If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that we all need to be much kinder. Like everyone, celebrities are faced with the stresses and anxieties that life throws at them, alongside the struggles of being in the limelight –something which has been brought sharply into focus with those celebrities who have tragically taken their own lives.
There is a dark side to fame and there is a lot of negativity out there. Not many people in the public eye can take it. As we all know, some have found it too difficult to cope in the limelight. The showbiz world can be a dangerous industry, in terms of mental health. When I started on Made In Chelsea, I seemed happy and smiley, but I went through a lot and, behind the scenes, I was suffering with anxiety.
Fortunately, I discovered exercise in my mid-20s and that’s really kept me on track. Plus, I have a loving network of family and friends to support me. I think we’re all becoming more aware of the impact of trolling – I hope we can move towards a new way of looking at celebrity and mental health.
‘Working mums really are superwomen’
There have been days during the last few months where the weather has been cold and miserable and, with schools shut, many of us mums have been cooped up and also having to homeschool the kids as well as work.
So I wasn’t surprised to read that working mothers are feeling depressed and lonely after a year of lockdowns. A survey reports 59 per cent of them had experienced a deterioration in their mental health during the pandemic and had the expectation of being the “default parent” looking after the whole household.
I can totally understand that and it must have been especially difficult for those families who don’t have a garden and had nowhere to take the kids. So many women I know have had to work, homeschool and do household chores. It’s so much to juggle – and some mums have had minimal family support, due to restrictions.
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I’ve had days when I’ve woken up and felt anxious, but I don’t work nine-to-five and I fit it in around my two-year-old daughter, India [Binky runs app and lifestyle website Mama Being]. I feel so grateful to have a garden and to have my fiancé Max [Darnton], as well as India’s dad Josh [Patterson], to help.
I’m expecting my second baby in the summer, so on the days I’ve woken up feeling stressed, it’s usually been after a bad night’s sleep with my hormones and the bump.
Us women are amazing and working mums really are superwomen – we juggle a lot of plates. For mums who have felt stressed, remember that self care is so important.
I’d encourage you to take time out whenever possible; 20 minutes to do some exercise and get the endorphins going, put on some music or have a hot bath. If it means plonking the kids in front of the TV for half an hour, I say do it!