LOOSE Women star Frankie Bridge has given fans an update 24 hours after admitting her depression was “kicking my a**e”.
The presenter and singer, 36, has struggled with her mental health over the years going through breakdowns and hospitalisation which she documented in the book, Open.
Over the weekend she explained how she was struggling and felt bored of the constant fight with her mind.
However, yesterday the sun was shining and she managed to do two workouts in the gym, all of which helped boost her mood significantly.
“What a difference a day makes,” she said in a video shared online.
“Literally yesterday I was questioning the point of life and why I keep striving to feel better without anxiety and depression and wondering what everyone else's life would be like if I didn't have it and thinking about people with brains that just work ‘normally' and they don't have this constant thing going on in their head.
“And then today, I feel great. I think the sun has definitely helped.”
While husband Wayne looked after their boys, Parker and Carter, Frankie swapped eating biscuits on the sofa for arm and leg sessions.
She added: “My point is, and this is to remind myself as well, you've just got to keep going. Each day is different and there's always a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Frankie had to dig deep to pull herself out of the dark place, revealing it took her an entire day to motivate herself to get to the gym.
“My depression is absolutely kicking my a**e, and I'm so over it,” she said. “You know when you just feel like you do all the things you're told you're meant to do, and then it just still always comes back?
“I'm just so bored of myself. It is so boring. You know when you just think everyone around me must just be so bored of it as well, and I just I'm over it.
“But I'm here,”; she added. “I'm going to try and do as much as I can in the gym, because I know it will make me feel better, instead of just sitting around, eating s**t, which is what I've been doing all day, which only makes me feel worse and I know that, so I don't know why I do it, but here we are back in the same old place.”;
Frankie has long used her platform to raise awareness of mental health issues and she left I'm A Celebrity viewers in tears in 2021 when she recalled her lowest moments.
The Saturdays singer was treated in a psychiatric hospital following a breakdown aged 21.
Though she emerged feeling better than when she went in, adapting to ‘normal' life took time and had myriad challenges.
The chaotic nature of life in a girl band wasn't helpful and she would find herself having panic attacks.
She credits her retired footballer husband for helping her over the years and previously told the BBC how he had had sessions with a doctor to learn more about her condition.
Sharing her words to him in the early days, she said: “All I need is for you to listen to me because it can't be fixed.
“Just be there, embrace it and let them know they're not alone.”
Depression... the signs to look for and what to do
Depression can manifest in many ways.
We all feel a bit low from time to time.
But depression is persistent and can make a person feel helpless and unable to see a way through.
They may also struggle to about daily life.
Mind says these are some common signs of depression that you may experience:
How you might feel
- Down, upset or tearful
- Restless, agitated or irritable
- Guilty, worthless and down on yourself
- Empty and numb
- Isolated and unable to relate to other people
- Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy
- Angry or frustrated over minor things
- A sense of unreality
- No self-confidence or self-esteem
- Hopeless and despairing
- Feeling tired all the time
How you might act
- Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy
- Self-harming or suicidal behaviour
- Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions
- Losing interest in sex
- Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
- Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual
- Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
- No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight
- Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause
- Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated
If you feel this way, visit your GP who can help you.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123, [email protected]
- CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Shout (for support of all mental health) www.giveusashout.org/get-help/, text 85258 to start a conversation
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email [email protected] or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
