Reality television star Gemma Collins has bravely opened up about her significant mental health struggles, sharing an emotional post with her Instagram followers just weeks after her mother was hospitalised with pneumonia.
Emotional Instagram Revelation
The 44-year-old TOWIE personality, who has been regularly updating fans about her mother Joan's health condition, posted a festive photograph on Thursday that concealed her true emotional state. Collins admitted that behind the glamorous image, she has been feeling 'broken inside' and extremely low for the past three weeks while her 70-year-old mother recovers in hospital.
In her candid message to followers, she wrote: 'SOS. Behind the glam of this picture the last three weeks I have been broken inside and so low I can't tell you. Remember it's who's round the table and not what gifts you get.'
Family Health Crisis Impact
The media personality explained how her mother's hospitalisation has dramatically affected her daily life and mental wellbeing. 'Normally I'm 100 million miles in front upbeat and organized with mum being in hospital I've not been able to cope recently everything is too much even getting dressed daily,' she confessed.
Collins added a note of hope, stating: 'Mum will be home soon and I will be happy again I'm sure.' She also revealed practical difficulties, mentioning being let down by her Christmas installation company and appealing for alternatives that could accommodate filming for Sky TV.
Mother's Health Update
Earlier on Thursday, Collins had shared more positive news about her mother's condition. She revealed that Joan is 'slowly on the mend' at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, sharing a photograph of her smiling mother surrounded by family in her hospital bed.
In her update, she expressed gratitude to the medical staff, writing: 'Seeing mummy slowly on the mend today finally is a miracle from above and the incredible doctors and physios at Broomfield hospital. I can't thank you enough.'
The health scare represents the latest in a series of serious medical emergencies for Joan Collins. Last year, Gemma revealed her mother had been rushed to hospital after stopping breathing, with doctors warning she could die and questioning whether she should be resuscitated if she went into cardiac arrest.
At the time, Collins told The Sun: 'I've had a lot of stress the last couple of weeks. My mum was suddenly taken into hospital, and I was told she could die. They would not resuscitate her if she went into cardiac arrest.'
Almost two weeks ago, Collins had asked fans to pray for her mother when she revealed Joan was 'really unwell' with pneumonia. In a heartfelt post, she described it as 'the toughest week of my life' and thanked NHS staff at both Broomfield Hospital and Chelmsford Hospital for their care.
Pneumonia is a serious chest infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs, often making breathing difficult as the sacs fill with fluid. The condition affects between five and eleven out of every 1,000 adults annually in the UK, with older adults being particularly vulnerable.
Collins concluded her emotional post by reaching out to others who might be struggling, asking: 'Is anyone else struggling this year? Are you feeling it any tips for feeling low I've never had this before.' She added a poignant reflection on social media authenticity: 'ITS funny how the gram tells a thousand lies!!!'
