Former EastEnder Shona McGarty describes how anxiety feels like ‘impending doom’

Shona McGarty described having anxiety as a feeling of ‘impending doom’ (Ian West/PA) - (PA Wire)

Former EastEnders star Shona McGarty has described having anxiety as a feeling of “impending doom”, as she discussed the pressures of growing up in the spotlight.

The 34-year-old actress played Whitney Dean in the long-running BBC soap for 16 years, first appearing on Albert Square as a teenager in 2008.

McGarty was involved in major storylines up until her 2024 exit, and gained a new legion of fans a year later when she starred on ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

Shona McGarty was involved in major EastEnders storylines up until her 2024 exit (Ian West/PA) (PA Wire)

She came third on the show, and viewers praised her honesty as she opened up in the jungle about personal struggles, including how anxiety has affected her life.

Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, McGarty reflected on the pressures of growing up in the spotlight and the struggles of rising to fame at just 16.

“For years, I felt like in the industry you have to be confident,” she said. “That’s just the way I think people perceive it. I certainly did.

“But what I was hiding was this imposter syndrome. That’s what it felt like, and it turned out to be anxiety.

“I didn’t know what was happening to me.”

McGarty continued: “I could be doing something like this, even this interview, I could be sitting here and all of a sudden, you’re talking to me, and things go a bit fuzzy, and I don’t know what you’re saying.

“That ‘fear of impending doom’ feeling would come over me. It’s just the worst feeling.”

She agreed the pressures of being a young star “was a huge part” of her anxiety, adding: “I was young, growing up on Albert Square in front of loads of people.

“I was growing up as Shona anyway. It’s like people were looking at you in detail, and that made you look at yourself.

“Things like social media didn’t help – people would pick you apart, then you end up overthinking everything. The anxiety just took over.”

Shona McGarty first appeared on EastEnders when she was aged 16 (Ian West/PA) (PA Archive)

McGarty also praised her positive experience on I’m A Celebrity, saying she had “such an amazing year” and felt “really comfortable” among her fellow campmates.

“I do credit ITV for giving me the opportunity to be myself and to talk about anxiety openly and honestly,” she added.

“I think letting go of that secret was the best thing I’ve ever done.”