Towie’s Yazmin Oukhellou reveals depression battle left her unable to get out of bed for days and says weekly counselling sessions are helping her conquer her demons
TOWIE'S Yazmin Oukhellou revealed that her depression battle left her unable to get out of bed for days.
Speaking to The Sun Online at the Elbrook Cash & Carry charity gala dinner at Chak89 restaurant in London, she said that weekly counselling sessions are helping her conquer her demons.
She shared: "I feel so much better for getting away. I thought I'd go away and I would come back cured. But that's not the case.
"I have my up days and my down days. I'm now having therapy every week, whether it's going to be a year or two years, I'll keep doing it."
The ITVBe star, who broke down on Towie last month and "quit" the show, admitted that she's starting to overcome her fear of talking about her struggle with mental health and hopes speaking publicly will help break the stigma.
She said: "People have to talk about it. I was so embarrassed, I didn't want people to think I was a nutter.
"And it's a joke around Essex, 'Oh Yaz is a nutter! She's a loon!' But I don't want people to think about me.
"But now it's come out and I do have issues."
Continuing: "I know I'm a role model and if I'm going through it there must be tens of thousands of young women going through it.
"I have issues from my past and issues from my past relationships that have affected me, especially with James, and made me feel this way.
"If I can help a handful of young people that makes me feel so much better."
While praising the cast and crew of Towie for their support, Yazmin confessed that when her depression got so bad she was left bed bound for days.
"Towie have been so good to me," she said.
"I was debating whether to come back this week and I worried it was too soon. Maybe it was a bit too soon. I've had a crap start to the week. Maybe I did come back soon.
"Before if I had a bad time I would go home and I wouldn't be able to get out of bed for two days. It was so bad and it really affected me.
";I had such bad scenes today but I know I can get through it."
Reflecting on a difficult few months, Yazmin broke down as she paid tribute to boyfriend James Lock and said she felt like a "burden".
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She shared: "James has been so supportive.
"I am so sorry, I'm going to get upset but I feel like I have been a burden. He's never had to deal with someone like me before.
"I just feel like a massive burden."
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