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Wednesday, 1 July 2009

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Duncan James had panic attacks after Blue split

Singer says he became an anxious recluse

Duncan James came third on Dancing On Ice in 2007

Duncan James admits he was a mess after Blue broke up.

The singer spoke to a doctor after struggling to deal with the pressure.

‘I had to go on pills to sort my head out,’ Duncan reveals. ‘I was burnt out and emotionally drained.

'You come out of a big pop group after five years in a bubble and…I suffered from really bad anxiety and panic attacks.

'I barely left the house and would freak out over little things. I was like a proper recluse and taking tablets just to cope.’

But Duncan, 30, says his stint on Dancing On Ice in 2007 helped him overcome his problems.

‘I was on tablets for about a year and they really helped me, but I wanted to stop,’ he tells a teen mag.

‘I had Dancing On Ice coming up and that whole mental focus stopped me thinking about my insecurity and anxiety and helped me wean myself off them.

'Doctors are so quick to put you on them, then you read the side effects and it says “may cause suicidal thoughts”. Great.’

Blue reunited for the first time in five years at the Capital FM Summertime Ball last month.

Alison Adey