Coronation Street’s Samia Longchambon has been learning a very special way to cope with her anxiety
CORONATION Street’s Samia Longchambon has been learning reflexology to help deal with her anxiety.
The Corrie star has also she will practice on her fellow cast mates.
In an interview, Samia, who plays Maria Connor in the ITV Soap, told of the benefits the new skill has had in helping ease her anxiety.
The actress, 33, revealed: “It’s given me a focus – a break from my own head.
“It helps you relax and [it helps] with anxiety. That’s why I’ve been doing it.”
She also admitted that she was not short of volunteers for the health therapy.
She added: “I’m halfway through the course and they’re all offering to be guinea pigs.
“I’ll have to make sure they’ve got clean feet before I start poking round.”
Reflexology is an alternative medicine that is said to relieve tension and treat illness by
applying pressure to the feet or hands.
She explained how it has given her something else to concentrate on, besides her busy filming schedule.
She added: “I’m actually doing the reflexology course for something different to focus on. I do it as a home study course and send my lesson off to be marked. I’ve got to do a practical at the end.”
The former Dancing On Ice star has opened up on her battle with mental health in the past.
In May this year she confessed that her panic attacks were so bad she thought they could be fatal.
She revealed: “You feel like you are going to faint or die, you can’t breathe.
“I wouldn’t wish them on anyone, they are horrible.”
Samia, who is mum to eight-year-old Freya from a previous relationship and Yves, two, with husband Sylain, said that although she had never sought professional counselling, she understood her triggers.
She explained: “Anxiety is like a fear. I read somewhere that depression means you are looking
at the past too much, whereas anxiety is worrying about the future too much.
“That makes sense to me because I do worry about everything.”
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The British actress, who has been in the ITV soap opera since 2000, also spoke about her upcoming storylines.
Her character Maria is set to be involved in a bitter rivalry with hairdresser boss Audrey, who rejects her offer to buy the salon.
Samia also admitted that she is open to the change in producers for the soap.
She said: “It’s nice when we get a new producer because they come in with fresh ideas. “You always sense a shift in the show and the atmosphere of the story lines. It’s always transient
anyway so you get used to it.”