'I lost myself and my will to live': GMA meteorologist Ginger Zee talks battle with depression as she reveals diagnosis came after suicide attempt
Good Morning America meteorologist Ginger Zee has opened up about her tough battle with depression.
The 36-year-old television personality - real name Ginger Renee Colonomos (born Zuidgeest) - revealed to People magazine on Tuesday that she was diagnosed after a suicide attempt 15 years ago.
According to the weekly, when she was 21 the star had locked herself in her bathroom and taken every pill she could find in the medicine cabinet as Ginger explained: 'I had lost all hope.
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Tough battle: Ginger Zee - pictured in April - revealed to People magazine on Tuesday that she was diagnosed with depression after a suicide attempt 15 years ago
'I just shut down. It wasn't worth living. I was wasting people's time and space.'
Luckily for Zee, her roommate at the time and ex boyfriend had found out what had happened and brought her to the hospital.
The concoction she had put together wasn't lethal as it was mostly Benadryl but she ended up being diagnosed with depression.
'Depression for me has been a couple of different things — but the first time I felt it, I felt helpless, hopeless and things I had never felt before,' she explained. 'lost myself and my will to live.'
Talented: The 36-year-old Good Morning America chief meteorologist documents her battle with the illness as well as her life in new book Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I Am One.
She documents her battle with depression and other events in her life in hew new book Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I Am One.
At the time she had just graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana and her career did not quite start the way she would have hoped but she also had a hard time grasping the the reason for the emotional roller coaster she was on according to People.
'It doesn’t matter what’s relative to another person’s tragedy, or whatever it is that’s making you feel low,' she explained. 'In that moment, my brain, and probably a chemical somewhere within me, said, "You need to kill yourself." The only voices I could hear were telling me, "You are not worth it."'
Success: At the age of 25, she worked as an NBC affiliate in Chicago and ultimately joined ABC's GMA in 2011, as she is pictured in March 2016
Oh boy! In 2013, she was named chief meteorologist for the morning program and is the first ever female chief meteorologist for a major US television network, she is pictured with Mickey Mouse last month
Depression isn't her only battle as she struggled with anorexia when she was young and was later diagnosed with narcolepsy in college.
Despite all her trials and tribulations, Ginger never gave up on a career in television.
At the age of 25, she worked as an NBC affiliate in Chicago and ultimately joined ABC's GMA in 2011.
In 2013, she was named chief meteorologist for the morning program, replacing Sam Champion. She is the first ever female chief meteorologist for a major US television network
She said: 'My professional life, in a strange way, has always been going up, up, up, while my personal life was just the complete opposite.'
Strong bond: Ginger has credited her mother, Dawn, and her husband Ben Aaron for helping support her through the rough times, as she and Ben are pictured in 2015
'New baby boy!' Ginger shared a picture of her two-year-old son Adrian holding an ultrasound image as she revealed she's pregnant back in August
Ginger has credited her mother, Dawn, and her husband Ben Aaron for helping support her through the rough times.
Aaron, 36, and Zee married in 2014 and share a 23-month-old son named Adrian together. They are also expecting another boy due in February.
'It’s hard to just pick one thing that I am most proud of her for,' her husband gushed. 'She’s the best mom, wife and meteorologist in the world. I often describe her as a goddess.'
Her star is shining brighter than ever as she was even a contestant on the 22nd season of Dancing With The Stars last year. She and dance pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy had an impressive showing as they ultimately came in third place.
Ginger's book Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I Am One. - which is published by Kingswell - is on sale now.
Impressive: Her star is shining brighter than ever as she was even a contestant on the 22nd season of Dancing With The Stars last year as she and Valentin Chmerkovskiy came in third
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