Channel Ten’s Tracey Spicer reveals tragic family history of depression

Tracey Spicer has revealed her mental health battle, as well as her family history of depression. 

Speaking to Stellar Magazine, the 54-year-old Channel Ten newsreader says her father attempted suicide when she was younger – before she understood how much depression can take hold. 

‘My dad experienced terrible depression and tried to commit suicide once, and I’d never experienced [depression]’ she said. 

History: Tracey Spicer (pictured) has revealed her mental health battle, as well as her family history of depression

Tracey later suffered from depression herself, and says that when she becomes overwhelmed, she visualises a cup. 

‘It can be anything from catching public transport instead of driving, doing some gardening, watching a comedy, having a bath or just going outside and looking at the trees,’ she said. 

‘I’m really aware of doing things that mean my cup doesn’t overflow… Prioritising your mental health is the number-one thing; everything else must come behind’.  

‘My dad experienced terrible depression and tried to commit suicide once, and I’d never experienced [depression]’ she said. Tracey later suffered from depression herself, and says that when she becomes overwhelmed, she visualises a cup

It comes after Tracey revealed that she suffers from panic attacks that have been so severe, she has fainted on television. 

Speaking to Body+Soul Magazine, she said that her early days on screen were plagued by anxiety.

‘It started with heart palpitations. Then clammy hands and cold feet,’ she explained. 

‘The last thing I remember is feeling light-headed, before collapsing on the studio floor. During my first weekend on metropolitan television, I fainted. 

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‘I’m really aware of doing things that mean my cup doesn’t overflow… Prioritising your mental health is the number-one thing; everything else must come behind’ she said 

‘Not once, but twice. Foolishly, I had agreed to come back to present the weather segment a second night after this disastrous opening act.’ 

Tracey says she learned to manage her anxiety over time, and it did not get in the way of her career.   

‘Despite setting an extremely low bar in the early 1990s, I sustained a 30-year career in the media by learning to manage performance nerves, panic attacks and, at times, crippling anxiety’ she told the magazine. 

Memories: ‘It comes after Tracey revealed that she suffers from panic attacks that have been so severe, she fainted on television earlier in her career. Pictured in the 2000s

Building back: Tracey says she learned to manage her anxiety over time

Tracey discussed her battle with anxiety in her 2017 book, The Good Girl Stripped Bare – and the family history she inherited. 

‘In my book, I wrote about my beloved father’s challenges with depression and anxiety,’ she said at the time.   

Since her fainting episodes back in the day, the media personality says that she’s managed to get her anxiety to a ‘low level’.  

For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Read more: In Stellar Magazine 

Source: Daily Mail