The 20-year-old described her time on the ITV2 programme as a "rollercoaster" of emotions and claimed that she could understand why the likes of Amy Childs and Mark Wright have decided to exit.
© ITV
"The show makes you feel up and down all the time and I can see why people might want to leave," she told the Daily Star. "I've had points where I've thought I couldn't do it anymore.
"But you step back and you evaluate it and look at all the positives we've got out of it. There are a lot of negatives and a lot of positives and you just have to weigh it up. I've had more of a rollercoaster ride than a lot of people on the show and there are times when I've thought I couldn't do it - every series nearly. But then you realise you're lucky to have everything you get from it."
Mecklenburgh added that although she expects to leave TOWIE at some stage, for now she is looking forward to getting back in front of the cameras.
"Eventually, one day, I will move on to something else but at the moment I'm happy where I am," she said. "The show gets better every series and the viewing figures are going up. The best thing for me is to stay where I am.
"I don't think we'll have a long break before series four. Normally we have three or four months but I've been told it won't be as long this time. I think that keeps us more real. I think that's a nice thing."
© PA Images
Mecklenburgh's boyfriend Mario Falcone claimed earlier this week that The Only Way Is Essex is 80% real.
The couple have been working on rebuilding their relationship following the uncovering of Mecklenburgh's affair with Wright.
> 'Only Way Is Essex' Sam Faiers, Kirk Norcross, Harry Derbidge axed?
