HELEN Flanagan was the victim of “horrible, toxic c**p” before joining Celebs Go Dating, Anna

Williamson has claimed.

The Coronation Street actress suffered an episode of psychosis after a “bad reaction”

to ADHD medication while “emotionally struggling” with the split from her ex-fiance Scott Sinclair

After making a full recovery, 34-year-old Helen is searching for love on the hit E4 series alongside Lauryn Goodman and Ella Morgan.

Opening up about Helen’s journey on the dating show, love guru Anna told The Sun: “I feel very protective over her, I think we all do, because I think she opens herself up to her own detriment.

“She is so open about her life and struggles on social media and in everything she does.

“Helen admits herself she’ll always say, ‘I speak before I think’, and then she can get a backlash for that.

“My hope for Helen is, without sounding like the mama, is that she really is a good person and she is a very soft, lovely human being that doesn’t deserve any horrible, toxic crap.

“She’s very brave for how she unapologetically just lives her very open life and I hope that comes through.”

Helen and Scott broke up two years ago after a 13-year romance and share three children.

They are not on speaking terms – and mostly communicate through their parents in a bid to avoid having to speak to one another.

Helen recently told MailOnline: “I know it’s not very mature, and I really do hope it sorts itself out, but what we don’t do is argue in front of the children, so we make sure they don’t see any drama.

“I’d never speak badly about their father in front of them, it’s about the kids and them being happy.”

Celebs Go Dating returns to E4 on Monday, August 19