Frankie Bridge Opens Up About Her Ongoing Battle with Depression
Frankie Bridge, the star of Loose Women, has bravely shared her struggles with depression in a candid social media post, expressing her frustration with the disorder that she feels is “kicking my a–e.” The 36-year-old, who has been open about her mental health challenges in the past, revealed that a recent bout of illness had left her feeling physically drained and emotionally low.
In her latest Instagram Stories update, Frankie recounted her struggle to stay motivated, despite feeling better physically. She admitted that it took her an entire day to muster the energy to work out in her family’s home gym. Speaking directly to her followers, she said, “I have finally made it down to the gym. It’s taken me the whole day to actually get here.” She continued, “My depression is absolutely kicking my ae, and I’m so over it. 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.”
Frankie expressed her concerns that those around her might also be tired of her struggles, saying, “I just think everyone around me must just be so bored of it as well, and I just I’m over it.” However, she added a note of determination, stating, “But I’m here. 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 st, which is what I’ve been doing all day, which only makes me feel worse.”
Fortunately, her time at the gym appeared to have a positive effect. Frankie later shared how a workout combined with music from Paramore helped lift her spirits. “There is not much that a little bit of Paramore and a workout can’t fix,” she noted. “I definitely feel a lot better, and if I hadn’t have come in, I’d have just berated myself even more. But I had the whole day that I was able to come to the gym, and I just didn’t, I just sat around and just wallowed in self-pity.” She concluded with a reminder that it’s okay to have bad days, hoping for a brighter tomorrow.
Frankie’s Journey with Mental Health
Frankie Bridge has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, touching many hearts when she shared her journey during her time in the I’m A Celebrity jungle in 2021. She revealed that she was hospitalized for a breakdown at the age of 21. Reflecting on her recovery, she spoke about her husband, former footballer Wayne Bridge, and how their relationship played a crucial role in her understanding of her mental health. “Because I was with Wayne, I still remember being in the shower and thinking, I love him. We’d spoken about marriage and kids and stuff; we had a beautiful home, I had a career I’d always wanted, but I just knew I was fundamentally unhappy,” she shared. “It was almost being happy made me realize I was unhappy, which is probably really hard for people to understand.”
Understanding Depression: Signs and Support
Depression can manifest in various ways, often leaving individuals feeling helpless and overwhelmed. While everyone experiences low moods occasionally, depression is persistent and can significantly impact daily life. Mind, a mental health charity, identifies common signs of depression:
Feelings You May Experience:
- Feeling down, upset, or tearful
- Restlessness, agitation, or irritability
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or self-doubt
- A sense of emptiness or numbness
- Isolation and difficulty relating to others
- Loss of pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
- Anger or frustration over minor issues
- A sense of unreality
- Low self-confidence or self-esteem
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair
- Chronic fatigue
Behavioral Changes You May Notice:
- Avoiding social events and activities you typically enjoy
- Engaging in self-harm or having suicidal thoughts
- Difficulty in speaking, thinking clearly, or making decisions
- Decreased interest in sexual activity
- Challenges with memory or concentration
- Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, or other substances
- Disruptions in sleep patterns
- Changes in appetite and weight
- Physical pains with no clear medical cause
- Exhibiting either extreme slowness or restlessness
If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to seek help. Visiting your GP is a crucial first step. Numerous organizations provide support for mental health challenges:
- Samaritans: www.samaritans.org, 116 123, [email protected]
- CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide): www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Shout: www.giveusashout.org/get-help/, text 85258 to start a conversation
For comprehensive information on mental health and where to seek help, visit Mind at www.mind.org. They offer resources and a helpline for those in need. YoungMinds also provides a confidential parents helpline for concerns regarding children or adolescents, reachable at 0808 802 5544. Rethink Mental Illness offers advice on various topics related to mental health; more information can be found at www.rethink.org.
Frankie Bridge’s transparency about her struggles with depression serves as an important reminder that no one is alone in their battles and that seeking help is a vital step towards recovery.
