Rylan Clark has opened up about his mental health struggles following the breakdown of his marriage to Dan Neal, revealing that he treated himself 'like a toddler' to help him recover. The 34-year-old presenter hit rock bottom after his six-year marriage ended, leading to two suicide attempts and a stay in a psychiatric hospital.
In a candid interview, Clark admitted that even simple tasks like showering or making a cup of tea became overwhelming. He described taking 'little steps' to rebuild his life, such as simply pressing the kettle button without intending to make tea. 'You need to look at yourself like a toddler,' he told The Sun on Sunday. 'The day you do that, that's a little step. And the reason I say toddler is because you sit and applaud yourself for that.'
Clark said he struggled with basic hygiene, at one point pretending to shower by just standing under water to appease his worried mother. He noted that progress came in small increments, like putting shampoo in his hair, and that he still uses these 'toddler steps' in his daily life.
He attributed his breakdown not only to the end of his marriage but also to nine years of non-stop work since finding fame on The X Factor in 2012. 'I think my marriage ending was the catalyst for the machine stopping,' he said. 'But actually, it was nine years of never stopping and never having time to breathe.'
Clark described the experience as being 'blind and deaf at the same time', unable to hear or see when others tried to help. He emphasised that only he could pull himself out of that state. Now, however, he says he is 'feeling brilliant' and ready to find love again, adding: 'The clouds parted when I realised I hadn't lost what I thought I had.'
