'The fear is constant': Cecelia Ahern reveals she's secretly suffered from panic attacks her whole life

Cecelia Ahern has revealed that she has secretly suffered from paralysing panic attacks her whole life. 

The PS I Love You author said it has left her living in fear of when the next one will strike. 

She said: “I don’t know how many panic attacks I actually had, but I think the fear of having them is greater than the attack because you’re afraid of having one and so that fear is constant and it’s always there.”

And Cecelia admitted the strangest thing about dealing with panic attacks is that the whole experience is created by your mind.

“You get pins and needles, you get extremely dizzy, you might want to vomit, run to the toilet, just feeling cold, hot, it’s bizarre actually that it’s all created by yourself, it’s all in your mind.”

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She spoke to Gay Byrne her panic attacks on the opening episode of the new season of The Meaning of Life this Sunday night on RTE One. 

The writer also discusses her childhood experience of growing up with her politician dad Bertie, and how she coped with family breakdown when her parents separated when she was 11-years-old.