Television personality and singer Frankie Bridge has delivered a raw and honest update on her health, disclosing a struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following what she describes as the 'sickest' year she's experienced in a long time.
A Candid Confession on YouTube
In a heartfelt vlog shared on Monday, the 36-year-old Loose Women panellist admitted her mood had been 'really low' as 2026 approached, plagued by a week of persistent nausea. She confessed to feeling the familiar creep of depression, driven by anxiety that her ongoing gut problems and mental health challenges would dominate another year.
'This is my worst time of the year, every year. I can feel the low mood and depression just creeping in,' a forlorn Frankie told viewers. Apologising for being 'a Debby Downer', she explained that despite nearly ten hours of sleep, she still felt exhausted and 'off'.
'I just don't feel like I have that New Year, new me vibe,' she said. 'I need that little kick up the butt. Today I've sat around feeling sorry for myself, my mood has been really low.'
The Root of the Anxiety: A Year of Poor Health
Frankie, a mother-of-two, pinpointed the source of her despondency to feelings akin to PTSD, directly linked to a difficult 2025. She revealed that nausea since Boxing Day had triggered significant anxiety.
'This time last year, for 2025, I was like, "It's going to be my healthiest year. I'm going to look after myself properly",' she recalled. 'I really did do all that, and then I was probably the sickest I've been for years for most of the year with my gut - like, loads of issues.'
She described a sense of dread as the new year began: 'I just had this, like, PTSD almost... I was like, "Oh my god, I'm going to go into this year and I'm going to be ill all year again".'
This follows a bout of poor health last May, when the former Saturdays star suffered two consecutive episodes of gastroenteritis – an inflammation of the stomach and intestines causing vomiting, diarrhoea, and cramps. At the time, she told her 1.5 million Instagram followers the illness had 'completely wiped her out' and left her gut 'really fragile'.
Long-Term Mental Health Battles and Treatment
Frankie has been transparent about her mental health journey for years, having first experienced depression in her late teens and choosing voluntary inpatient psychiatric care at age 21. She has previously stated she feels like a 'burden' on her husband, former footballer Wayne Bridge, and their two sons during low periods.
In her search for effective treatment, Frankie turned to ketamine therapy after being diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. She has hailed the controversial treatment as 'life-changing' and the 'only thing that really helps me long term'.
She explained the process helps rebuild neural pathways in the brain, offering long-term benefits beyond the immediate session. However, she expressed frustration that the therapy remains largely inaccessible and expensive for most people.
In her recent vlog, Frankie said she was trying to lift her spirits by re-establishing a healthy routine before her sons return to school. 'I just feel like I need some order back in my life. I'm not very good at not having a routine,' she shared.
Frankie Bridge's candid disclosure highlights the complex and often cyclical link between physical and mental health, offering a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by many, even in the public eye.
