Nikki Sanderson has suffered with depression.
Nikki Sanderson
The 'Hollyoaks' actress has opened up for the first time about suffering with the mental disorder, and while she was previously "ashamed and embarrassed", she has beaten her "demons" after going through therapy and with the help of her family and friends.
She wrote on Instagram: "This is the first time I have openly and publicly admitted this, as like so many, I had been ashamed and embarrassed... I have suffered with depression in the past ....but, after medication, therapy and having my amazing family and friends, I beat my demons. I was lucky.
"A smile can hide a thousand tears of pain,
A laugh can hide the sound of mental torture,
The words "honestly, I'm ok" hide the truth of "help me, I'm breaking". I hid how I felt for a long time, lied to my family and friends, but more importantly, I lied to myself, ashamed to admit I had a problem. It's only now I know, there is nothing to be ashamed of. (sic)"
Nikki - who plays Maxine Minniver in the Channel 4 soap - has encouraged people to always "be kind" to each other because nobody knows what other people are going through.
In a post on World Mental Health Day yesterday (10.10.18), she added: "You may not be able to see certain mental illnesses, but the person going through it can most definitely feel it.
So please, be kind always #worldmentalhealthday #love #strength #yourenotalone #support #help #depression #itsokaynottobeokay (sic)"
Nikki's former 'Coronation Street' co-star Samia Longchambon revealed earlier this year that she has suffered from anxiety since she was 11 years old.
Speaking about her panic attacks, she said: "You feel like you are going to die, you can't breathe.
"You feel like you are going to faint or die. I wouldn't wish them on anyone, they are horrible.
"Anxiety is like a fear. I read somewhere that depression means you are looking at the past too much, whereas anxiety is worrying about the future too much.
"That makes sense to me because I do worry about everything."
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