Coronation Street star Beverley Callard opens up about overcoming depression after being plunged into a downward spiral when her medication was discontinued
The Coronation Street star, 60, says she ended up in tears on the soap set after sinking into a 'black hole'
CORONATION Street's Beverley Callard has said overcoming clinical depression is the "hardest thing" she's ever done.
The soap star, 60, best known for her role as Liz McDonald, took a two-month break from the ITV show in 2016 after "sliding" into a downward spiral when her medication was discontinued.
In an interview with magazine, the TV favourite admitted she's a "perfectionist" and "people pleaser" who tends to put a lot of pressure on herself, but she is "really well" these days after finding a new medication that works for her.
“I’m really well, and feel like I’m back to normal," she said.
"I have to be sensible - I’m a workaholic and have to try to relax more, which I don’t find easy.
"Overcoming clinical depression is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
“I never thought it would happen to me - I am a strong female, and very feisty.
"But I think depression has a tendency to affect strong people, as we keep going no matter what."
Beverley has spoken openly about her mental health in the past.
She said during an appearance on This Morning in April that she'd been really well for five years until one of her regular medications was stopped suddenly by its manufacturer as it wasn't making a profit.
At first, she thought she was fine and perhaps didn't need the medicine after all, but five or six weeks without it left her sinking.
"I was without it for two weeks thinking, 'Maybe I don't need it because I'm fine'. I was filming most scenes most days and doing fine then after about five or six weeks I started to slide.
"Then of course, there is trial and error with other medications and the problem is, once you go down that black hole it's very hard to get yourself out of it.
"I knew I was going there. I was losing confidence totally and, to be honest, to play Liz you have to be very brave to put those clothes on!"
Beverley recounted how she ended up in tears on the Corrie set one day after seeing Liz's costume for the day, a PVC skirt, and thinking she couldn't wear it.
"That day I just thought, 'I feel idiotic and maybe I'm not up to doing this anymore'. My confidence had just totally gone. And I'd look around the set and there were all these beautiful females and I thought, 'I just can't do it'.
"I sat on the Rovers stairs for a little while as they moved cameras and was just crying silently.
"One of the makeup girls, who are great friends and saved my life as they know me so well, just said, 'You need to go home'."
Thankfully, after seeking medical help the star found a new medication that works for her.
She said on Loose Women in May: "I think it's really important to be open because then people support you and you get so much support from unexpected people as well. From all over the country people write to me all the time.
"At first you probably don't know what's wrong with you, as I certainly didn't, but I think the more you seek help and go to the doctors, maybe need counselling, medication.
"I think the more you talk about it, the better you will get and you can monitor it."
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