McFly star Tom Fletcher revealed he ‘just cried’ when he was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder after years of uncertainty.
The 39-year-old musician-turned-author will soon make his debut as a judge on The Voice UK, alongside bandmate Danny Jones, 38.
Tom, Danny and Harry Judd, 38, and Dougie Poynter, 36, make up McFly, a pop-rock band that is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year.
But before he found success as a teenager, Tom, now married to blogger Giovanna Fletcher, knew he wasn’t like other kids.
The father of three said in 2020: “Ever since I was a child, I have been very emotional.
Tom Fletcher, 39, from McFly, has revealed he ‘just cried’ after he was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder after years of speculation
The McFly frontman and now author will soon make his debut as a judge on The Voice UK, alongside bandmate Danny Jones, 38 (pictured)
Tom, Danny and Harry Judd, 38, (right) and Dougie Poynter, 36, (second from left) are McFly, a pop-rock band celebrating its 21st anniversary this year
“One moment I felt excited, the next moment the opposite. But I think everyone thought I was.”
He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a brain disorder that causes unusual and often sudden changes in mood and energy levels.
At the start of McFly his weight became ‘a problem’ and he was ‘basically just drinking coffee’. Tom recalled: ‘It was so unhealthy.
‘I had down periods — I’m sure I was a nightmare to deal with, but I hid most of it from Giovanna. Like many men, I often hid it from the people I was closest to.
‘In late 2011 I saw a documentary by Stephen Fry called The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive. He was telling his story of bipolar disorder and depression, and it sounded exactly like me. I just cried.’
Tom went to therapy and was later diagnosed, adding: ‘I had never thought about it being a definable mental health condition, and I decided to talk to a therapist.
‘I didn’t tell anyone for a long time. Later I was diagnosed as bipolar. When I told my friend Harry, he said, “Ahhh, that makes so much sense.”
‘Since then, more and more people are speaking out about their mental health. You don’t have to be ashamed of that.’
He added: ‘Having children is the best thing that ever happened to me.
“They’ve taught me more about myself than I ever thought possible. Parenthood helps you be less selfish because you care about nothing more than them.
“Since becoming a father, my mental health has been the best it’s ever been. Being a children’s author is part of that — I love watching my kids get lost in a good book.
“I’ve learned that it’s okay not to have all the answers in life. After meeting my own idols, I’ve realized that no one else has a clue what’s going on. You just take a chance and learn as you go.”
Tom said in 2015 that the birth of his first child, son Buzz, helped him overcome his depression.
He and Giovanna are now also parents to sons Buddy, 7, and Max, 4.
At the start of McFly, Tom’s weight became ‘a problem’ and he ‘basically just drank coffee’. Tom recalled: ‘It was so unhealthy. ‘I struggled with down periods’ (band pictured in 2005)
Tom said: ‘Since becoming a dad my mental health has been the best it’s ever been. Being a children’s author is part of that’ (pictured: Giovanna, 39, with Buzz, 9, Buddy, 7, and Max, 4