Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey has opened up about experiencing ‘dark thoughts’ while struggling with her mental health during her second pregnancy.
The Goldie McQueen actress, who was already mum to seven-year-old Coco, gave birth to daughter Cookie last December.
During her pregnancy, her mental health reached ‘its peak’, the Waterloo Road star revealed.
‘I have suffered with my mental health for a long time and it hit its peak while I was pregnant,’ she told The Sun.
‘There were times when I would have dark thoughts then blame myself, because I would think, “How can I be like this when I am pregnant and have a young girl who needs her mum?”
‘There were moments when I couldn’t get out of it mentally and then I would put myself in a bigger hole, thinking, “Why am I feeling this way?”‘
She went on to explain that her mental health reached such a low that doctors took her in for a caesarean section three weeks before her due date.
‘Cookie was due on January 14 and they put me in for my C-section on December 22. They knew I was really struggling.’
Chelsee admitted that her struggles continued after the birth as she was diagnosed with post-partum depression, but that counselling throughout the ‘tough’ process helped.
The actress has played the role of Goldie in Hollyoaks since 2016, but is set to face a new challenge in the new year as she takes part in the next series of Dancing on Ice.
Talking to Heart Radio about the competition, Chelsee said: ‘I’m ready, I’m good to go, let’s go!
‘I’ve got a bit of rhythm but skating on ice is completely different, I’m excited.
‘I’m most excited for the live shows, getting to perform live every week will give me a buzz, I can’t wait for the live shows.’
