Former Made In Chelsea star millie Mackintosh has revealed her decision to wean herself off her anxiety medication after she found it has been impacting her libido
Millie Mackintosh has revealed her decision to wean herself off of her anxiety medication.
The 36-year-old reality TV star – who has been married to Hugo Taylor since 2018 – revealed she no longer takes the medication, after “slowly tapering under the guidance of my psychiatrist” and admitted one of the main issues she had with the meds was their effect on her libido.
She wrote on Instagram: “I wanted to share a little mental health update as it’s been a while.. after 18 months of taking meds I’m now completely off my anxiety medication. It’s taken a few months of slowly tapering under the guidance of my psychiatrist.
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“It’s been a real mix of emotions – relief, fear, and everything in between. I’ve had withdrawal symptoms (brain zaps, dizziness, blurry vision, aches and pains), and emotionally it’s been a rollercoaster. There have been tears I couldn’t hold back, days of rage, and moments where I’ve questioned whether I am doing the right thing…
“One of the hardest parts for me while on meds was losing my libido completely. It left me feeling disconnected from myself and in my relationship, and was a big part of my decision to try life without them. I’m so grateful for the support they gave me when I needed it, but I’ve reached a place where I want to see who I am without meds.”
Millie admitted she has felt “wobbly” without the meds and insisted she hasn’t ruled out taking them again in the future.
She said: “The best way I can describe it is like having an injured leg and needing crutches. The crutches help you move through the world while you heal and do therapy, and over time you get stronger. Eventually, you don’t need them anymore but when you first take them away, you feel unsteady because you’d got used to relying on them. That’s exactly how it feels coming off medication. Right now, I feel a little wobbly, but also free.
“It hasn’t been easy, but I keep reminding myself that I can do hard things and that this phase will pass. I know meds are there as a useful tool in my mental health toolkit and if I need them again I would 100 per cent take them…
“I am not advising anyone to come off of their meds, I am pro meds I just don’t think anyone talks about how challenging it can feel to come off them. They saved me during a really hard time when I developed panic disorder and GAD. Please follow guidance from your doctor/psychiatrist.“
Millie was met with praise in the comments as one fan wrote: “Thank you for sharing” another added: “Thank you for being so open and honest!!! Xx”.
The reality star has consistently been candid about her mental health struggles and has admitted to suffering with anxiety throughout most of her life. Millie, who is mum to two daughters Sienna, four, Aurelia, three, admitted her anxiety worsened after having children, which prompted her to take medication.
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