My Kitchen Rules star Manu Feildel opens up about his experience in dealing with a private health struggle

Manu Feildel has candidly opened up about his private mental health struggle.

On Thursday morning, the My Kitchen Rules judge and celebrity chef bravely addressed his personal experience with stress and anxiety and the methods he uses to ease his symptoms.

In an Instagram post, the 50-year-old French-Australian restaurateur revealed he goes swimming in an ocean pool almost every morning as the sun rises.

‘I do not share too much of my private life on my social media the last couple of years but today I felt like sharing my experience,’ he began.

‘I believe that most of us suffer from some type of stress, anxiety or even some mental breakdowns at time and trust me, I am not any different. I believe I found my medicine.

‘Since the beginning of the year I’ve been swimming in the ocean pool nearly every mornings and it’s changed my life in many ways. It’s nothing spiritual but just simply revitalising. It clears my mind from any negativity and kick start my day in a great mood. It’s giving me more energy and more focus.’

‘Anyway I just thought if I can help someone finding a solution to their battles, try that,’ he suggested.

Manu was inundated with warm messages of encouragement from his friends in the comments.

‘This is a great post my man,’ Larry Emdur wrote.

‘Always the best start buddy,’ chef Matt Moran added.

‘Absolutely agree, I always feel great after a swim in the ocean,’ someone else commented.

Manu’s candid post comes after his new bistro opened its doors earlier this month and occupies the upper level of the almost two centuries old establishment which recently underwent a $1.5million renovation. 

Manu helms the restaurant with his decade-long friend Jamie Gannon, who is the group executive chief of the pub’s owner Laundy Hotels.

In an Instagram post shared on Thursday morning, the My Kitchen Rules judge and celebrity chef bravely addressed his personal experience with stress and anxiety and the methods he uses to ease his symptoms

Manu’s new bistro opened doors earlier this month and occupies the upper level of the almost two centuries old Red Lion Hotel in Sydney’s Rozelle

The menu features beloved recipes from his own family archives. 

Speaking to Time Out, Manu said he wanted to create a homely feel with the French Bistro.

‘I want guests at Bistro Red Lion by Manu to forget the outside world and feel as though they’re dining at my home, enjoying a good bottle of wine,’ he said.

Manu opened his first restaurant, Aperitif in Kings Cross, with Miguel Maestre in 2011, but it shut its doors after 12 months.

He went on to launch his own French bistro L’Etoile in Paddington, which stayed open for six years before his work on MKR forced him to close it down.

He then went into business with George Calombaris’ MAdE Establishment and launched Le Grand Cirque in South Yarra, Melbourne which only lasted four months.

In 2018, he closed the doors on his World Square restaurant Duck In Duck Out, which boasted an all-duck menu, after one year in operation.