Victoria Derbyshire, 51, reveals secret battle with depression that left her feeling ‘absolutely knackered’ and doubting her competency
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Victoria Derbyshire has revealed she has suffered through two bouts ofdepressionthat left her ‘absolutely knackered’, ‘slightly anxious’ and doubting her competency.
Speaking to more than 500 business leaders at Women Mean Business Live inLondon, the broadcaster, 51, toldThe Telegraph‘s Bryony Gordon she felt insecure about her job at her lowest ebb earlier this year.
The mother-of-two first went through treatment for depression a decade ago when she had her own show onBBCRadio 5 live, and admits the menopause triggered a second spell just months ago.
Secret struggle: Victoria Derbyshire has revealed she has suffered through two bouts of depression that left her ‘absolutely knackered’, ‘slightly anxious’ and doubting her competency
‘I was getting to a point where I was overwhelmed and waking up at 2am then not sleeping between 2am and 4 . 30 am when I usually get up, ‘she said of her illness earlier this year.
‘ I was absolutely knackered and getting slightly anxious. I thought ‘I’m not good at my job anymore’. ‘
Victoria, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, took a week of work where she slept ‘for hours and hours’ before returning feeling refreshed.
She spoke about the moment she wept in front of her doctor after they ‘were nice and kind’ to her, prescribing anti-depressants and recommending two weeks off work.
Presenter: The mother-of-two first went through treatment for depression a decade ago when she had her own show on BBC Radio 5 live (pictured hosting her show)
‘Hours and hours’: Victoria, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, took a week of work where she slept ‘for hours and hours’ before returning feeling refreshed
‘I went to the doctors and said I wasn’t sleeping, and after I’ d given the long list of symptoms I said “but I don’t think I’m depressed”. The doctor said “I think you are”. ‘
After recovering from the illness she has since stopped taking anti-depressants.
Victoria went through a mastectomy and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage 2 lobular breast cancer four years ago, before being given the all clear in 2016.
In a candid interview withThe Times’ Magazine, Victoria told how Tamoxifen, which she is prescribed to take until 2026, has ‘grim’ side-effects.
She explained: ‘It’s designed to help prevent the cancer coming back.
‘ The side-effects are reasonably grim: debilitating joint pain. At times, I’ve felt like an 80 – year-old woman with arthritis.
Open and honest: Victoria spoke about the moment she wept in front of her doctor after they ‘were nice and kind’ to her, prescribing anti-depressants and recommending time off work
Long-term: The 51 – year-old broadcaster reportedly opted for a modest affair with her radio producer beau at their Surrey pad following A 16 year relationship, reports The Sun
‘Turns out that trying to get out of bed in the morning when my hips, neck and shoulders have completely seized up is tricky and painful.
‘I resented tamoxifen for months and considered coming off it until Mark had a word.
” Sorry about the pain it’s causing you, but me and the kids really need you to stick around, so you’re going to have carry on with it. “
‘Then I felt guilty, because being in a position to take tamoxifen meant I was alive.’
The BBC star says her first thought after her diagnosis was to marry her boyfriend of 16 Years Mark Sandell.
In Autumn 2018, Victoria tied the knot at an intimate ceremony in front of family and friends.
She previously spoke about how her sons Oliver, 14, and Joe, 12, held her hand as she walked down the aisle as a 15 – strong choir sang The Beatles ‘All You Need Is Love.
Diagnosis: Victoria suffered from Stage 2 Invasive Lobular breast cancer. The television star found out she may have breast cancer after she Googled ‘inverted nipple’ in July 2015
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