Rachel Riley shares clip from 2013 Strictly stint after claiming show gave her PTSD

Rachel Riley shares clip from 2013 Strictly stint as she reminisces on being paired with husband Pasha Kovalev… after claiming she AVOIDS watching show as it gave her PTSD

Rachel Riley fondly reminisced on the moment she was paired with her now-husband Pasha Kovalev on Strictly Come Dancing, as she took to Instagram on Saturday.

The Countdown star, 36, who competed on the 2013 series, gushed about how ‘bonkers’ it was that time had flown so quickly, adding how she’ll ‘have to show the kids’ the clip.

However, it was only in November last year that Rachel revealed she ‘avoids watching’ the BBC show after her stint in the competition left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and terrible anxiety attacks.

Confusing: Rachel Riley shared a clip from her 2013 Strictly stint and reminisced on being paired with her husband Pasha Kovalev on Saturday… after claiming the show gave her PTSD

In her latest social media upload, she wrote in her caption: ‘Exactly 9 years ago today according to my phone. Bonkers! Will have to show the kids tomorrow [laughing and dancing emojis] @PashaKovalev #Strictly.’

The video saw Rachel being swept off her feet by the Russian dancer after she had been eagerly awaiting on the announcement with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.

But just 10 months ago, the TV personality said she was left needing cognitive behaviour therapy after her stint in the competition left her suffering terrible anxiety attacks.

Rachel ended her 16-month marriage to James Gilbert weeks after she was eliminated from series – they had met while studying at the University of Oxford.

Throwback: The Countdown star, 36, who competed on the 2013 series, gushed about how 'bonkers' it was that time had flown so quickly, adding how she'll 'have to show the kids' the clip

Throwback: The Countdown star, 36, who competed on the 2013 series, gushed about how ‘bonkers’ it was that time had flown so quickly, adding how she’ll ‘have to show the kids’ the clip

Uh-oh: But just 10 months ago, the TV personality said she was left needing cognitive behaviour therapy after her stint in the competition left her suffering terrible anxiety attacks

Uh-oh: But just 10 months ago, the TV personality said she was left needing cognitive behaviour therapy after her stint in the competition left her suffering terrible anxiety attacks 

Happy: The video saw Rachel being swept off her feet by the Russian dancer after she had been eagerly awaiting on the announcement with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth

Happy: The video saw Rachel being swept off her feet by the Russian dancer after she had been eagerly awaiting on the announcement with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth

Looking back: In her latest social media upload, she wrote in her caption: 'Exactly 9 years ago today according to my phone. Bonkers! Will have to show the kids tomorrow'

Looking back: In her latest social media upload, she wrote in her caption: ‘Exactly 9 years ago today according to my phone. Bonkers! Will have to show the kids tomorrow’

Despite meeting the love of her life, Rachel doesn’t look back at Strictly fondly.

Speaking in an interview with OK! Magazine, she said: ‘No [I’m not watching Strictly], I needed cognitive behavioural therapy after competing in 2013 and developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

‘If I heard the theme music, I’d start reliving the experience. It was scary and unnerving, so my way of dealing with it is to avoid watching.

‘Mind you, if I hadn’t competed, I wouldn’t have met Pasha.. he’s brilliant, when you need a bit a support, that’s when you know you’re with the right person.’

Family: Rachel and Pasha married at a Las Vegas ceremony in 2019, and they share daughters Noa, two, and Maven, 10 months

Family: Rachel and Pasha married at a Las Vegas ceremony in 2019, and they share daughters Noa, two, and Maven, 10 months

For the first five weeks, Rachel suffered from stage fright. She previously said: ‘As soon as the music would start, I would have a fuzzy brain and it was like an out-of-body experience’.

After seeing a therapist the TV star was able to learn how to control her breathing for her week six, which coincidentally turned out to be her final show.

Weeks after being partnered with Pasha, Rachel ended her marriage to Jamie, and the couple finally went public with their romance the following year.

Rachel and Pasha married at a Las Vegas ceremony in 2019, and they share daughters Noa, two, and Maven, 10 months.

What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. 

People with PTSD often suffer nightmares and flashbacks to the traumatic event and can experience insomnia and an inability to concentrate.    

Symptoms are often severe enough to have a serious impact on the person’s day-to-day life, and can emerge straight after the traumatic event or years later. 

PTSD is thought to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, and was first documented in the First World War in soldiers with shell shock.

People who are worried they have PTSD should visit their GP, who could recommend a course of psychotherapy or anti-depressants. 

Combat Stress operate a 24-hour helpline for veterans, which can be reached on 0800 138 1619.  

 

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