Kate Ferdinand has opened up about feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and highly emotional in the aftermath of the festive period.
The former Towie star, 34, told followers she has been struggling with what she described as an “emotional December hangover” after Christmas.
Sharing a candid update with her 1.4 million Instagram followers on Sunday, Ms Ferdinand admitted she has not felt like herself since the start of the new year.
“I’m not feeling myself, I don’t want to do my usual activities and I feel highly emotional,” she said.
Kate and Rio Ferdinand left their south-east London home for the United Arab Emirates last summer
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Ms Ferdinand, who relocated to Dubai with her husband, Rio Ferdinand, last August, explained her usual January motivation has been noticeably absent.
She later thanked fans for the outpouring of support she received following her honest post.
Posting a photo of herself walking in the sunshine with one of her young children, she wrote: “Thank you for all your messages. Turns out lots of us are in this together.”
The mother-of-two said the response made her realise how common post-Christmas exhaustion can be, despite social media often suggesting otherwise.
Kate Ferdinand worried fans with her candid admission
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“Life has a funny way of forcing us to slow down sometimes,” she reflected.
“I feel like I live my life in fast forward, so taking things slower is taking some adjustment.”
Ms Ferdinand went on to explain that December can place intense pressure on parents to create perfect experiences while balancing work and family demands.
She also spoke about the emotional strain of family gatherings over the festive period.
“We see family that we really miss and that feeling of missing them,” she said.
“And sometimes we have to see family we don’t really like and fit back into roles we had as children, which comes with an emotional hangover as well.”
The reality star also criticised expectations placed on people at the start of January.
“On January 1, we are expected to be a new woman, new me, ready to go,” she said.
“And actually sometimes it does take a bit of time and it’s not realistic.”
Ms Ferdinand admitted she has felt pressure to exercise and share workout content online, but said her body has been telling her to slow down.
“I went to do the workout and I haven’t got the energy,” she said.
“My body is coming to a halt, I’m so fatigued and I can’t get through it.”
Kate and Rio Ferdinand
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She reassured followers that struggling is normal, adding: “I’ve been very emotional and I think it’s okay to not be okay.”
Ms Ferdinand said she plans to dedicate January to rest rather than pushing herself, declining invitations and focusing on what brings her joy.
“It doesn’t have to be the reset month,” she told fans.
“Anyone like me, I’m sending you lots of love and I hope you are ok.”
Fans and friends of the reality star were quick to share messages of support and concern on social media.
Under Ms Ferdinand’s post, one follower wrote: “I follow you because you are yourself, so please keep being you.”
“I’m not sure of your age, but it could be perimenopause,” another suggested, while a third added: “I wish I could come and cuddle you.”
Fellow reality TV star and I’m A Celebrity contestant Ferne McCann commented: “I feel EXACTLY the same. Big hugs.”
Meanwhile, podcast host and celebrity psychotherapist Helen Marie also shared her support, writing: “Sending you love Kate, and thank you for being so vulnerable. That takes such courage, but it matters deeply. People need more than ever to know that they’re not alone. I hope you’re ok.”
Singer-songwriter Red added: “I go on holiday without fail every January to run away from this.”
Ms Ferdinand and her husband Mr Ferdinand, 46, left their south-east London home for the United Arab Emirates last summer, settling in the exclusive Al Barari gated community in a property reportedly worth around £6.5million.
Ms and Mr Ferdinand share children Cree, four, and Shae, two.
Ms Ferdinand is also stepmother to Mr Ferdinand’s three children from his marriage to the late Ms Rebecca Ellison, who died in 2015: Lorenz, 19, Tate, 17, and Tia, 14.
The blended family returned to London over Christmas to spend time with relatives before heading back to Dubai.
During her festive visit, Ms Ferdinand stayed at the Park Plaza hotel and admitted she felt “like a tourist” in the city she once called home.