Fame is a wonderful thing, but it often comes at a cost. Something similar happened with Coronation Street Star – Simon Gregson. The actor is popular for portraying the character of Steve McDonald on the ITV soap. A part that he has been playing since the tender age of 15, first joining the show in 1989.
While his lovable, yet misguided, character did win him immense fame, it sadly cost him his mental health. So much so, that Simon Gregson had to go on a extended break back in 2015. Despite the much needed break, the actor could not heal completely from the mental health issues he had developed while working on Coronation Street.
Even away from the sets, the Steve McDonald actor often suffered anxiety and panic attacks. In a YouTube chatshow, Simon honestly opened up about his struggles and admitted that he could not handle the fame that Corrie brought him. He pointed that the more he dealt with hard-hitting storylines on the soap, the more his mental health worsened.
Sadly, things became even worse after he became a husband and father. The CS star reflected that back in the day when he started his TV career, no one prepared the young stars for what they were getting into, and what life would be like going forward. However, he did appreciate that these things are now being taken into consideration. So the kids who start out now will hopefully not face the same struggles.
“We were kind of dropped in the middle of the ocean at fifteen and left to swim to shore. It had a massive impact on my mental health, looking back,” Simon explained. The actor also reflected at the years bygone when he attempted to seek therapy for his issues. He explained that his father was in the police force and had an allowance for his family to seek therapy.
Simon took advantage of that opportunity and went for it. Unfortunately, didn’t know what to do with him, so he quickly gave up. He admitted that he chose to indulge in alcohol as a form of self-medication. But he gave it up later for his wife when they first got married. However, not having something to depend on gave him anxiety.
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It got so bad that in 2015 he reached his breaking point and had to take a long break from Coronation Street. He acknowledged that Corrie’s bosses were really supportive of him and let him take the six months that he needed to heal. It seems like it really is costing Simon all his strength to fight his anxiety and not fall back in the dark side of mental health.
We wish Simon all the best and hope that he continues to heal from his issues. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more such Coronation Street Updates. Meanwhile, if you are also struggling with your mental health please don’t be afraid of getting professional health.
