Jennifer Esposito, known for her role on "Blue Bloods," has shared details of a prolonged health battle that severely impacted her life and career. The 53-year-old actress recounted on Maria Menounos' "Heal Squad" podcast how unexplained physical and mental health issues forced her to pause her acting career.

Esposito described becoming "deeply depressed" and experiencing "thoughts of suicide" as doctors struggled to diagnose her condition. Her health began to "collapse" during her time on the ABC comedy "Samantha Who?" which aired from 2007 to 2009.

She revealed that at one point she was locked in a psychiatric ward and was even considered for shock treatment due to her lack of response to medication, to which she was very sensitive. Esposito credited her mother with having people pray over her during this difficult period.

After years of misdiagnoses, Esposito was ultimately diagnosed with celiac disease, which she identified as the root cause of her liver failure and mental health decline. She said, "I realized that there was a major connection with what I was eating and my vitamins and then my body."

The actress emphasized the toll the symptoms took on her both physically and mentally, stating, "I had a whole life beginning in the city, and I was a young actor and I had to stop everything."

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Sources

Reported by Christina Dugan Ramirez for Fox News Digital.