Former Coronation Street actress Denise Welch was invited onto the latest instalment of Good Morning Britain to speak to hosts Susanna Reid and Martin Lewis about her mental health.
She candidly shared how she battled with postnatal depression following the birth of her eldest son Matty Healy, 34, who is best known for being in the band The 1975.
Denise told Good Morning Britain viewers: "Martin, I can honestly say, it was the most terrifying thing and sometimes the reason we see terrifying headlines that things are unnoticed is because people don't want to die, they want to stop the pain.
"Only people who have been clinically depressed know that feeling."
Denise added: "Had I not had my family I don't know where I would have been."
READ MORE: Holly Willoughby's future in doubt as host 'contemplates quitting' This Morning
The Loose Women star explained Matty grew up knowing she had "episodes of being poorly".
She said he wrote a song called She Lays Down which is about Denise's mental health battle.
"Sadness is what I felt when my mum and dad died, it makes you feel sad," she said. "Depression depresses every single feeling."
Denise started to tear up thinking about the lyrics to the song, telling viewers: "I still get emotional about it because I said to Matty when he was older I wouldn't have traumatised him as a child.
READ MORE: Murder solved after three decades by evidence from killer's grave
"But I used to lie down on the floor, I'm not religious, but I used to pray something would help me love my child because depression takes away your ability to love.
"That was what She Lays Down [is about] and that's when my spiral into drink and drugs and all the horrors then happened.
"There are no excuses for things but there are often reasons for things."
Denise proudly confirmed she has been sober for the past 11 years and stressed how important it is to seek help for depression and anxiety.
She said she felt like a "lone wolf" when she had depression as she did not know who to talk to at the time or what help was available.
"Now, even if you can't access your NHS help, you can Google depression services," Denise added.
Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays between 6am and 9am on ITV.
If you have been impacted by the content above, support is available via www.samaritans.org.
