer got so bad around 2017 that her mum and a friends of hers drove down from her hometown of South Shields, near Newcastle. They made sure Jade was eating and getting her to gigs, but taking a break from Little Mix never crossed her mind. 'If you stop working in this business, then everybody wants to know why, and I couldn't be arsed for everything that came with that. So I kept it moving,' Jade said. 4
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Perrie Edwards reveals her agoraphobia 'got so bad she could barely leave the house' last year as she opens up on her crippling anxiety
Perrie Edwards has revealed her agoraphobia 'got so bad she could barely leave the house' last year in a candid new interview. The 32-year-old singer detailed her crippling anxiety with the Telegraph and said she struggles more being at home then on stage. 'When I'm on stage being a pop star I'm fully in my element: brave and empowered', Perrie explained. 'But as soon as I'm back home behind closed doors, that's when the anxiety kicks in and I'm just me again.' She added: 'I can't help but catastrophise about the everyday things that ought to be easy, like getting in my car and driving to London. 'At the end of last year my agoraphobia got so bad I could barely leave the house'. Agoraphobia involves fearing and avoiding places or situations that might cause panic and feelings of being trapped, helpless or embarrassed. You may fear an actual or upcoming situation. Earlier this year, Perrie admitted she fears she 'might die' as she opened up about her ongoing battle with panic disorder. The former Little Mix star revealed she finds it difficult to spend time alone, fearing she could suffer a life-threatening panic attack without anyone around to help. In an interview on Alison Hammond 's Big Weekend, Perrie invited the presenter into her home and spoke openly about how anxiety has affected her everyday life. Perrie said: 'I've developed panic disorder. So it's the fear of having a panic attack. A few years ago, I started suffering from severe panic attacks. 'I then developed a fear of having one again because I was like, if I'm on my own and have a panic attack, I might die, and nobody will be here to help.' She candidly added: 'That's why I'm never on my own. Never. I'm always with somebody. I don't like the feeling of feeling like I'm gonna die.' She is currently promoting her new song If He Wanted To He Would, which she announced on Instagram this week. Perrie welcomed son Axel in 2021 with her partner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The pair announced their engagement in 2022. She recently recalled the moment she told Alex that she loved him for the first time early in their romance. Appearing on the Capital Evening show with Jimmy Hill, she revealed how she stumbled over the romantic admission. She said: 'In my real life I can never say exactly what I mean... but I feel like in my music it's different. I remember the first time I told Alex I loved him, I was on a night out with the [Little Mix] girls and they were gearing me up - and for some reason I had a pan, right? 'I had a frying pan because Alex told me he liked pancakes so I went out of my way to buy a pan, but we had promo. 'So I'm on a night out, with a frickin' frying pan thinking, 'I'm gonna make his dreams come true, I'm gonna make him pancakes in the morning.' The singer went on: 'I remember saying to the girls, 'I think I love him... but I think he loves me too' and the girls were like, "Then just tell him". They geared me up within an inch of life and I was raring to go.' But when it came to the big moment, the singer admitted that she was 'speechless'. She continued: 'I couldn't find the words, I couldn't articulate myself, I was like panicking... my heartbeat was in my head. And I just went, "I think I'm falling in love with you", so aggressively.' After managing to get her words out, she revealed that Alex said he was in love with her too.
The Review Geek
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Copycat (1995) Ending Explained – A chilling look at fear, obsession and legacy
Copycat Plot Summary Copycat is a tense psychological thriller revolving around the capture of a sadistic serial killer prowling around LA. The movie centers on Dr. Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver), a renowned criminal psychologist and expert on serial killers. Her inspiring and thought provoking talk in the middle of a student lecture hall about serial killers, leads into an unexpected and traumatic attack by deranged killer Daryll Lee Cullum (Harry Connick Jr.) Although Helen survives this encounter, it causes her to become severely agoraphobic and she retreats into isolation. Years later, a series of murders begin in San Francisco, mimicking the methods of infamous serial killers. Detectives M.J. Monahan (Holly Hunter) and Reuben Goetz (Dermot Mulroney) enlist Helen's help to profile the killer – but can they do so before it's too late? Who is the killer? The midway point of the movie unravels the true killer, as Helen works with the police to try and find this man. Her assessment of a 20-35 year old white male rings true, as the murderer is revealed to be Peter Foley (William McNamara). This unassuming man, who lives at home with his wife , is revealed to have a whole basement used as his 'funhouse'. For him, this spree is a twisted art project—a way to gain legacy and recognition by building on the 'work' of murderers past. Who does the killer focus on last? As we build toward the climax of the movie, Foley becomes fixated on Helen, using her computer to send a program that taunts her and even a video to show his latest victim. However, it soon becomes clear that he not only views her as a final target, but also someone who will truly understand what he's doing. Foley's murders are staged with clinical precision, something we see from the various crime scenes across the movie. Each of them echo a notorious killing from history. His obsession escalates to a note left for Helen, whom he eventually kidnaps and attempts to recreate her near-death experience from years prior—symbolically tying up his murderous 'tribute.' How does Foley cover his tracks? While this is going on, M.J. and the police storm Foley's house when they learn of his identity. They arrive too late. Foley's wife is dead, the house is in flames, and any evidence is lost with it, leaving the police reeling. What happens during the showdown? Foley takes Helen to the same university bathroom where she was attacked by Cullum, recreating the moment in horrifying detail. He ties her up with a noose around her neck, tip-toeing on the toilet basin. He intends for her to hang herself as a final symbolic kill in his copycat series. Helen, terrified but composed, uses her knowledge of criminal psychology to stall for time and emotionally manipulate Foley. She laughs, kicks off her other shoes and buys time for Detective Monahan. She races against the clock, following the trail of clues Foley has left behind but winds up part of Foley's sick game. How does Helen confront her fears? Managing to escape when Foley shoots Monahan in the chest, she faces her fears and heads up onto the rooftop. She stumbles across to the edge of the rooftop, calling for help, before turning and facing down this killer. Earlier on, she had to face Cullum at home on the computer, and she struggled to even look at the monitor. She was clearly still suffering from the effects and wanted to try and bury it. However, speaking to Cullum, who taunts her and asks for her panties as a 'souvenir' in exchange for info, seems to help shake something inside her. She's no longer a prisoner to the fear that once defined her. Instead, she turns it into strength. Facing this horrific ordeal again that has haunted her for the past thirteen months has made Helen stronger, and this time she laughs in the face of pure evil. Is Foley stopped? Monahan arrives just in time to stop the murder, shooting Foley first in the shoulder, and then several times in the chest. This is a significant moment and a beautifully foreshadowed one too. Early in the movie, Reuben and M.J. were on a training exercise and Reuben fired wildly, shooting a target multiple times. M.J. though, shot the target once and explained this is enough to incapacitate them. Unfortunately, this arrogance and lack of fear (something Helen also calls Monahan out for in the film) costs Reuben his life. During a skirmish involving Chinatown residents, Reuben is shot by a crazed man who holds him at gunpoint. Although Monahan shot him in the shoulder to drop him to the ground, he still shot Reuben dead. In the ensuing confrontation, she fatally shoots Foley and makes no mistake about her shots. She fires multiple times and eventually shoots him in the head. It's also worth noting too that Monahan is genuinely scared during this encounter, reinforcing that fear can keep you alive. How does Copycat end? Helen is saved, and the nightmare ends—at least for now. The experience forces Helen to confront her deepest fear and take steps, however small, toward reclaiming her autonomy. In the film's final moments, we cut to the prison once more where we see Cullum writing a note to more of his 'disciples'. He turns and looks at the camera, hinting that Foley is just one of many foot soldiers he has at his disposal looking to take up the mantle of serial killings. Fear, obsession, and legacy The movie serves as a chilling portrayal of how easily disenfranchised men—especially white men aged 20–35—can lose their way and become radicalized by ideology in a desperate need to become famous. Copycat doesn't end with comfort—it ends with a warning. The final scenes inside the prison reframe the narrative: this wasn't just one man's descent—it's part of a wider cultural sickness. This moment not only reinforces what Helen said earlier in the lecture hall, it also warns about the pursuit of greatness—and how our culture has become obsessed with death and murderers. It's a theme that feels even more relevant today, 30 years on from the film's release. Foley himself even mentions to Helen that more books have been written about Dahmer than Abraham Lincoln. The movie doesn't offer any easy answers on how to solve this problem, but its final moments certainly give plenty to chew on.
CNA
27-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Agoraphobia in Singapore & how to manage it without treatment
CNA938 Rewind Play Approximately 1.3 percent of Singapore's population is affected by agoraphobia – a debilitating fear of public places and being in large crowds. But one young Singaporean has found a way to manage it without hospital treatment. Andrea Heng and Susan Ng examine the prevalence of the condition and the treatment options available with Dr Timothy Singham, Senior Clinical Psychologist & Manager of Viriya Psychological Services
