Laurence Fox has suffered panic attacks since his split from Billie Piper

He shared: "The physical symptoms of trauma and suffering are profound panic attacks for an extended period of time, and I've never had a panic attack in my life before last year.

"It's like being plugged into an electric socket where you go mental. I've learnt to put on my running shoes and sprint as fast as I can until I can't move anymore, then there's something else distracting me and the endorphins kick in and you start to feel better. Thankfully they're getting less all the time."

Laurence, who has a seven-year-old son called Winston and a six-year-old son called Eugene, revealed the stress of the situation has caused him to stop sleeping.

He told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "I haven't slept for six months, even with sleeping pills. I go to bed the same time, same bed as the kids and just lie awake, sleeping two or three hours. My mind's whirring round.

"I'm seeing an amazing therapist, I love her. You've got to seek help, from your family, a therapist, a fitness trainer, whatever it is.

"Family and friends might be the best people for this stuff but they've got their own lives. My brother, Robin, has saved me in this whole situation. He saw it all, what I didn't see, knew what was coming and tried to tell me about it.

"I shouted and got angry with him. But I am my brother's keeper and will never be able to thank him for how wonderful he's been to me. He sent me a personal trainer, Darren, three times a week, as a divorce present, and the other two days I train myself.

"I kept going to my marriage guidance counsellor even when we stopped, and she said, 'You know all the money you've got saved for a rainy day? Well its f***ing pouring, so use it'.

"So I live that way at the moment, spending whatever I need to get me through."