Army ads spark panic attacks says SAS Alex
CELEBRITY SAS star Alexandra Burke has had therapy to cope with panic attacks after filming ended.
The X Factor winner has struggled to readjust to everyday life after passing the intensive course on the tough reality series, which ended its run last night on Channel 4.
She was joined by Olympic rower James Cracknell, Paralympic athlete Aled Davies, Love Island star Wes Nelson and former Strictly winner Ore Oduba in a final series of gruelling challenges.
But 33-year-old Alexandra said the aftermath of filming was “stressful”. “I was crying all the time,” she revealed. “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.”
But, Alexandra – who lost her mum, Soul II Soul’s Melissa Bell, in 2017 – said that she was very proud to be the only woman to reach the end of the hit show.
Celebrities headed off to the Hebrides for a series of challenges in a bid to pass a gruelling version of the SAS selection.
She told ITV’s Lorraine: “All I could do was think of my mum because I was just like ‘She’d be so immensely proud of me’.
Overwhelmed
“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 I’ve actually passed. I’m so overwhelmed. My goodness, it was probably the best decision I’ve ever made in my whole entire life.”
Alexandra added taking part had “changed her forever”.
The former Strictly Come Dancing finalist said her self-belief was something she lacked until her stint on the gruelling series.
“I have struggled with self-belief for a long time,” the singer said.
“I may ooze confidence when I’m performing, but that’s not me.
“This show has completely introduced me to my self-worth, it’s changed me forever. It’s given me a whole new lease of life.”