Depression

Subterms

    Latest story

    238 Shares

    Sheridan Smith’s new show in chaos as audience members fall ASLEEP and reviewers call it ‘worst piece of theatre’

    by

    SHERIDAN Smith’s latest theatre was slammed by critics and sent audience members to sleep.The award-winning actress is starring in the musical of 1977 film Opening Night, where she plays functioning alcoholic actress Myrtle Gordon.Sheridan Smith’s new theatre venture left audience members confusedOne critic claimed that people were sleeping in the audienceDespite her incredible reputation in the industry, one theatre buff compared the performance to a “multi-lane pile up”.It was also branded “tragic” and a “waste of audiences’ time and money”. Stefan Kyriazis, the Arts Editor for Express said: “As the curtain fell, the poor ladies in front of me muttering, ‘I don’t understand – what just happened?’ echoed the bewildered slump of an audience who sat (some smartly snoozed) through Rufus Wainwright’s tuneless tunes, endless pointless and intrusive camerawork (enough, already), some atrocious acting and frustratingly bad staging.”According to another critic, “half the audience loved it, the other half hated it”. read more on sheridan smithDespite the rough reviews, Sheridan, who has been open about her own mental health battles over the years, was the show’s saving grace. Her character, Myrtle, suffers a mental breakdown and leans on booze to help her through. The storyline is close to home for Sheridan, who opened up about her own demons in 2017. She previously battled anxiety, depression and addiction and said that her “life was falling apart”.Most read in ShowbizThe death of her beloved father Colin in 2016 only fuelled her crisis, which saw her stumble out of a stage door after her Funny Girl stint at the Menier Chocolate Factory.There were rumours that she was drunk on stage, but she has always denied this.She told Sunday Times Culture Magazine: “My life was falling apart and I didn’t tell anyone.”I was totally terrified that I was going to come unstuck, that I couldn’t hold these feelings of insecurity in much longer without it coming to a head.”Which it did last year. My dad getting cancer triggered it, but it had been a long time coming.”Things have been weird for years.”Sheridan previously said that Opening Night was “like therapy” for her, saying it felt like her life had gone “full circle”.Of the parallels between her former self and Myrtle, she said: “I am playing an actress but at least I can add a bit of my emotion to it, some true emotion.“It is very freeing. It has actually been really cathartic, just getting it all out.“It’s like I am back, doing it, you know? Taking ownership of it.In the past Sheridan said her anxiety and feelings of insecurity increased the more successful she became, winning rave reviews for her performances on stage and in TV dramas including Cilla and The C Word.During her career she has received BAFTA and Olivier awards, but despite the glory she hid her mental health issues.READ MORE SUN STORIESShe said: “All I could imagine was people thinking, ‘You should be grateful. Get over yourself.’”But when you have that degree of anxiety, you can’t just pull yourself together and you can’t explain it. It just snowballs until it’s out of control.”Sheridan plays a woman having a mental breakdownCritics said that Sheridan’s performance saved the show More

    More stories

    • 238 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Travis Barker has ‘boys only’ time with rocker pal at his LA mansion after Kourtney Kardashian posts about ‘depression’

      by

      TRAVIS Barker has enjoyed some guy time with a rocker pal of his, while wife Kourtney Kardashian has been staying out of the spotlight with their newborn son.The Kardashians star recently shared posts dealing with stress and depression.
      Travis Barker partied with fellow rocker N8nofaceCredit: Instagram/n8noface
      Kourtney Kardashian was left to take care of their newborn sonCredit: Hulu
      Kourtney, 44, welcomed her baby boy on November 1, and neither she nor Rocky Thirteen Barker have been seen in public or on social media since.
      While Kourtney has been tending to baby Rocky, Travis has been out partying with friends.
      On Thursday, musician N8noface shared some photos of his visit with Travis.
      The two posed next to a giant Christmas tree inside the drummer’s mega-mansion.

      Of course, being Travis’ home, the tree was overshadowed by a giant skeleton that looked leftover from his favorite holiday, Halloween.
      In the two subsequent photos, the rock duo jammed in Travis’ private studio.
      N8noface gushed in his caption: “Had a great time hanging and finally meeting @travisbarker (who has always shown me love and gave me advice) !
      “Had no idea we were gonna cook, haha! It was insane watching them work.
      Most read in Celebrity
      “Truly grateful.”
      MENTAL HEALTH
      All that cooking comes as Kourtney has posted about her mental health while refraining from being seen with her newborn son.
      The eldest Kardashian sister posted an Instagram photo via Poosh’s page that fueled rumors she’s hiding with her newborn son.
      Kourtney’s brand uploaded a Story of Tracee Ellis Ross leaning out of a bathtub.
      The star had her hair tied up on the top of her head and went makeup-free.
      Tracee leaned her head on her hand and looked seemingly upset as she looked at the camera.
      The lifestyle brand added the caption: “Stressed? Depressed? Anxious? Overwhelmed? All of the above.
      “Here are 10 simple self-care hacks for stressful times.”
      ROCKY’S ROAD
      This photo is the first regarding Kourtney’s health since the birth of her baby boy, Rocky, in November.
      Reports have said Kourtney and Travis Barker are keeping Rocky in hiding and away from family to enjoy time with him alone.
      A source close to the family said that the Barker-Kardashian clan has refused family visits.
      On Reddit, fans of the Kardashians have expressed their concern that something may be up with the Lemme founder or her newborn.
      Starting the discussion, one fan asked: “Does anyone know if Kourtney and the baby are okay?? I thought she had the baby weeks ago yet there hasn’t even been a hint she’s actually had it.
      “Also, there’s been 0 pictures of her the past few weeks. Anyone know anything?!”
      A second responded: “I feel like she probably had a hard pregnancy. I didn’t want to show anyone my baby didn’t want to see anyone after I had to have surgery for it. There’s no knowing what’s going on.”
      Read more on The Sun
      “I was also wondering what was up. That surgery made me wonder if the baby has more complex health issues that we’re aware of. NONE of it is our business, but I hope the baby is okay,” said another Kardashian-Jenner follower.
      A fourth agreed: “I’ve been slightly concerned since she needed intrauterine surgery. I hope everything is ok.”
      Travis and N8noface jammed at the drummer’s studioCredit: Instagram/n8noface
      The two spent time cooking up new songsCredit: Instagram/n8noface
      Kourtney hasn’t been seen since giving birthCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

    • 175 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      I got so depressed at height of fame I considered suicide, says Jermaine Pennant

      by

      JERMAINE Pennant says he had suicidal thoughts during the height of his fame.After overcoming his demons the former footballer is raising awareness of men’s mental health. 
      Jermaine Pennant is raising money for Movember alongside SAS: Who Dares Wins star Jason FoxCredit: Rankin Studios
      The ex-Liverpool star, 40, who was abandoned by his mother aged three and served 30 days in prison in 2005, told The Sun in an exclusive chat: “There were times when I was thinking would it just be easier to take loads of pills and never wake up.
      “I may not have took a blade or tried to hang myself but there were thoughts of closing my eyes and never waking up. It was a really scary time but I persevered and luckily got through it.”
      Having had therapy the star is in a much healthier head space these days.
      This month Jermaine is growing his moustache for Movember and raising as much cash as possible for three of the biggest health issues affecting men: cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
      Talking about his charity work, he said: “Before, I was shy to talk about my mental health, I was embarrassed and I didn’t want people to know I wasn’t okay.
      “Being in the public eye, it’s a great way to let people know that you’re just the same. We all have demons and being on a platform like Movember shows the awareness and can touch everyone. 
      “It doesn’t matter if you’re an athlete, if you’re a superstar, or if you’re a normal nine to five person, we are all just the same and it’s good to talk.
      “I look at life and I look at people in a totally different way now and I never judge a book by its cover.”
      Most read in Bizarre
      Since retiring from football in 2019 the star has worked as a pundit on TalkSPORT but revealed plans to go back to school as he wants to help other troubled youngsters in the future.
      He said: “I’m starting a course in December in psychology and mental well-being. I’ve enrolled and I’m hoping to get a certificate or a degree in that in the next couple of years.
      “I want to go into football clubs and speak to the youngsters if there’s any troubled ones. They’ll be able to resonate with me because I’m an ex footballer and I’ve been there and got the t-shirt.
      “Hopefully I can help the next stars coming up to stay on the straight and narrow.”
      To donate to Jermaine’s campaign, please click here.
      The pair were shot by legendary photographer RankinCredit: Rankin Studios
      Former Liverpool FC footballer Jermaine told The Sun he’d suffered with his mental healthCredit: 2023 Karwai Tang More

    • 175 Shares

      in health and weelbeing

      Many Women Are Battling Depression During Pregnancy. Here’s What To Know, If You’re Struggling

      by

      In South Africa, between 21 and 47% of women experience depression during pregnancy. The global average? 12%. This means South African women are at higher risk during a crucial period of their lives. Depression during pregnancy can also often continue well into childbirth and beyond. “Pregnancy-related depression is often dismissed as ‘just the baby blues’ and women are told to ‘just pull yourself together’, but it is a serious mental health condition which not only negatively affects women’s quality of life and experience of motherhood, but the prospects of the next generation too,” says Doctor Bavi Vythilingum, a member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists.

      Why does depression during pregnancy happen?

      Dr Bavi says this is down to a number of factors. For one, pregnancy is an inherently life-altering event that can be stressful, and hormones might play a role. For another, the rates of intimate partner violence in South Africa are high and could lead to depression.

      In South Africa, violence against women worsens when a woman is pregnant. Substance abuse during pregnancy can also be a driver of depression. “The use of alcohol and substances puts the woman at risk of depression and also creates a vicious cycle where depression makes somebody use substances more, putting both the mother and the child at risk,” says Dr Bavi.

      There are also genetic factors. “If your mother had depression, you are more likely to get depression,” explains Dr Bavi. And then there are cases where women might have been depressed in earlier pregnancies (or, who get depressed during their menstrual cycle), which increases the risk of depression in any subsequent pregnancies.

      READ MORE: Want To Manifest Your Goal? Don’t Make These Manifesting Mistakes

      The risks of depression during pregnancy

      “Depression during pregnancy can have an effect on the unborn child,” says Dr Bavi. “It’s associated with an increased risk for things like preterm labour, for small gestational age babies (when the baby doesn’t grow properly) and for pregnancy-induced hypertension.”

      If depression continues after childbirth, this affects mother-child bonding, growth and development of the infant.

      READ MORE: 7 Ways To Meditate For Anxiety Relief That Are *Actually* Easy To Do

      Signs of depression

      Generally, a low mood that’s prolonged can be a sign of depression. Also, changes in appetite, sleeping too much or too little, wanting to self-harm, lack of motivation and lack of interest in things that used to be interesting are also warning signs.

      READ MORE: How To Support A Loved One If You Think They Are Suicidal

      What to do, if you think you’re depressed

      The first line of defence would be psychotherapy, says Dr Bavi. “Many women don’t get better on psychotherapy or can’t access psychotherapy,” she notes. If this is the case, medication in the form of SSRIs can be taken. They’re safe for use during pregnancy and won’t pose a risk to the baby, Dr Bavi says.

      Depression during pregnancy is a serious issue and poses risks to both the mother and the child. If you suspect you’re struggling, get help by contacting a psychologist or psychiatrist.

      The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) lists toll-free helplines for general depression and anxiety, and has free support groups around the country for various issues, including support for expectant and new mothers. Call 0800 21 22 23 for help and information.

      In addition, you can join the network mumsupport.co.za for a caring community of women supporting women. More