Dame Kelly Holmes has shared a candid admission about her mental health as she revealed she's been suffering for several months.
The former Olympian has been open in recent years about her mental health and the struggles she faced while containing her sexuality for over three decades.
Kelly, 52, who has been appearing on Loose Women recently told her co-panellists that she's been struggling for "lots of reasons" and has been finding things difficult.
During Friday's episode of the ITV talk show, Dame Kelly shared how her mental struggles take a physical toll on her physical health.
In a candid admission, Kelly said: "I think there's a big correlation between mental well-being and physical wellbeing.
"I get it in cold sores."
She went on to add: "I've been really ill this year - everybody has this perception that I'm this Superwoman because of my sporting attributes but no.
"I've been really under pressure mentally for lots of reasons and it comes out in my body for sure.
"I've had the worst back problems, I was in hospital yesterday having steroid injections in my back."
The star continued: "Every illness that's come out - as soon as I get Covid, I'm ill, I've got this chest infection, I'm ill, cold sores, the lot.
"When people are stressed, by whatever means, it comes out in their physical being."
Following Kelly's brave admission, Loose Women anchor Kaye Adams commented: "It must be hard for you though being that you've had a lifetime of being perceived as Superwoman, and you probably had taken great pride in your health to a certain extent."
"It really affects me, it really affects my mental health," said Kelly, before going on to say: "Mental health isn't a buzzword, I've been talking about it since 2005."
Kelly said that sport had been her saviour when it came to keeping her well-being but she had been left unwell after being unable to keep active for three months.
She said: "My mental health has never been great since I had my first breakdown, and sport or fitness or being active is who I am, I haven't been able to do it for about three months, it really, really affects me.
"You sometimes have to help yourself, of course, we have to find ways to look after our health a bit more, take time off which I'm not good at.
"I'm really struggling, I have to say, I'm really, really struggling."
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
