Zoe Ball has revealed she is experiencing "terrible anxiety" and panic attacks, and has opened up about a "violent and violating" road rage incident she faced in London. The 55-year-old former BBC breakfast radio star admitted she has had to cut back on her coffee intake after the issues arose.
Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Speaking on her Dig It with Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley podcast, she said the caffeine had been leading to panic attacks again. They come after she had gone a long stint without suffering an episode and having "no reason" to feel anxious.
Describing her anxiety levels, Zoe told her pal: "I have really bad anxiety and it's been terrible recently. I was having panic attacks a little bit at the weekend again which I haven't had for a long time. It has made such a huge difference..."
"And I've realised that I probably don't need another coffee in the day even though I want one. So if I have one, I then have a decaf as the day goes on just to help the anxiety and it really does help. I don't know what it's about actually."
She went on: "I don't know why. I think it is maybe it's hormone related because there's no reason to be feeling anxious really for me. It's nothing's changed."
Road Rage Incident
Speaking to Jo, 61, Zoe explained that she had also had a "violent and violating" encounter with a cyclist in London. She claimed they punched her windscreen after an incident involving the star.
When discussing the incident with the cyclist, she said the person had got so angry. And she said cyclists not stopping at lights and cars coming from all angles can make it "so difficult as a driver in London".
"I am vigilant and I am really aware but it's like I had people on one side people on the other side cars coming out it's like it's absolute carnage...," she said. "This guy it's like he could see my car, he seen I was slowing down. He could see I was moving over and he punched my windscreen."
She described the act as "really violent" and said moments like that make you feel "a bit edgy" afterwards.
Empty Nest Struggles
Zoe recently admitted she became upset at her children leaving home. Zoe said last month that kids always "need" their parents in some way. Sharing a recent example, she said her son was stuck in Amsterdam and called her first for help.
"They're always going to need you in a slightly different way," she added. "Empty nest is a big thing and it's tough to get through but you will get through it and you miss them."
Zoe's co-host Jo agreed. She said she struggled intensely when the first of her four children went off to university, while also reassuring the listener that things would be okay.
"I cried so hard, I couldn't breathe because I was crying so hard," she shared. Jo continued to say that while she's "better" at coping with it now, she was still dreading the moment her daughter Coco goes off to study.
Back in May, Zoe revealed that her house had become much quieter after Nelly decided to move in with her dad, Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim.
