Denise Welch has lifted the lid on her battle with mental health, depression, and post-natal depression after she became a first-time mother.
The Loose Women star, 64, is a proud mum to 1975 frontman Matty Healy, 34, and her younger son, Louis, 22.
The former Coronation Street star has long been open about her battle with her inner demons, but she has now given more insight than ever into how she first dealt with her very first panic attack which came out of nowhere just days after she gave birth to Matty back in 1989.
After enjoying a peaceful and problem-free pregnancy with her first child, things took a turn for the worst for Denise on one random day when everything appeared to build up and emerge in the form of a panic-attack which left the new mum feeling as though she was dying.
The proud mum-of-two shared her experience with other mums in a lengthy caption on Instagram as she took a look back at her first pregnancy.
Alongside a sweet throwback snap of her and her famous son Matty, Denise penned: "This is 2 days before Matty was born, April 1989. Happy, excited, nervous. I had a brilliant pregnancy and wasn't even bothered when he was 9 days late.
"Long labour but he was a healthy 8lbs and we were thrilled with our beautiful boy. I wasn't anxious. I loved the first few days even though he cried a lot.
"A week later out of nowhere, during a walk with my mum, my life changed forever. After my first-ever panic attack a feeling of unreality came over me and within an hour I was in a thick, black, terrifying depression. I didn't eat for weeks. I was almost catatonic.
"My family took leave of work and stayed with me night and day."
Denise went on to further share her experiences with post-natal depression as she penned: " Post-natal depression robbed me of any joy for months. I felt nothing. The GP was terrible and knew nothing.
"I tried for 20 years to get someone to listen to me that I felt my illness was hormonal. No one really helped me.
"Years of good days and bad days followed. Several 'nervous breakdowns' as we called them and every antidepressant known to man, which undoubtedly did help for sure.
"About 13-years- ago a gynaecologist in London was recommended to me. Professor John Studd. He found me to be very severely deficient in oestrogen. My life changed that day. I still live with the 'unwelcome visitor' but he far less visible these days."
The Loose Women star concluded by urging her followers who may find themselves in the same position as she once was to 'reach out'.
"We have HRT and it's our right to be given it. Reach out and shout from the rooftops if you have to. Accept any help offered. Don't suffer in silence. With the right help life with your baby will be wonderful," she ended the post.
Denise welcomed sons Matty and Louis with ex-husband Tim Healy.
If you're struggling with mental health, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org . They're free, they're confidential, and they're always open.
