We always see our best-loved TV star Carol Vorderman as being super happy and smiley but she has kept a secret battle.
The 55-year-old admitted that she was so low last year that she “didn’t see the point in anything” after suffering with depression that was brought on by the menopause.
Only now is she able to talk about it and feels brave enough to open up.
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She told The Mirror: “I got to my 50s – and I love my 50s – but the menopause is a bit challenging.
“It was last year particularly. I had six months when I was really low. I’m not a depressed person but in that space of time I was genuinely depressed.
“It got to Christmas and I thought, ‘God, what on Earth is wrong? I can’t bear this’.
“I analysed exactly the times that it happened and it was linked directly to the times that are important to a woman every month.
“I thought, ‘That’s what it is’.”
When asked if she ever felt suicidal during that time, she said: “No. I would never do anything like that because I’ve got children.
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“But I couldn’t see the point of anything. I was lower than I’d ever been in my life. It floored me – absolutely floored me. I was really surprised about that.”
This sounds terrifying!
The menopause starts when your periods stop and your ovaries lose their reproductive function.
The average age is around 50 and common symptoms include night sweats, hot flushes, sleeplessness, urinary tract infections, low mood, irritated skin and reduced interest in sex.
Something to look forward to…
Carol explained: “I didn’t have any of those hot sweats and all of that kind of thing.
“I was surprised how it hit my emotions, I’m very stable.”
To try and get out of her dark hole, Carol went to see a specialist, who gave her treatment which she says completely changed her.
She said: “I have little gels I have to put on every day.
“It’s called Estrogel. One for oestrogen and one for testosterone. From the moment I started taking them I’ve never felt low again. And your skin changes back to what it used to be a little bit.
“It’ll never go back to what it would be in your 20s or 30s but on the mental health side, I’ve not had a single second of what I felt last year.”
The mother-of-two wants women to speak up on the affects menopause can have on mental health.
She says: “Not many people talk about it and if they do, they talk about it medically rather than the mental health side.
“It is a massive hormonal change that is going through your body and affects your head occasionally too.”
Carol thanked her good health: “I was very lucky.”
Carol now has a new lease of live and can’t wait to appear on I’m A Celebrity.
She says it’s always been on of her favourite programmes and has a new sense of adventure.
Go Carol! She will no doubt give the boys a run for their money…