Denise Welch has shared candid details about what she has called the 'most terrifying moment' of her life, when her battle with depression took a severe turn.
Over the years, the Geordie actress has been open and frank about her mental health struggle, which led to difficult times when she was at the height of her TV fame as a regular on Coronation Street.
The 62-year-old shares heartbreaking revelations on what she calls 'the unwelcome visitor' in her new book of the same name, which is released next week, but one of the book's most traumatic moments is already out there after excerpts were published by The Mirror.
The moment saw Denise's physical as well as mental health affected in a truly shocking way when a depressive episode left her physically contorted and unable to speak.
The situation was so bad the a doctor informed her family that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) might be needed in order to control her state of mind.
Recalling it in 'The Unwelcome Visitor', Denise writes: "“I started to feel pins and needles all through my body," she said.
"My hands tensed up and I couldn’t move my fingers. My mouth twisted to one side, I couldn’t speak.
“My body was out of my control. It was probably one of the most terrifying moments of my life.”
Fortunately for Denise and her family, her condition improved meaning that ECT - which can prompt changes in brain chemistry that can reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions - wasn't required.
