Ashley James enjoys relaxing walk with dog Snoop as she admits she’s struggling with her anxiety

Ashley James enjoys relaxing walk with dog Snoop as she admits she’s struggling with her anxiety and body dysmorphia amid COVID-19 lockdown

Ashley James enjoyed a relaxing walk with her dog Snoop on Wednesday after admitting that she’s struggling with her anxiety during the UK coronavirus lockdown.

The DJ, 32, took to Instagram just hours before her outing to share that her body dysmorphia has been triggered due to the global pandemic.

Ashley admitted that she was ‘struggling’ and needed to ‘get outside and be around nature’.

Relax: Ashley James enjoyed a relaxing walk with her dog Snoop on Wednesday after admitting that she’s struggling with her anxiety during the UK coronavirus lockdown

The Celebrity Big Brother star appeared in better spirits later in the day as she flashed a smile and spoke to a friend on the phone during a dog walk.

Just hours earlier, Ashley, who appeared on The Jeremy Vine Show on Wednesday morning via Skype, said: ‘Today I’m struggling a bit, my anxiety is through the roof and my body dysmorphia has been triggered again. I’m not liking my face and body.’

The star added that she knows the current COVID-19 lockdown isn’t helping and that she feels ‘out of sorts’.

Ashley then revealed that she ‘needed to get outside and be around nature’ and updated her fans later in the day.

Worries: The DJ, 32, took to Instagram just hours before her outing to share that her body dysmorphia has been triggered due to the global pandemic

Worries: The DJ, 32, took to Instagram just hours before her outing to share that her body dysmorphia has been triggered due to the global pandemic

'Struggling': Ashley admitted that she was 'struggling' and needed to 'get outside and be around nature'

Taking her mind off things: The Celebrity Big Brother star appeared in better spirits later in the day as she flashed a smile and spoke to a friend on the phone during a dog walk

‘Struggling’: Ashley admitted that she was ‘struggling’ and needed to ‘get outside and be around nature’

Sharing a video from her dog walk, she said: ‘When I feel slightly anxious, the way I find personally to deal with it is have a break from social media. 

‘Obviously I’m on a Story now, but I don’t scroll when I’m feeling anxious or low. It sticks me down the rabbit hole of comparing myself to people, which I never want to do.’

Ashley continued: ‘Getting outside, seeing nature, fresh air, that really helps. Writing a to do list. When I’m anxious, I get really overwhelmed. When I get back, I’m going to write a to do list and won’t beat myself up if I’m not able to do it.’

The reality star also revealed that she is self-isolating with her boyfriend after going Instagram official in January following six years of being single.

Candid: Just hours earlier, Ashley said: 'Today I'm struggling a bit, my anxiety is through the roof and my body dysmorphia has been triggered again. I'm not liking my face and body.'

Candid: Just hours earlier, Ashley said: ‘Today I’m struggling a bit, my anxiety is through the roof and my body dysmorphia has been triggered again. I’m not liking my face and body.’

Fresh air: Ashley then revealed that she 'needed to get outside and be around nature' and updated her fans later in the day during her dog walk

Fresh air: Ashley then revealed that she ‘needed to get outside and be around nature’ and updated her fans later in the day during her dog walk 

Ashley confirmed earlier this year that she was in a relationship after she shared photos of the duo during a romantic getaway to Finland.

The star, who was inundated with messages from her 276K followers about her mystery man, revealed in a candid Q&A that she was dating someone.

The model also shared a cosy selfie of herself with her new boyfriend, which she captioned: ‘Best weekend with this one’ followed by a heart emoji.  

Self-isolation: The reality star also revealed that she is self-isolating with her boyfriend after going Instagram official in January following six years of being single (pictured in February)

Self-isolation: The reality star also revealed that she is self-isolating with her boyfriend after going Instagram official in January following six years of being single (pictured in February) 

Official: Ashley confirmed earlier this year that she was in a relationship after she shared photos of the duo during a romantic getaway to Finland

Official: Ashley confirmed earlier this year that she was in a relationship after she shared photos of the duo during a romantic getaway to Finland 

The Celebrity Big Brother star answered a fan’s query ‘who is he?’ followed by a wink emoji with: ‘So many of these questions [crying laughing emojis].  I know, after six years of being single someone came along and switched things up. 

‘It’s so weird as I’ve always talked so openly about the highs and lows of being single, and still feel really passionate about wanting to encourage people to see the positive and fun side of it.’

She added: ‘Never want people to settle or feel that their relationship status defines them.’ 

Smitten: Ashley, who was inundated with messages from her 276K followers about her mystery man, revealed in a candid Q&A that she was dating someone

Smitten: Ashley, who was inundated with messages from her 276K followers about her mystery man, revealed in a candid Q&A that she was dating someone

WHAT IS BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others.

People of any age can have BDD, but it is most common in teenagers and young adults. It affects both men and women.

Having BDD does not mean you are vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life.

Symptoms of BDD

You might have BDD if you:

  • worry a lot about a specific area of your body (particularly your face)
  • spend a lot of time comparing your looks with other people’s
  • look at yourself in mirrors a lot or avoid mirrors altogether
  • go to a lot of effort to conceal flaws – for example, by spending a long time combing your hair, applying make-up or choosing clothes
  • pick at your skin to make it ‘smooth’

BDD can seriously affect your daily life, including your work, social life and relationships. BDD can also lead to depression, self-harm and even thoughts of suicide. 

You should visit your GP if you think you might have BDD. 

If you have relatively mild symptoms of BDD you should be referred for a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which you have either on your own or in a group

If you have moderate symptoms of BDD you should be offered either CBT or a type of antidepressant medication called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

If you have more severe symptoms of BDD, or other treatments don’t work, you should be offered CBT together with an SSRI.

Source: NHS