"I'm going to have highs and I'm going to have lows."

Pamela Joyce has been praised for opening up about her experience with depression. The radio presenter courageously spoke about dealing with mental illness on Doireann Garrihy's Laughs of your Life podcast. Pamela explained that she has suffered from bouts of depression since she was in her 20s, but it isn't something she felt she could talk about. She said she has had depression and anxiety 'episodes' for years. However, when Pamela started suffering, there were very few people talking about mental health in Ireland. The stigma was still there, there wasn't half as much awareness as there is today. She told Doireann; "I was about 20 I would say so about ten years ago. I had never really had any experience with it [depression], no one that I knew of talked about it." "So I was like, "Depressed people are in psychiatric wards and that's it."

 

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Pamela said she's generally very happy, but she noticed multiple times where she didn't feel like 'happy go-lucky Pam'. She explained that these episodes were triggered when she was living abroad.

"It just very quickly spiralled. Since then I've had two more less severe episodes of it."

"I was in a foreign country, barely spoke the language at the time, and my dad had just left. He brought me over and stuff to settle me and the day he left I got the phone call. "I hadn't really had any experience of it up to that point. I think if I'd been at home I might've been alright. It just very quickly spiralled. Since then I've had two more less severe episodes of it." Pamela said she's happier than she has ever been in life, but believes she will always suffer from depression and anxiety. "I'm going to have highs and I'm going to have lows." Fans of the radio presenter praised her for being so open and honest about her mental health. There's no doubt many people will seek comfort in knowing they're not alone in their struggles. If you're struggling mentally then you can reach out to Samaritans on 116 123. You can also text 50808 for support. The free, anonymous, 24/7 messaging service provides everything from a calming chat to immediate support. 50808 provides a safe space where you’re listened to by a trained volunteer.