Loose Women star Denise Welch has candidly opened up about her depression to Sian Williams on her Mind Matters programme for Channel 5.
The 63-year-old explained she first experienced depression five days after her eldest son Matthew was born 33 years ago.
She revealed that she had a panic attack which wasn't brought on by anything in particular. Waking up the next day, she realised that her breasts had stopped lactating.
Denise explained to the host that if that were to happen now it would spark a 'huge hormonal red flag'. However, at the time her midwife, who wasn't very sympathetic, told her to go and buy some bottles.
When her mum, who was a psychiatric nurse, heard about this she had asked Denise if she felt depressed.
However, the presenter told her mum she didn't feel depressed but 'weird' and referred to how felt as though she was living in a dream sequence.
She continued: "That was the start of it, then I was in what I would call the 'blackness'."
The presenter informed viewers that when Denise was recently going through a depression episode, she filmed it which was then played to people watching.
In the clip, Denise referred to her mental state as an 'unwelcome visitor' that she said she was waiting to go.
Asking her what it's like, Denise said: "You can't see depression, that's why it's such a crippling, isolating, frightening and debilitating condition because it's invisible. You can't see it."
The mum-of-two explained depression to those who have never had it before.
She said: "I'd never judge anybody who doesn't understand it as long as they're willing to try to. Depression is exactly what it says on the tin.
"It depresses every emotion in you. It's often described as sadness but it's not sadness. Sadness is an emotion you're meant to feel as a result of being made sad about something."
The Loose Women presenter said when she's having a depressing episode she can't feel anything and it completely robs you of emotion.
Speaking about the last time her 'unwelcome visitor' arrives, she explained it happened in the car with her best friend and son's godchildren all singing.
She told the Mind Matters presenter she had a tingling in her arms and a metallic taste in her mouth.
Denise said: "Within 30 seconds, the unwelcome visitor is there and all I say to people is 'he will always leave'."
The 63-year-old then gave a message to viewers watching who may be struggling with depression themselves.
She said: "To anyone who is struggling with depression or self-medicating their depression, there is help out there. I'm nearly 64, it's never too late to turn your life around is my motto.
"Talk to someone, you'd be surprised how many people know exactly what you're talking about. There is always a support group out there. Look at me, I feel better now as an old bird than I did in the last 40 years so good luck and I'm thinking of you.!
People watching were quick to shower the star with support on Twitter and even suggested she deserved an MBE.
Steven Smith said: "@RealDeniseWelch is just an amazing ambassador for #mentalhealth, give her and #mbe she so deserves it."
Drexismusic commented: "Just watched this live a few mins ago. The feeling couldn’t have been described better. Thank you for helping others understand the true nature of a depressive episode."
While another fan wrote: "Yes, give her an MBE!"
