Love Island’s Niall Aslam pokes fun at his psychiatric stay

Niall Aslam poked fun at his psychiatric stay after he left Love Island 2018 nine days after its launch in a playful clip shared to Instagram on Wednesday.

The reality star, 25, who has Asperger’s, departed the show prematurely after suffering from stress-induced psychosis and hallucinations in the villa.

Over two years on, the former construction worker appeared to be in a better place as he declared: ‘Sometimes if you don’t laugh you’ll cry’ while dancing in the funny video. 

‘If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry’: Niall Aslam poked fun at his psychiatric stay after he left Love Island 2018 nine days after its launch in a playful clip shared to Instagram on Wednesday

Niall kicked off the post by pretending to be his dad, mouthing the words: ‘Do you think Niall will be okay on Love Island?’

The TV star later transformed into his mother as he replied: ‘I mean what’s the worst that could happen?’

‘Me: getting flown to a psychiatric hospital 9 days in’, the media personality ended his post before enjoying a boogie.

After being met with a positive response from fans, the influencer said: ‘I know this post is a joke but everyone’s lovely comments actually mean a lot and really helped me get through some stuff and still helps me!! x’ (sic)

Hard times: The reality star, 25, who has Asperger's, departed the show prematurely after suffering from stress-induced psychosis and hallucinations in the villa (pictured)

Hard times: The reality star, 25, who has Asperger’s, departed the show prematurely after suffering from stress-induced psychosis and hallucinations in the villa (pictured)

Poking fun: Over two years on, the former construction worker appeared to be in a better place as he declared: 'Sometimes if you don't laugh you'll cry' while dancing in the funny video

Poking fun: Over two years on, the former construction worker appeared to be in a better place as he declared: ‘Sometimes if you don’t laugh you’ll cry’ while dancing in the funny video

'It means a lot': The media personality was met with a positive response from fans

‘It means a lot’: The media personality was met with a positive response from fans

Late last year, Niall confessed he was prescribed heavy medication after he lost touch of reality and began hallucinating.

The social media star also confirmed he suffered from severe depression when he exited hospital and needed to be monitored by a crisis team.

In a candid Instagram video, he said: ‘I came out and talked about my Asperger’s and I was diagnosed at 10-years-old, that was basically the reason I left Love Island. 

‘But what actually happened to me, I ended up watching Love Island in a psychiatric hospital in London, the Nightingale Hospital to be exact.

‘What I later found out is that I had stress-induced psychosis… Essentially what it is, you get so overwhelmed that you lose touch with reality.  

‘You kind of hallucinate you don’t know what’s going on, you’re not fully aware of your surroundings, you’re not safe, you need other people to look after you. 

‘It takes quite a lot of time to come down from that, but when you come down from it you really come down, you go into a really deep depression. 

WHAT IS ASPERGER SYNDROME? 

Asperger syndrome (AS) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.

It affects up to 700,000 people in the UK. 

People with AS see, hear and feel the world differently to other people.

They may feel easily overwhelmed and anxious.

Taking part in everyday life and relating to other people can also be challenging. 

Unlike autism, AS patients are typically less affected by learning difficulties and speech problems.

Yet, AS is a spectrum condition and affects its sufferers differently. 

There is no cure.

Counselling and visual aids may help.

Source: The National Autistic Society 

‘I was at the hospital for two weeks but in my head I wasn’t fully aware of what was going on, I thought it was because of my Asperger’s.’ 

When he was released from the hospital, Niall said he still struggled to comprehend what had happened as he was left to deal with the aftermath of his Love Island exit. 

He added: ‘I was on so much medication getting loads of side-effects, that’s why I didn’t really do any interviews as I was getting really slurred speech from the medication. 

‘Then I had to come off the medication, I was on Xanax, really really strong stuff. I just ‘cold turkey-ed’ it, that was horrible. 

‘It was a really upside down time for me. I think it took quite a long time for me to recover fully from it because of the Love Island situation. 

‘I was trying to get back to reality and my reality was different. I was really struggling… I was all over the place, I was depressed, I was avoiding things.’ 

According to the Coventry native, everyone assumed he was having an amazing time after the ITV show but he was constantly being checked on by a crisis team.

Asperger syndrome (AS) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.

It affects up to 700,000 people in the UK, and people with AS see, hear and feel the world differently to other people.

They may feel easily overwhelmed and anxious, and taking part in everyday life and relating to other people can also be challenging. 

Unlike autism, AS patients are typically less affected by learning difficulties and speech problems. 

Honest: Late last year, the social media star confessed he was prescribed heavy medication after he lost touch of reality and began hallucinating

Honest: Late last year, the social media star confessed he was prescribed heavy medication after he lost touch of reality and began hallucinating