Melanie Sykes will detail her autism diagnosis in a tell-all book

Melanie Sykes has revealed that she will be publishing a telling book discussing the challenges she has faced since being diagnosed with autism at the age of 51.

The presenter, 52, shared her diagnosis in 2021 and said it’s been a “tough road” to “understand her neurodivergent mind and sensitivities” but hopes writing about it can help others.

Melanie told it too The mirror that her book is about “fame, motherhood, self-medication and trauma,” and that she’s coming back from a “massive meltdown” following her autism diagnosis.

She said, “Getting a late diagnosis and having to learn about and understand my neurodivergent mind and sensitivities has indeed unlocked my happiness, but it has been a rocky road.

“Writing this book felt like performing open-heart surgery on myself at times, but I knew how necessary it was. I can now unapologetically and confidently send it out into the world because sharing all the wisdom my life has given me makes it all worth it.

Mel added that ‘her story is one of honesty, resilience and growth in the face of challenges. Alternately loud and cheerful, it is full of surprise, hope and calls to action.’

She also said she had wanted to write a book for a while, and her diagnosis “shone light” all my life, but it took time to loosen up.”

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 disability.

Melanie has spoken openly about autism before, appearing on John Bishop’s podcast Three Little Words in April.

During the podcast, Melanie said she doesn’t see autism as a “disorder” and talked about how it “made perfect sense” when she was diagnosed.

She began: “My youngest son has autism and I have also been diagnosed with it. I’ve had to look at what it all means now, and it makes perfect sense.”

Comedian John then asked her if she had been diagnosed as a child, if she would have felt limited in what she could do in her life when it comes to forging a career in showbiz.

“There’s no room for autistic people in this world,” Melanie said, telling John that there was no “ideal” profession that would suit someone on the spectrum.

“This is another thing I’m going to change,” she explained. “Because there aren’t any segments of the population where it’s okay, people are still scratching their heads about autistic people and what it means.

“These people have so much to offer the world, I don’t see it as disorder at all. It’s just another wiring of yours,” the star added.

In September, Melanie opened up about recovering from a “massive slump” and being more raw about her struggles, noting that the world can feel “pretty brutal.”

She also described her battle with getting a medical cannabis prescription to help – admitting it was “a long time in coming” after seeking advice from multiple GPs.

Melanie talked openly to her 303,000 Instagram followers, sharing, “I wanted to talk to you about my week this week.

‘Something incredible finally happened, I tried to get a prescription for medical cannabis and finally got an appointment with some GPs who agreed that medical cannabis would help expose my autism.

“The more I unmask, get rid of my thick skin, and open up to other people, I’ve become even more sensitive than I already am.

“That’s why I experienced a lot of fear. Some of you will know that I was in the process of coming back from a huge slump, so I’m very happy. It’s going to be a huge experiment and hopefully it works for me, so let’s see.’

Moving on, the TV personality explained that she has been taking store-bought CBD oil for a number of years – always carrying an ‘SOS kit’ containing CBD products.

Melanie talked about her struggles with agoraphobia, the fear of entering open or crowded places, leaving the house or being in places where escape is difficult, and said that the SOS kit helps.

‘I’ve been taking CBD oil for years, it really helped and there are so many on the market. I’ve tried quite a few and I use one called ‘Canamis’.

‘When I got agoraphobic I made an SOS kit with a paper bag, tissues and my prayer beads so I can do a meditation and some cannabis products.

“I need to take CBD oil in conjunction with my new prescription, so have the oil and also a CBD stress ball.

“I’ll keep you posted on how my prescription is going and how I’m doing — it’s really a whole new world, hopefully for me, to be able to function in the world that feels really pretty brutal to me.” Oh my God, it’s been a long time,’ Melanie concluded.