Freddy Brazier Details Family Impact of Mental Health and Addiction Struggles
TV personality Freddy Brazier shares the profound toll his mental health issues and cannabis addiction have had on his family, including his father's ex-wife.
Freddy Brazier, son of the late "Big Brother" star Jade Goody, has spoken about the significant impact his struggles with addiction and severe mental health conditions have had on his family.
In a recent interview on The Terry Stone Connection podcast, the 22-year-old described experiencing manic episodes and his fear of his own actions during these times. Brazier recounted walking into a hospital and demanding help, with a friend noting he appeared "glass-eyed" and as if "someone's almost taken over."
"I don't know myself when in that state, which is scary," Brazier stated. "I feel like when I've been in them states, I scare people closest to me."
He specifically mentioned that his father Jeff's ex-partner, Kate Dwyer, was "scared" of him, a sentiment he understood given his own fear of himself during episodes. "There was a point where these, these episodes were so regular," he explained.
Brazier acknowledged the worry his father and other family members have experienced, fearing he could end up in prison or die. He expressed a desire not to put his family through such pain, recounting a time he had a knife to his neck during an episode and was unsure how he survived it.
Diagnosed with ADHD at age ten and bipolar disorder, Brazier was sectioned at 17 and spent his 18th birthday in a psychiatric ward. He is planning to start therapy to address his trauma.
Previously, Brazier claimed his grandmother Jackiey Budden introduced him to cannabis at age 12. His father, Jeff, had attempted to prevent Brazier from seeing Budden through court proceedings, citing safety concerns, after it emerged they smoked marijuana together. Brazier sided with his grandmother, and Jeff withdrew the legal action.
In 2024, while filming "Race Across The World" with his father, Brazier admitted to using their allotted budget to buy marijuana, consuming it on a beach in Brazil after struggling to cope during Mother's Day. He had announced his addiction and intention to enter rehab last year.
Jeff and Kate Dwyer announced their separation in November of the previous year, after seven years of marriage. The Daily Mail has contacted Kate Dwyer's representative for comment.
For those struggling with addiction, FRANK can be contacted at 0300 123 6600. For mental health support, Mind can be reached at 0300 123 3393.