Fiona Phillips shares her story about the menopause. She said she felt like she would lose her job.

The TV presenter, 61, explained how it had left her ‘worrying for her sanity and wracked with anxiety’, as she struggles to do things she used to do with ease.

Fiona spoke out about her feelings in a recent interview.

Honest: Fiona Phillips has shared her experience with the menopause as she admitted she has been left fearing it would spell the end of her career (pictured 2017)

Honest: Fiona Phillips has shared her experience with the menopause as she admitted she has been left fearing it would spell the end of her career (pictured 2017)

“I have been afraid for my mental health and I am afraid to try things that I used to be able do with great ease over the years.” It’s called brain fog. I have no idea what half of the time.

Fiona was a GMTV presenter from 1997 to 2005. She said she fears her whole life and ran out of groceries after feeling overwhelmed. 

Her explanation? “God, it is horrible. I have not worked in my entire life. I cannot do TV work. I am so afraid and anxious of everything. I’m not this kind of person. Although I still have the intention to accomplish everything that I once did, my body and brain won’t allow me to.

Heyday: Fiona, who presented GMTV live between 1997 and 2005, said that she now fears for her 'whole life' and recently ran out of a supermarket after feeling overwhelmed

Heyday: Fiona, who presented GMTV live between 1997 and 2005, said that she now fears for her ‘whole life’ and recently ran out of a supermarket after feeling overwhelmed

“The fear overtakes.” It is my hope that this will not be the end for me.

Fiona described how stressed she felt worrying about her oldest son 21 years old when he returned from the Army on weekends.

She said that even though she was driving for 40+ years, she doesn’t drive anymore or she is forced to.

Strong: The TV presenter, 61, explained how it had left her 'worrying for her sanity and wracked with anxiety', as she struggles to do things she used to do with ease (pictured 2021)

Strong: The TV presenter, 61, explained how it had left her ‘worrying for her sanity and wracked with anxiety’, as she struggles to do things she used to do with ease (pictured 2021)

Fiona described how she reached menopause later than many and thought she had avoided some of those debilitating symptoms.

The TV personality joins a host of other celebrities including Davina McCall, 54, who have openly spoken about their experience with the menopause.

Fiona is married to This Morning producer Martin Frizell and they share two sons  Mackenzie, 18, and Nathanial, 21.

Fiona had previously confessed in 2017 to having underestimated how the menopause would affect her body, despite the fact that her mom went through similar experiences.

Marriage: Fiona is married to This Morning producer Martin Frizell and they share two sons Mackenzie, 18, and Nathanial, 21

Marriage: Fiona is married to This Morning producer Martin Frizell and they share two sons Mackenzie, 18, and Nathanial, 21

As she tried to balance her television presenting and motherhood duties, she felt overwhelmed by her depression.

Lorraine Kelly was told by the former GMTV host that her mental health issues were a constant struggle as she took care of her children, her parents and father who both had Alzheimer’s. 

Fiona shared with Lorraine that she felt she had to continue her job as a morning TV host and mother, while also taking care of Phillip and Amy. Amy died in 2006 and 2012 respectively from Alzheimer’s.

You have to do that, she told me. A different scenario would mean that I’d have two Alzheimer’s-suffering parents and wouldn’t have been able to pay the mortgage.

‘All the time my emotions were torn – I should be with my kids, I should be with my parents… you know what it’s like. It is essential to provide a home for your children and food.

Fiona said her mom suffered from depression when she was growing up and also confessed she didn’t know what the menopause would do to her body.

She said, “My poor mother, back when I was a child, used to lock herself up in the bedroom for days in darkness because she was just too depressed.” This can happen in families, too.

‘Things happen to you… and the menopause, that is a horrible thing! I remember my mum in a real state with her menopause and I just thought, ‘It can’t be that bad surely’ – and yes, it can.

“Anxiety in all manner of things that may not have been experienced before.” Suddenly you’re overwhelmed by things.’

Lorraine: Fiona previously admitted during an interview in 2017 that she underestimated the impact having the menopause would have on her body, despite her mum going through a similar ordeal

Lorraine: Fiona previously admitted during an interview in 2017 that she underestimated the impact having the menopause would have on her body, despite her mum going through a similar ordeal