Love Actually star Martine McCutcheon has opened up about her experience with a “crippling” symptom she’s dealing with from a widely-experienced health condition.
Posting to Instagram, McCutcheon, 46, revealed she’s been going through the motions of perimenopause, and anxiety that’s made her feel like she’s lost her mind.
“Perimenopause symptoms… Such fun!” she wrote. “I have the hot flushes, the insomnia, the brain fog and fatigue … The list goes on doesn’t it?!”
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQvDExsOOd/
The star went on to reveal that she was coping with the symptoms due to her previous struggles with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as ME/CFS.
ME/CFS is a condition with no cure and can leave sufferers juggling problems with sleep, thinking and concentrating, pain, and dizziness according to Health Direct Australia.
McCutcheon revealed she’s been struggling with ME/CFS since her 20s.
On perimenopause, the actress said she wanted to raise awareness of the “crippling anxiety” which is a common symptom many women experience.
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“[It’s a] kind of irrational anxiety that makes no sense whatsoever! You feel like you’ve lost your own damn mind!” she wrote.
“Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t seem to hear about this side of it as much. I wanted to share this, just in case any of you out there feel the same and feel scared or worried – You aren’t alone!” she added.
McCutcheon revealed she went through “a phase of not even feeling confident enough to drive” which was very unlike her, but is now feeling better.
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McCutcheon is married to her partner of almost 13 years, Jack McManus, who she wed in 2012. They share an eight-year-old son, Rafferty.
Now, plenty of her followers have shared their appreciation for her post.
Actress Selma Blair was one of the first to reach out, writing: “I had a tough one. A tough menopause for three years. Early. From chemo. And the fog was very really tough. Anything goes. It’s real and I’m sorry to anyone feeling alone and cranky and dizzy or whatever the case.”
“Itchy scalp & itchy skin at night are the worst things for me. Hardly any sleep last night. xxx,” one woman revealed.
One fan sent the star good wishes: “Sending you all the strength. It’s a crazy rollercoaster and thank you for sharing your experiences because it will help so many.”
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