Frankie Bridge’s battle with depression has spanned over a decade, a struggle that reached a critical point in 2011 with a hospitalisation that shook her world. At the peak of her career with The Saturdays, a relentless wave of anxiety, stress, and panic attacks consumed her, leading to a devastating realization – a loss of hope, a feeling that life simply wasn’t worth living.
Recently, Frankie shared a deeply personal revelation: her experience with ketamine treatment. She described it not as a quick fix, but as a vital component in her ongoing journey toward mental wellness. “My mental health is always a work in process,” she explained, “and I’m always trying to find new ways of making it better.” Ketamine treatment, she discovered, offered a unique path forward.
Initially, the idea was terrifying. Having never taken any drug before, the prospect of relinquishing control felt profoundly unsettling. Frankie admitted to a natural inclination towards control, even disliking the feeling of being intoxicated. Yet, she persevered, recognizing that this treatment offered something no other had – lasting relief.
Her treatment has evolved, beginning with IV drips and transitioning to lozenge form, always conducted under the guidance of a therapist. These sessions aren’t simply about the medication itself; they’re about unlocking hidden truths. Ketamine, she explained, has a remarkable ability to surface suppressed emotions and unresolved issues, bringing them into the light for examination.
“It’s very good at bringing things up that maybe in the past you have pushed down or not acknowledged,” she shared. Often, these revelations are unexpected, revealing the depth of emotions she hadn’t realized were impacting her. But the benefits extend beyond emotional processing.
Frankie described a neurological impact, explaining how ketamine appears to rebuild pathways in the brain that have become blocked. “I have a wall in between my neuropathways,” she explained, “so they can’t meet and attach. With ketamine, it builds new ones around that wall.” This isn’t just a temporary effect; it’s a long-term restructuring of the brain, fostering lasting change.
While acknowledging the potential for challenges – the NHS notes that one in ten patients experience a very difficult experience – Frankie has found a positive trajectory. She’s currently refining her dosage, utilizing a course of IV treatments to establish a baseline, then transitioning to lozenges as needed.
However, a significant barrier to access remains: cost. Frankie openly expressed her frustration that this potentially life-changing treatment is inaccessible to many due to its expense. “It’s quite life-changing, but it’s not readily available and it’s really expensive,” she stated, lamenting the fact that it could benefit countless others.
The experience isn’t without its emotional weight. Frankie emphasized the importance of having someone present during treatments, acknowledging the disorienting and sometimes frightening nature of the experience. The feeling of detachment, coupled with a deep-seated fear of death, can be overwhelming. Having a grounding presence – a hand to hold – provides a vital sense of security.
Frankie’s journey began long before ketamine treatment. In 2021, during her time on “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here,” she bravely recounted a breakdown at age 21, leading to a period of rehab. She described a life where she could function outwardly, but was consumed by internal turmoil, a constant state of crying and a profound desire to escape.
Her 2020 book, *Open: Why Asking For Help Can Save Your Life*, detailed the transformative power of her hospital stay. It was within those walls that she found solace in shared experiences, realizing she wasn’t alone in her struggles. The freedom to be vulnerable, to shed the weight of pretense, was profoundly liberating.
