Helen Flanagan fantasised about crashing her car to end her life.
The 26-year-old actress was left in a dark place after quitting ‘Coronation Street’ in January 2012 due to her battle with depression, and after stopping taking the medication she was prescribed for bipolar disorder and ADHD, she seriously considered ways for it to be "all over".
She said: "One day I was driving into the ITV studios and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I just crashed my car now and it was all over?’
"I’ve suffered from depression.
"It was the main reason I had to leave ’Coronation Street’.
"I was down and it was very intense — I don’t think I was very well."
But Helen – who recently announced she is reprising her role as Rosie Webster in ‘Corrie’ for a brief stint – has managed to turn things around and says becoming a mother to her and partner Scott Sinclair’s daughter Matilda, now 15 months, has given her a new sense of purpose.
She told The Sun newspaper: "Matilda inspires me to be the best person I can be.
"I feel like I’ve massively matured now I’ve got Matilda.
"It’s definitely changed me for the better and made me happy, because I feel that it’s given me a reason.
"Everything gets put into perspective.
"You think: ‘Well, as long as she’s healthy and alright…’ It gives a meaning to your life."
And the brunette beauty sees a specialist every week for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and has found the sessions have really helped.
She said: "I don’t want to pass any negative energy or behaviour down to Matilda, so I’ve been seeing a therapist once a week for a while and things have really improved.
"CBT gets to the root of any problem, so I feel in a good place now.
"It’s something I will always work on, but I don’t take medication any more."
Helen Flanagan wanted car crash
