Millie Mackintosh shares how anxiety worsens symptoms of chronic health battle

14 August 2023 , 17:43

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At a glance, Millie Mackintosh’s Instagram feed is a visual feast of fashion, family and holidays – a picture-perfect life. But the ex-Made In Chelsea star, 34, says it’s the posts where she builds up the courage to talk about her struggle with irritable bowel syndrome and anxiety that evoke the most heartfelt reactions from her 1.4 million followers.

"The harder something is to talk about, the more I find there’s a massive response," says Millie. "They say hearing me talk about the issue has encouraged them to find other resources and support – and it helps as I’m connecting with other people going through the same thing."

While she admits she found it tough to talk about awkward issues, it’s something she wants everyone to feel comfortable with. "At first it felt quite shameful to talk about some of my IBS symptoms. I understand not wanting to talk about poo, how regular you are, what it looks like. It can be really embarrassing.

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Millie was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at 18 (Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

"But it’s such a good indication of what’s going on inside our bodies, we should pay attention to it. If you’ve got good gut health, it’s the core for everything else. It will help with your immunity, your skin, energy levels, it’s even linked to your mental health."

Millie first suffered IBS symptoms while travelling in her late teens. "I noticed pain and bloating, I’d have to leave social situations and always be complaining of a stomach ache," she recalls. "I didn’t know I had IBS and candida overgrowth in my gut, which was a result of taking back-to-back antibiotics for tonsillitis.

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"I was diagnosed when I was 18. It had got to the point where it was really disrupting my life. My mum took me to see a specialist and we discovered I was intolerant to gluten and dairy as a result of the gut being weakened. It was hard at 18 to be told you can’t eat gluten and dairy, and there weren’t the alternatives available then that there are now."

Since the diagnosis, Millie has found ways to manage symptoms. She uses diet, exercise and meditation, and began taking water-based probiotic Symprove, eventually becoming an ambassador for the brand. "I’ve been taking it for around 10 years and it’s really helped. I drink one shot 10 minutes before breakfast, so it’s very easy to fit into my routine."

But, having minimised IBS symptoms for most of her 20s, starting a family with husband Hugo Taylor, 37, created issues. "Pregnancy definitely changed my digestion,” says the Quality Street heiress, who is now mum to Sienna, three, and Aurelia, 20 months. "It became slower, I got more gassy. It’s unavoidable with the hormones, and your organs being moved around. Being pregnant the second time and suffering with nausea and insomnia when I already had a baby was hard."

Millie says pregnancy affected her IBS, making her 'more gassy' and that it's 'unavoidable with the hormones, and your organs being moved around' (Instagram)

Last summer, Millie revealed she’d started therapy and a low dose of medication to mitigate anxiety. "I was on medication for about six months. When I came off it, it felt like my anxiety had gone for a few months. I was like, 'Great, I’m fine!' Then more recently, it’s come back. It is hard after you’ve had kids."

However, Millie is positive she’s on the right path. "I try to notice where I feel the anxiety when it comes up. I’m using a technique where I put my hand wherever I feel it – sometimes it’s my chest, sometimes it’s my stomach – and try to connect, to self-soothe." Since coming off medication, Millie has focused on avoiding foods that don’t make her feel her best. "I make sure I’m not having too much caffeine and I’ve been alcohol-free for almost a year, which has really helped."

Having lived with IBS, Millie is keen to make sure her girls also eat well and have a healthy relationship with food. "I’m conscious about how we talk about food in front of them, it’s a conversation I had with Hugo quite early on. There are no good or bad foods, no shaming. It’s about foods that are going to make them feel strong, help them grow…

"Sienna’s been obsessed with wanting to grow really tall so we talk about that, about eating the rainbow. They can have cake at a party but if we’re baking together I try to include ingredients that aren’t going to spike their sugar. It’s hard enough for them to regulate with their ups and downs and moods without sugar crashes."

She and Hugo are also keen for Sienna and Aurelia to see Mum and Dad taking care of their bodies and minds, with both girls keen to join in yoga workouts. Sienna also sits quietly with Millie as she does her 10-minute morning meditation. Yoga, strength training and group classes have become an important part of Millie’s IBS and anxiety management. "Movement is medicine. Mentally and physically, you need to find what you enjoy. If you invest in your gut health and make edits to your lifestyle these will benefit every area of your life."

With two small children to look after, accepting that routine will sometimes fall by the wayside has been important. "The pillars of health are sleep, nutrition, supplements, exercise and mindfulness. Of course, it is hard to juggle it all and you can’t always fit it all in, but nutrition and sleep are the key for me." But most of all, she wants people to ask for help. "If you feel like there’s something going on, don’t be embarrassed to speak to a GP. Look at your poo to see if there are signs something is wrong. If you feel your GP isn’t giving the issue the attention it deserves, get a second opinion. Don’t be embarrassed to look after your health."

For help, visit http://symprove.com