Actress Kristen Renton, who's known to daytime fans as Days of our Lives' Morgan Hollingsworth and known to primetime audiences as Sons of Anarchy's Ima Tite, recently revealed that she battles depression. In a lengthy Instagram post, the Colorado native shares that her daily struggles have been going on for several years.
"For the past few years I have felt lost and confused. I haven't known if I am on the right path, or if I am just stumbling off course, meandering down some backroad destined to reach a dead-end," she writes. "I have felt isolated, lonely and depressed. Do people care about me for me? Or because I have been on TV? I have been trapped in a constant guessing game of what people's true intentions really are.... Always smiling on the outside, because that is what is expected of me. Meanwhile, every day I felt like I was dying more and more inside."
Renton's post continues to explain that her friends and family haven't been able to understand her pain, while others assume that because she's a famous actress, she has no reason to feel depressed.
"So much of this life is smoke and mirrors," she confesses. "I have never been one to play the game very well.... I think my soul is too pure for that. I can't lie, I can't cheat, I can't steal and I sure as hell can't pretend to be someone I am not. So take a good look at the person in this picture... cause I will no longer will allow myself to be that lost soul."
Renton, who played the role of DAYS' Morgan from 2007 to 2008, hopes that by sharing her own depression struggles, she can help others cope with unbearable feelings and make the life changes necessary to keep them at bay.
"If you, too, have ever felt the way I have, you shouldn't either. Change you[r] habits. Change your perspective. Change your scenery," she suggests. "Follow whatever feeds your soul. But don't ever sacrifice your happiness because that is what you think you should do... if it makes your heart happy, follow it to the end of the earth. It is your life, and we all only get one. Live it, love it, and never look back."
Renton isn't the only daytime star to open up about struggles with depression and similar mental health issues. Others include DAYS' Kate Mansi (Abigail Deveraux), General Hospital's Genie Francis (Laura Spencer), GH's Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones), The Young and the Restless' Michael Muhney (ex-Adam Newman), and The Bold and the Beautiful's Pierson Fodé (ex-Thomas Forrester). Meanwhile, both GH's Bryan Craig (ex-Morgan Corinthos) and Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) posted about mental health awareness following a story the soap did about bipolar disorder, which Benard suffers from in real life.
How do you feel about Renton opening up about her struggles with depression? Do you remember her time on DAYS? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
