Davinia Taylor admits 'humiliation' of losing custody of her son to ex Dave Gardner drove her to sobriety... amid fears she would DIE at 'rock bottom'
Davinia Taylor has revealed the humiliation of losing custody of her son Grey, now 10, to ex-husband Dave Gardner in 2010 was the catalyst to keeping her sober.
The 40-year-old former Hollyoaks actress appeared on Lorraine on Thursday morning, as she discussed her battle with post-natal depression and how she was convinced she would be dead if she had not sought help for her demons.
Speaking ahead of running the London Marathon on Sunday, Davinia, who has four children in total, revealed without exercising she can 'go into a really dark hole' yet with professional help and 'achievable goals' she feels better.
Way back when: Davinia Taylor has revealed the humiliation of losing custody of her son Grey, now 10, to ex-husband Dave Gardner in 2010 was the catalyst to keeping her sober (pictured during their £875,000 nuptials in Cheshire in 2003)
In 2010, Davinia's ‘unreasonable behaviour’ was cited as grounds for divorce from David, who was awarded a settlement in the region of £1million, before he was awarded custody of Grey, who she could reportedly see every other weekend.
Subsequently, David, who is now married to actress Liv Tyler, went on holiday to the U.S. for almost a month with Grey - leading to Davinia's downward spiral.
She said: 'That humiliation to be honest that spurred me on to keep sober and keep on the program... that was a catalyst that took me into the depths of depression, the support I received was monumental. I think I would be dead...
‘Professional help, and support of people who've already been there. It’s normally so quiet and hush hush for people to speak out and say: "I've had post-natal depression" and as clear as day I went into a massive deep hole and couldn't get out.'
Battles: The 40-year-old former Hollyoaks actress appeared on Lorraine on Thursday morning, as she discussed her battle with post-natal depression and how she was convinced she would be dead if she had not sought help for her demons
Different age: Speaking ahead of running the London Marathon on Sunday, Davinia, who has four children in total, revealed without exercising she can 'go into a really dark hole' yet with professional help and 'achievable goals' she feels better (pictured in Soho, London in 2000)
In the aftermath of their messy divorce, she said: ‘It’s been the worst and longest drawn-out experience I’ve ever had. I just want him to move out and move on.
'I wish I’d heard about quickie divorce packs from Tesco sooner. Before I went into this I thought there was such as a thing as a quickie divorce, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.’
On Thursday, speaking of how exercise helped her out of her woes, she said: 'Without exercise I can go into a really dark hole. I did a DNA test and I found out I was an endurance athlete, I said I couldn't, but it was my mind telling me I can't.
A vision: Davinia was a picture of health as she appeared on the show ahead of the marathon
Life and soul: Davinia was a well-known party girl before hitting rock bottom (pictured with John Galliano, left, in Monaco in 2000)
Happier days: In the aftermath of their messy divorce, she said: ‘It’s been the worst and longest drawn-out experience I’ve ever had. I just want him to move out and move on' (pictured together in 2004)
Way back when: Speaking of how exercise helped her out of her woes, she said: 'Without exercise I can go into a really dark hole. I did a DNA test and I found out I was an endurance athlete, I said I couldn't, but it was my mind telling me I can't' (pictured in 2005)
'So much so I've developed my own DNA test and I'm selling and it's nice to know what you're made up on.'
The star is running the marathon in aid of mental health charity Mind, with a representative for the charity saying: 'Driven by her own experiences, Davinia is really passionate about shining a light on mental health and breaking down the stigma that still surrounds mental health problems, this is why she’s chosen to run for us this Sunday and raise awareness of the subject'.
Davinia, who has gone on to have three more children, one with an unnamed ex and two with partner Matthew Leyden, revealed her father Alan Murphy is jetting in from Monaco to watch her run the marathon over the weekend.
On life with Matthew, she said: 'This time it’s much more quiet and calm, we don’t go out, we don’t party, we eat super healthy, and it’s all about the kids. It is non-stop kids – four boys in the house. It is the noisiest household in London I swear.'
Davinia shot to fame as Jude Cunningham on Channel 4's Hollyoaks back in 1996, and returned after an 18-year absence in 2016.
For confidential support on any of the issues mentioned, call Mind on 0300 123 3393
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