Elaine Crowley has publicly shared her struggles with mental health, admitting she cut off her family during an episode of depression.
The Virgin Media host is participating in the Talking Depression campaign launched by the Irish Independent. Elaine spoke candidly about her experience with dysphoria, a condition which causes people to feel extremely uneasy or low.
The 45-year-old said that she felt unable to communicate with family members during her most difficult moments. Luckily, she continued to have the support of her loved ones, including sister Maggie.
READ MORE: Miriam O’Callaghan admits High Court case was ‘stressful’ for family members
Elaine said: “I felt they were annoying me. All the calls. No. ‘Can you just leave me alone. I’ll get through it, stop ringing me’. I don’t know where the anger came from.”
She said that these feelings never stopped her from loving or caring about her family, but that the illness took over during these dark periods. She sadly admitted to having “hated herself” during this time and wanting to isolate from other people.
She also revealed that her first episode of depression occurred at the age of 14, after a sports injury kept her from carrying out the activities she loved. However, her mental health struggles became more pronounced in adult life, where she would avoid contact with family and friends.
Luckily, Elaine’s sister Maggie, who works as a nurse, never gave up on her and encouraged the presenter to seek out professional help. Maggie also said that family members should try not to take the behaviour of a loved one with depression personally, as hurtful as it can be.
Elain's sister Maggie said: “You have to learn not to take the behaviour of the depressed person personally. And that can be hard, because you can get biting remarks.”
She added: “It’s not the person you love saying this. It’s their illness. So you have to keep chipping away at having little conversations. Because some people are not ready to hear it at once.”
The Crowley family has dealt with heartbreak in recent years, following the passing of their mother last November. Elaine previously admitted that she was left “in a state of flux” following her mother’s tragic death from cancer.
All videos for the Talking Depression campaign can be viewed on the Janssen Ireland YouTube channel and The Little Book of Big Conversations can be accessed on the Janssen with Me website at janssenwithme.ie/depression
READ MORE
Westlife star Nicky Byrne gives update on injury after falling on stage
Charlie Bird says his 'heart is broken' as tributes flow following the death of Vicky Phelan
Heartbreak at Late Late Toy Show as Ryan Tubridy announces death of colleague
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
