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Mel Bala admits she was on anti-depressants to deal with divorce

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Melanie Bala. (Photo: Getty./Gallo Images)
Melanie Bala. (Photo: Getty./Gallo Images)

Melanie Bala has for the first time spoken about the struggles she’s had to deal with following a tumultuous few years.

Taking to Instagram on Saturday, the media personality shared that she was previously on anti-depressants and had been undergoing therapy to help deal with two significant life events; the death of her father and her divorce from musician Zwai Bala, who she had been with for 17 years.

Posting a pic a throwback picture of herself on the set of Live AMP two years prior, Melanie –  a mother of two – shared her journey, “Bob (Mabena) and I had been invited to host an episode. It was a lot of fun, “she said.

“What you don’t see is the exhaustion and sadness. My marriage was over, my father had died. I was in therapy, on anti-depressants, barely sleeping and crying every single day. I hid it all very well except to those very close to me.”

Mel then challenged her followers to use her story to have open and honest dialogues about what they are going through, “Why are we so so scared to let people see the real us? To let people know that we’re struggling, that we’re not okay. Is it because we’ll be seen as weak or over sharing? “Why is she putting all her business out there?”

“Even now, I share this with trepidation because ‘what will people say’ or will some media outlet use it as a story tomorrow?”

Reflecting on her journey, Mel admitted she was not worried about what it cost her, as long as people realised that life is not perfect.

“The pressure to present these perfect lives is insane. Don’t get me wrong: we all love to dress up and slay, and get those likes but that’s not real life. Not for me, not for you, not for anyone,” she wrote. 

“Life is not 100% ups all the time. There are a lot of downs too. We need to allow ourselves those moments because in doing so, we share the full range of what makes us human. We invite someone who is struggling too, to say ‘I am not alone’,”

“The #GloUp is great but there’s a down that has to come first before you can glow up,”

“50, 5000 or 500,000 followers and we can’t share what’s in our hearts because we’re scared to be judged or to lose brands, sponsorships, opportunities? I’ll take my chances,” she concluded.

The Metro FM news reader then ended her post with a message to the youth as they deal with similar challenges that she has had to overcome, “On this #YouthDay, I want young people to know it’s okay to not be okay. It takes time, effort, tears, work, self-care but you’ll get there."

#TheGramSham *deep breath* This picture was taken about 2 years ago at Live Amp. Bob and I had been invited to host an episode. It was a lot of fun. What you don’t see is the exhaustion and sadness. My marriage was over, my father had died. I was in therapy, on anti-depressants, barely sleeping and crying every single day. I hid it all very well except to those very close to me. Why are we so so scared to let people see the real us? To let people know that we’re struggling, that we’re not okay. Is it because we’ll be seen as weak or over sharing? “Why is she putting all her business out there?” Even now, I share this with trepidation because “what will people say” or will some media outlet use it as a story tomorrow? The pressure to present these perfect lives is insane. Don’t get me wrong: we all love to dress up and slay, and get those likes but that’s not real life. Not for me, not for you, not for anyone. Life is not 100% ups all the time. There are a lot of downs too. We need to allow ourselves those moments because in doing so, we share the full range of what makes us human. We invite someone who is struggling too, to say “I am not alone”. The #GloUp is great but there’s a down that has to come first before you can glow up. 50, 5000 or 500,000 followers and we can’t share what’s in our hearts because we’re scared to be judged or to lose brands, sponsorships, opportunities? I’ll take my chances. On this #YouthDay, I want young people to know it’s okay to not be okay. It takes time, effort, tears, work, self-care but you’ll get there ?? M. • Click on #TheGramSham for other posts. @thejolurie

A post shared by Melanie Bala (@melzinbala) on

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