LIFE IS SO FRAGILE

Christina Storm opens up about her depression, panic attacks and stint in rehab after the death of her ex James Small

- PIETER VAN ZYL

SHE knows she has a lot to be grateful for. A loving husband, four gorgeous kids, a stunning house on a canal in a beautiful seaside town.

But Christina Storm has been to hell and back. She’s been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and spent time in rehab after downing a bottle of wine while driving and crashing her car.

She also caused concern by posting disturbing messages on social media in which she said she wanted to die.

But today is a good day, the 46-year-old former model says. “I’ve put on makeup,” she tells us via video call from her home in St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape where she lives with her husband, businessman Paul Nel (49), and their kids, Evie (5) and Vincent (3).

Sixteen-year-old Erin, Paul’s daughter from a previous marriage, lives there too and is helping Christina figure out the intricacies of Zoom.

Christina is looking good. She’s dyed her bangs platinum “to cover up the age a bit” and has tied the rest of her locks in a polka-dot scarf. She’s wearing a nose ring she bought for R5 to celebrate her successful stint in rehab, she informs us.

“Look how beautiful it is here,” she says, gesturing to her view over the tranquil water. Christina runs a guesthouse and on the surface life looks good.

“It really is paradise to wake up in,” she agrees. “That’s why some people can’t understand that I’m depressed.”

Her life fell apart after former Springbok rugby player James Small, her ex and father of her eldest child, Ruby (15), died in July 2019 aged 50 (YOU, 1 August 2019).