<p>Dolly Parton appears to always be chipper and in a great mood, but behind the scenes the country star has battled crippling depression so bad she was once mere seconds away from blowing out her brains.</p><br /><p>Parton described how battling her mental illness left her feeling “sad-hearted and melancholy” and “there are times when you just don’t want to get up.”</p><br /><p>She blames her depression on her “tender-hearted” nature, as well as her background.</p><br /><p></p><br /><p>“Depression runs in my family on both sides and I have to be wary,” she has explained. “If there are problems sometimes it’s a lot for one little person to carry.”</p><br /><p>In fact, the burden of depression became almost impossible for Parton to bear in 1984 when she learned she would have to undergo a partial hysterectomy and could never have a family of her own.</p><br /><p>During that dark period, Parton placed a loaded gun to her head and was ready to pull the trigger. Miraculously, at that moment, her dog Popeye came scampering into the room, a heaven-sent sign to keep going, she now believes.</p><br /><p>“I don’t think I would have done it,” she said. “And yet I can’t say for sure … it was a really bad time and it took two years just trying to get my physical weight and hormones in order.”</p><br /><p></p><br /><p>“I have a great faith,” she added. “If it gets to a point where I think I can’t quite handle it, I take it straight to God.”</p><br /><p>For more of Dolly’s juiciest secrets and scandals, tune in to National Enquirer Investigates, April 12 at 9/8 central on REELZ!</p><br /><p>The post Inside Dolly Parton's Brave Battle With Mental Illness</a> appeared first on OK! Magazine</a>.</p><br />
