McFly's Tom Fletcher said he 'just cried' after finally getting diagnosis
McFly's Tom Fletcher has taken a seat as a coach on The Voice UK, joining forces with bandmate Danny Jones in what marks a first for the ITV show, having a duo spinning in those iconic red chairs. Rocketing to fame in 2004 with McFly, the 39 year old musician had an earlier brush with stardom when he auditioned for Busted. However, he narrowly missed out to Charlie Simpson after Island Records opted for a trio format.
Not one to be kept down, Tom became part of Busted's songwriting squad before soaring to success with McFly. Tom hasn't shied away from discussing his mental health battles, which have been a part of his life since his younger years.
In a heartfelt chat with Fearne Cotton, reported by Birmingham Live, he said: "Ever since I was a child, I've always been highly emotional. I'd feel excited one moment, then the polar opposite the next. But I think everyone just thought that's who I was."
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His journey led to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which according to the NHS, is a mental health condition that affects your moods, which can swing from 1 extreme to another. Yet, for Tom, the challenges didn't stop at mood swings, reports the Mirror . He opened up about his early days in the limelight, confessing that his weight "became an issue," leading him to a point where he abstained from eating and survived on coffee.
At one of his lowest points, the pop star survived on a diet of one fruit muffin and a cup of coffee a day which amounted to 450 calories. Reflecting on his past mental health issues, he acknowledged: "It was so unhealthy."
"I would struggle with down periods - I'm sure I was a nightmare to be with, but I kept much of it from [my wife] Giovanna. Like many men, quite often I would hide it from the people I was closest to."
"In late 2011, I watched a documentary by Stephen Fry called The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive. He shared his story of bipolar disorder and depression, and it sounded exactly like me. I just cried."
Tom sought therapy and later received his diagnosis. He added that he never thought about it being a “definable mental health condition”. He revealed that after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he told his bandmate Harry Judd who said that it made “so much sense”.
Tom went on to say that since his diagnosis, more and more people have spoken out about their mental health and says "it's nothing to be ashamed of".
