However, away from her successful TV career and behind closed doors, she suffered from an almost crippling battle with generalised anxiety disorder. On speaking out about her experiences, she realised there was a huge stigma attached to mental health issues. Since then she has gone on to train as a counsellor, write several self-help books, provide her advice and expertise across several television shows and offers a 1 to 1 private coaching practice for those in need.
An acclaimed writer, Anna's first book with Bloomsbury Publishing, Breaking Mad: The Insiders Guide to Conquering Anxiety went straight into #1 on Amazon, pushing Mary Berry's smash hit 'Bake Off' book into second place. Sharing her own experiences of being diagnosed with anxiety, it challenged the myths around anxiety and was an easy to read, accessible guide to helping readers through anxiety issues. Written in collaboration with friend and clinical psychologist, Dr Reetta Newell, it was a national bestseller, and got some incredible press, including ITV's Lorraine, The Telegraph and The Daily Mail.
Anna's follow up book 'Breaking Mum and Dad', aims at parents coping with all that a new baby can bring. In her empathetic and searingly honest tone, the focus is on post natal mental health and anxiety and offers practical advice to all parents needing a helping hand with 'the mental baby stuff', it enjoyed similar success, and across the board 5 star reviews, alongside an accompanying podcast series, Breaking Mum and Dad: The Podcast, which is consistently in the iTunes chart #1 spot.
The third book HOW NOT TO LOSE IT: Mental Health Sorted published by Scholastic, is the go-to guide to empower children and support strong emotional well-being. It covers a wealth of key topics such as anxiety, panic attacks, low mood, depression, as well as lifestyle factors that can impact children such as social media, exam stress, grief, divorce, blended families and toxic relationships. ChildLine said the book is “A fabulous message for young people – believe in yourselves!” The book can be found in supermarkets, book stores and schools nationwide.
In addition, the NHS commissioned Anna to write a short story aimed at 7-11 year olds to help raise awareness in young children about mental health. 'Flo & The Funny Feelings' focuses on a 9-year-old girl who is experiencing worry, stress and anxiety for the very first time. The book is part of the I Am Whole Campaign and is available for free, digital download through schools - https://www.whole.org.uk/primaryschools/
Previously Anna has used her skill set to front several weekly strands called ‘Ask Anna’, on multi award winning ITV daytime show This Morning. Due to the features great success, Anna enjoyed a regular stint as part of the This Morning team, covering issues spanning mental health, family relationships, parenting and teens issues, and has hosted phone ins on cases such as the Rotherham sex scandal and bullying.