September 15th 2024.
Toyah Willcox, a well-known 80s pop icon, has been through a lot in terms of her health over the years. Recently, she opened up about her health struggles that have persisted for decades and how she has finally found some relief. It's truly inspiring to see her back on our screens as she dazzled us with her performance on the 20th-anniversary series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Toyah is not the only star competing for the coveted glitterball trophy. She is joined by other well-known names such as Chris McCausland, Jamie Borthwick, Sam Quek, Tasha Ghouri, Pete Wicks, Paul Merson, Nick Knowles, and Sarah Hadland. With her impressive career spanning over 40 years, including eight top 40 singles, over 20 albums, and 40 stage plays, Toyah has definitely earned her spot on the show as a music legend.
However, her journey has not been without its challenges. Away from the glitz and glamour of showbiz, Toyah has been battling chronic health conditions. She has been very open about her struggles, including being born with a twisted spine, a clubbed right foot, and one leg shorter than the other. But what has been most debilitating for her is her battle with insomnia, which started when she was just 14 years old.
In an interview with The Mirror, Toyah, who is partnered with Neil Jones on Strictly, shared that her insomnia was triggered by exam stress. She also revealed that she has always struggled with sleeping and that it has become a habit for her since nobody talked about insomnia back then. Despite seeking professional help and trying various methods, Toyah's insomnia has persisted, with her sleeping only 3 hours a night.
According to the NHS, a healthy adult needs around 7 to 9 hours of sleep, but insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects many people. Toyah has tried everything from medication to acupuncture in her quest to find relief. While medication did not work for her and had unwanted side effects, she found some relief through acupuncture, a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine. She has been undergoing this treatment every three months to help her sleep better.
Despite her struggles, Toyah has always lived a healthy life, apart from her battle with insomnia. She also credits her husband, Robert Fripp, for being her biggest supporter and source of motivation. Her husband was moved to tears when he found out she would be on Strictly, and he continues to show his support by being in the audience during her performances. Toyah has also formed a great bond with her professional partner, Neil, who she says has been a dream to work with.
As the Strictly 2024 cast prepares to perform their first routines next weekend, Toyah is excited to show the nation what she's got. She even joked that she would be the first pensioner to abseil through the studio. Despite her struggles with insomnia, Toyah remains positive and ambitious. She wonders if she would have achieved more if she didn't have chronic insomnia, but she knows that she will always have a love for acting and singing, and nothing will stop her from pursuing her dreams.
We can't wait to see Toyah take the dancefloor by storm and show us her moves. With her incredible determination and positive attitude, she is sure to win the hearts of the audience and the judges. We wish her all the best and can't wait to see her shine on Strictly Come Dancing.
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