Melanie Sykes has announced that she will publish a comprehensive book discussing the challenges she has faced since being diagnosed with autism at the age of 51.
Sharing her diagnosis in 2021, the 52-year-old presenter said learning to “understand her neurodivergent mind and sensitivities” has been a “tough journey” but hopes she can help others by helping writes about it.
Melanie also told The Mirror that her book will cover “fame, motherhood, self-healing and trauma” and come back from a “major meltdown” following her autism diagnosis.
She said: “Getting a late diagnosis and getting to know and understand my neurodivergent mind and sensitivities actually unlocked my happiness, but it was an arduous journey.
“Writing this book sometimes felt like doing open-heart surgery on myself, but I knew how necessary it was. I can now take it out into the world without apology and confidently because it is worth sharing all the wisdom that my life has given me.
Open: Melanie Sykes has announced that she will be publishing a comprehensive book in which she discusses the challenges she has faced since being diagnosed with autism at the age of 51
Mel added that “Her story is one of honesty, resilience and growth in the face of challenges. It’s alternately badass and upbeat, full of surprises, hope and calls to action.’
She also said she’d wanted to write a book for a while and her diagnosis “brightened my whole life but took time to decipher.”
The former Today with Des and Mel host was diagnosed with autism in 2021 because her 18-year-old son Valentino has the same developmental disorder.
Melanie has previously spoken openly about autism and was featured on John Bishop’s podcast Three Little Words in April.
During the podcast, Melanie said she doesn’t see autism as a “disorder” and shared how it “made complete sense” when she was diagnosed.
She began: “My youngest son has autism and I have been diagnosed too. I now had to look at what it all means and it makes perfect and utter sense.”
Comedian John then asked her if she had been diagnosed as a child, if she had felt limited in what she could do with her life to forge a career in showbiz.
“There’s no place for autistic people in this world,” Melanie said when she told John there was no “ideal” job that would fit someone on the spectrum.
Open: The presenter said her book will cover “fame, motherhood, self-healing and trauma” and is coming back from a “major meltdown” following her autism diagnosis
“That’s another thing I’m going to change,” she explained. “Because there aren’t any areas of life where it’s okay, people are still scratching their heads about people with autism and what that means.
“These people have so much to offer the world, I don’t see it as a mess at all. It’s just different wiring from you,” the star added.
In September, Melanie spoke candidly about how she was recovering from a “huge meltdown” and was more open about her struggles after realizing the world can feel “pretty brutal.”
Open: The former Today with Des and Mel presenter was diagnosed with autism in 2021 as her 18-year-old son Valentino has the same developmental disorder
She also detailed her struggle with getting a prescription for medicinal cannabis to help – and admitted it was “a long time coming” after seeking advice from several GPs.
Speaking candidly to her 303,000 Instagram followers, Melanie shared, “I wanted to come and talk to you guys about my week this week.
“Finally something incredible happened, I tried to get a prescription for medicinal cannabis and I was finally able to get an appointment with a couple of GPs who agreed that medicinal cannabis would help unmask my autism.
“The more I unmask and start shedding my thick skin and being open with other people, the more sensitive I’ve become than I already am.
“So I experienced a lot of fear. Some of you will know that I’m just about to come back from a major meltdown, so I’m thrilled. It’s going to be a huge experiment and hopefully it works for me, so we’ll see.’
Open: On John Bishop’s Three Little Words podcast in April, Melanie said she doesn’t see autism as a ‘disorder’ and shared how it made ‘perfect sense’ when she was diagnosed
The TV personality went on to explain that she has been taking store-bought CBD oil for a number of years and always carries an “SOS Kit” of CBD products with her.
Regarding her struggle with agoraphobia, which is the fear of entering open or crowded places, leaving home or being in places from which it is difficult to escape, Melanie shared that the SOS kit helps.
“I have been taking CBD oil for years, it has really helped and there are so many on the market. I’ve tried a few of these and I use one called “Canamis”.
“When I got agoraphobia I made an SOS kit with a paper bag, tissues and my prayer beads so I could do a meditation and some cannabis products.
“I need to take CBD oil in conjunction with my new prescription so I have the oil and also a CBD stress ball.
“I’ll keep you posted on how my recipe is doing and how I’m doing – it’s really a whole new world, hopefully for me, to be able to function in the world that’s really opening up for me.” feels pretty brutal. Oh my god it took a long time,” Melanie concluded.
Insight: She also detailed her struggle with getting a prescription for medicinal cannabis to help – and admitted it was “a long time coming” after seeking advice from several GPs