Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins' Alexandra Burke discusses mental health struggles following appearance on show
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Alexandra Burke has opened up about the aftermath of her time on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, and her experiences of seeking therapy after taking part in the show.
The former X Factor champion and singer competed on the latest series of the Channel 4 military training show, becoming one of three contestants to make it to the end of the intensive training course in Sunday's (October 3) finale.
However, Burke has revealed that the experience took a toll on her mental health after filming concluded and she returned home, and reflected on experiencing panic attacks.
Related: Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins star Alexandra Burke addresses 'favouritism' reports
"I was crying all the time," she recalled to The Mirror. "If I saw an advert for the Army, I had a panic attack. That side of it was really awful.
"I did get therapy. I wasn't sleeping well at all. I always thought there was somebody outside waiting to attack me. So I got a bit paranoid."
Nevertheless, Burke said she was proud to make it to the end of the course, while also reflecting on the loss of her mother, musician Melissa Bell, who passed away in 2017.
"All I could do was think of my mum because I was just like, 'She'd be so immensely proud of me. She'd be so proud'," Alexandra added.
"To have gone through this, my family already thought I was nuts anyway. My father was like: 'Why would you do this to yourself?'
"And here I am, standing here ready to just tell my family that I've actually passed. I'm so overwhelmed."
The singer also admitted that overall she was glad she took part in the series, saying: "My goodness, it was probably the best decision I've ever made in my whole entire life."
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs on Channel 4.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, organisations who can offer support include Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov.
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