Corrie’s Samia Longchambon is training to become a therapist after suffering from panic attacks 

‘You feel like you are going to die’: Coronation Street’s Samia Longchambon reveals she is training to become a therapist after suffering from severe panic attacks

Samia Longchambon confirmed she is training to become a cognitive behavioural (CBT) therapist after struggling to cope with panic attacks since the age of 11. 

The Coronation Street actress, 38, – who has played Maria Windass for over 20 years – hopes to help others who suffer with anxiety. 

She revealed on Saturday that she has tried multiple types of therapy after struggling to breath and feeling like she was going to die during moments of panic. 

New calling: Samia Longchambon confirmed she is training to become a cognitive behavioural  therapist after struggling to cope with panic attacks since the age of 11

During a conversation with The Mirror, Samia said: ‘By learning how to be a therapist, I’ll be able to help myself and maybe help other people as well.

‘I can relate to it. I’ve had different kinds of therapy for years and CBT is something quite practical.

‘With my anxiety, it’s ­always like a sense of dread that something bad is going to happen. You feel like you are ­going to die, you can’t breathe.’

The actress is married to her former Dancing On Ice skating partner, Sylvain, 40, and they share a five-year-old son name Yves. She also has a daughter, Freya, 11, from a previous relationship. 

Candid: The Coronation Street actress, 38, - who has played Maria Windass for over 20 years - hopes to help others who suffer with anxiety

Candid: The Coronation Street actress, 38, – who has played Maria Windass for over 20 years – hopes to help others who suffer with anxiety

Samia has been spending quality time with her family during lockdown and has been studying the diploma online. 

She previously studied reflexology, and she revealed her hopes of learning Indian head massage next. 

Samia said she wants to do something ‘constructive’ with her time, and hopes to complete the two courses this year, but she is also hesitant to plan ahead due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

She confirmed she spent New Year’s Eve at a makeshift Irish pub in her garden, built by her partner Sylvain, as the lockdown ignited his passion for upcycling. 

Meanwhile, the love life of her Corrie character Maria has taken a turn for the worse.  

She recently declared her plans to divorce resident bad boy Gary Windass – played by Mikey North – after deciding that he murdered loan shark Rick Neelan, by putting ‘two and two together’.

Samia confirmed that Maria is ‘upset and angry’ and also joked that her character has provided the ‘kiss of death’ for many Coronation Street stars. 

Maria previously dated Liam Connor, Luke Brittony, Charlie Stubbs and Aidan Connor, who were all killed off in various ways.  

Her current husband is wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of Adam Barlow, while the true killer, his sister Faye, lives free from conviction. 

Oh no! Her onscreen character Maria recently declared her plans to divorce bad boy Gary Windass - played by Mikey North - after deciding that he murdered loan shark Rick Neelan

Oh no! Her onscreen character Maria recently declared her plans to divorce bad boy Gary Windass – played by Mikey North – after deciding that he murdered loan shark Rick Neelan