Yazmin Oukhellou reveals Towie sent a therapist to her house every DAY after on-set breakdown and depression battle left her unable to get out of bed
YAZMIN Oukhellou has revealed Towie bosses sent a therapist to her house every DAY after her on-set breakdown and depression battle left her unable to get out of bed.
Speaking exclusively to the Sun Online, the reality star opened up about the support she’d received from the show and how she feels ahead of her return to the long-running ITVBe series.
She shared: “I left last year to have time out. I was genuinely suffering and needed time off the show. Things were so bad I couldn't get out of bed.
“I was crying all day. I would literally force myself to get up. I would have a wash, change my pyjamas and go to bed. I was actually that low and in such a bad place I couldn't cope and didn't know what to do.
“Towie were amazing though. They had a therapist who was coming around my house every day to see me. He really, really helped me and I couldn't have got better without him. I know he's always there for me if I'm getting low.
“In the end the show made the decision to make us have a break. People were seeing us [boyfriend James Lock, 32] arguing and fighting but that's really not us as a couple. We love each other.”
The ITVBe star, 25, admitted that because people think of her as glam they don’t believe she could have depression.
She said: "It doesn't matter what job you do when you have depression you need time off work to look after your mental health.
“People look at me and see me glam and think I can't be depressed. They think you can't be depressed you just must be dramatic or a drama queen.
“I'm not blaming the show for causing it. I think it could have happened anyway. But obviously when you are on a TV show like Towie it can be hard to deal with the online abuse and trolls.
“I have always been an over-thinker and have always suffered with dealing with situations. I got myself in a rut and was taking it out on James unfairly. He was getting really angry and upset because he didn't know what was wrong and didn't know how to help me.”
The brunette babe also discussed her excitement about her and James’s new venture — a wellness retreat in Marrakech.
She said: “I went away with my mum and said I would love to do something similar. I am still trying to get my uncle [who suffers with depression] out of the house and better.
“I didn't realise the benefits of exercise, great food, mindfulness and how it can all help your mental health.
“We will have a therapist on the retreat as well. And on every retreat I want to donate a space to someone who needs it but can't afford it. I need to work out how we are going to do that exactly but I am really passionate about that.”
Yazmin also has some sensible ideas for young people hoping to make it in reality TV.
She said: “The advice I would give to people going on reality shows is don't just rely on the show for your career.
“I went to uni and got a degree. For me I am coming back because I want to come back and I feel like I am ready to come back. But at the same time I don't rely on the show if it isn't right for me I can do other things and have a back up plan.
“I am a little nervous about coming back but I know now I can handle it. When I look back on last series it was like I was possessed. I am a completely different person now.
“I have learned how to deal with it and I've realised life is too short to get ill over silly arguments or what people think of you.
“I want to show the viewers that you can have a really dark time and struggle but you can come through it. We will open up about what has happened to us.”
Towie is on Sundays, ITVBe at 9pm
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