Kim's Surprise Confession ‘My Anxiety Is A Gift'

The Celebrity Treasure Island darling reveals the silver lining to her mental health diagnosis

- Sebastian van der Zwan

When Kimberley Crossman was put up for an elimination challenge on the very first week of Celebrity Treasure Island, the actress had “a very public breakdown”.

“As soon as I got in that arena, with everyone looking and all the cameras pointed at me, I had a panic attack,” recalls the former Shortland Street star, 31, who struggles with anxiety and depression.

“Normally, if I’m having those feelings of self-doubt or that voice in my head is telling me I’m not good enough, I step away or call a friend, so I can get a handle on my emotions, but in this situation, where I was away from all the comforts of home, like food and sleep, I just spiraled. It was horrible.”

Fortunately, though she lost the challenge to league legend Richie Barnett, Kim was rescued by actor Joe Naufahu, who went home in her place so he could spend more time with his terminally ill mother.