Helen Flanagan is reflecting on completing a year as a single woman, sharing her thoughts on Instagram about her current relationship status and future desires. The 35-year-old former Coronation Street actress, who shares three children—Matilda, Delilah, and Charlie—with her ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair, marked the milestone by posting a series of candid reflections.
Flanagan, who is soon to turn 36, explained that her desire for companionship is most prominent when she is not with her children. "I am more of a relationship girl," she stated, adding that while she doesn't want to "settle unless it's right," she would "rather be on my own" if the connection isn't genuine. She also admitted to generally not liking being alone and prefers to be with friends or family when her children are not present.
Her reflections come after a recent period where she discussed experiences with casual sex and "intense rejection" in relation to her ADHD. Flanagan described herself as a "lover girl/wifey" who tends to form attachments, humorously calling men who ghost women after intimacy "big fat rats." She shared a tearful selfie, explaining that her feelings for someone can be overwhelming and that she experiences "limerence" and significant rejection sensitivity, though she is learning to manage these challenges.
Flanagan also touched upon her past relationships, noting a lifelong romantic inclination and a tendency to fall in love intensely. She recalled moving in with her first boyfriend at 17 and later getting the name of her ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair tattooed at 19 during their 13-year relationship. She also discussed past unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as numbing emotions with alcohol during stressful periods after separating from her children's father. She noted that while alcohol use is now healthier, she has empathy for those struggling with drug addiction.
As a mother with ADHD, Flanagan described experiencing overstimulation and frustration, which can lead to swearing, but she ensures her children's needs are met despite challenges with organization. She also suspects at least one of her three children may be neurodivergent.
Earlier in July, Flanagan spoke about feeling uncertain about her career path after selling the family home she shared with Sinclair. The Lancashire property sold for £945,000 after an initial listing of £1.5 million. Currently between homes, Flanagan expressed feeling unsure about her career, particularly her desire to act, and has felt frustrated by a lack of creative fulfillment in her social media work, which has been causing anxiety.