Counselor, Life Coach & Master NLP Practitioner Anna Williamson Shares Her Struggles With Anxiety

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

7 years ago

anna williamson

Counselor, life coach and Master NLP practitioner, Anna Williamson is a host on talkRADIO. As an experienced broadcaster, Anna uses these skills as an agony aunt and psychology expert previously appearing on This Morning, Good Morning Britain and Channel 5’s Big Brother’s Bit on the Side. She was also host for the National Lottery Xtra and her first book ‘Breaking Mad,’ an anxiety busting guidebook published by Bloomsbury, was a No 1 bestseller on Amazon.co.uk

Women Fitness President Namita Nayyar had the fantastic opportunity to speak with the talented presenter, Anna Williamson. Lets check out some excerpts from their conversation.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Starting off as a singer, you soon turned to presenting hit shows such as Milkshake!, Rescue Robots, Daybreak, to appearing on Big Brother’s Bit on the Side. This propelled your acting career to the height of a Top TV Presenter. Walk us through your incredible journey and how it all began?

Ms. Anna Williamson:

I never quite imagined I’d end up in TV and radio, it wasn’t a career ‘option’ when I was a school but a chance audition for a girl band when I was 16 started my career path into entertainment. I soon realized how much I loved TV, particularly kids TV, and once the band finished I pursued any opportunities I could get my mitts on in kids telly. I’m blessed that my hard work paid off, and several auditions later I got a reporting gig for a kids TV network called Carlton Kids… that was 18 years ago and I’m blessed that I’ve managed to somehow make a living out of doing a job I love.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You are a world-leading media personality, Counsellor, life coach and Master NLP practitioner. How do you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle? Share some management tips.

Ms. Anna Williamson:

You’re very generous indeed, I don’t see myself as anything remarkable, I’m just a hard working woman who enjoys all the opportunities I seek… The key though is work/life balance and making sure I spend plenty of time with my family, husband and son. I am nothing without them. Work is great but it’s all about balance and not over committing to too many things.

Full Interview on Next Page!

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You were diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and panic disorder? Ended up writing a book – Breaking Mad: The Insider’s Guide To Conquering Anxiety – which she describes as “a therapist in your pocket”. What according to you is the primary cause for the same? Smart tips to beat it?

Ms. Anna Williamson:

Anxiety is a horrible thing to have to cope with, it’s good in small sensible doses of course, but when it starts to affect day to day choices and behavior it’s not good. Many of us are suffering with anxiety and I believe stress is a huge in this. Pressure and doing too much and trying to please everyone. It’s important to take time for yourself regularly, we can’t be the best to anyone else unless we are to ourselves first. It’s a mantra I now live by and it serves me well.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

In early 2014, you participated in the second series of celebrity diving show Splash! and were the only female contestant to get through to the semi-final. Share with our viewers, the rigorous physical training that comprise your fitness regime on a daily basis to achieve a fit physique? How challenging is regular fitness with a hectic work schedule?

Ms. Anna Williamson:

I loved taking part in Splash, it was such a physically demanding show and I’ve never been in such good shape as when I did the training for it. It was a lot of gym work, strength and conditioning work ensure I was strong and flexible. Most of the training for diving takes place out of the pool in the dry dive… there’s a reason all divers are incredibly ripped, they put a lot of hours in and a lot of it is gymnastics based. I was battered and bruised doing the show, the impact from the height of the dives is really painful and physically demanding on the body, I was so proud to make it as the last woman standing, and the only one to go off the 10m board. Getting regular fitness into my schedule now can be a challenge as I have a young son, but I work around things as best I can and if I can’t make the gym, I’ll do a HIIT circuit in my lounge when the baby is asleep, or go for a run in my village when my husband can look after him. Exercise is really important for me, for my fitness and mental health in particular.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

A healthy diet plays a significant role in everyday living. What would be your advice to friends in order to stay healthy and physically fit? Women often carry an impression that celebrities follow a special diet. Share your diet pattern for a normal work day?

Ms. Anna Williamson:

Ignore the faddy diets and stop comparing yourself to celebs, they have time and money to make their bodies their living. Be realistic about what you can do and what you want to achieve. A combination of good eating and exercise is key, my husband is a personal trainer so it’s been drummed into me that you ‘make your abs in the kitchen’, so eat clean, lots of fresh veg, lean meat, water… avoid the sugar like the plague, it tastes so good but it’s really bad for you in all ways. I tend to start the day with eggs, then it’s a wrap and soup for lunch, then a homemade lean mince chilli with lots of veg and beans, and some basmati or brown rice and broccoli on the side. I carry a water bottle with me too which helps me keep hydrated.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Your skin is glowing and you carry beautiful hair – Share with us your skincare and hair care tips?

Ms. Anna Williamson:

I swear by Murad skincare products. I’ve been using them for years now and they really are unrivaled in the effectiveness. Worth every penny trust me. I always make sure to remove all makeup at the end of the day too and to give my skin a good moisturize overnight.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Do share your experience hosting the Gumball 3000, a huge international motorsports rally, interviewing, and co-driving with the likes of Dolph Lundgren and Lewis Hamilton?

Ms. Anna Williamson:

That was the most crazy week of my life!!! More 5 star hotels, million pound cars, and celebs than you could shake a stick at. Stockholm to Vegas in a Range Rover with footballer Robbie Fowler as my co driver and I did the LA to Vegas leg as Dolph Lungreen’s co-driver which was mad! He was lovely, such a sweet guy and he did the Ivan Drago impression for me too!

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

To help fight and challenge social stigmas, you joined mental health charity Mind as an official ambassador. You are now the celebrity ambassador and national spokesperson for Mind, The Princess Trust and Childline. Share with us your journey in helping others open up about these issues through your own experiences in life.

Ms. Anna Williamson:

I think when you’ve had a bad time yourself, when you get through it there is a need often to help others, to prevent anyone else feeling as bad as you did. That’s how it was for me. I’ve spent years as a kids presenter and I wanted to help kids more, and be their voice in the adult world. My mental health issues lead me to Mind and The Prince’s Trust and I am very proud to support them all and share my experiences in the hope it help raise awareness.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

With cut-throat competition in the entertainment industry, one has to work really hard to shine in the crowd. List 5 tips for a newcomer entering the entertainment industry.

Ms. Anna Williamson:

My main tip is don’t get into TV just to be famous…. it rarely happens and even if it does, it usually doesn’t last long. Have a passion, something you want to communicate to the world, make yourself stand out and interesting to producers so they want to know and see more. Also, the industry is small, always be nice, polite and courteous. People talk and reputations get round, be the good one who people like and want to work with.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Women Fitness works relentlessly with a goal to reach out to women all over the world providing them with best in health & fitness. What do you wish to say about the website (Womenfitness.net) and message for our readers?

Ms. Anna Williamson:

Health and fitness is key for a happy and fulfilled life. Always put yourself and your health first, make time to exercise and eat well and don’t ever feel guilty about doing so – you deserve it.

Credit: Anna Williamson: Mind Coach, TV Presenter and Brand Ambassador for the Emotional Wellbeing DNA Test, £199 at www.dnaplan.co.uk. Get 10% off using the code WELLBEING

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