Howdy team, sharing my experience with living with mental health issues. Living with Anxiety and associated depression for some 40 years now. Been very, very good at hiding my illness to my own detriment, putting on a brave face and "coping" through various life challenges along the way. Ranging from avoiding social outings as a child, to working myself up to the extent of physical illness prior to sporting events, to not wanting to get out of bed and close off to the world, to going that flat out at work to please all and sundry around me that when works finished for the day I fall in a screaming heap and find it difficult to cope on the subsequent days. Has spanned such a long period of time that it has become the norm to deal with it on a daily basis, however, recent Australia wide changes and restructures by my employer have ramped up the anxiety and associated depression back up to 11/10 and find it hard to stop the " noise" at work and overflows into home life. Recently opened up to close friends and family including wife and young children about my struggles and also started my own little Home charity to fix and donate old bikes to kids to get them exercising in the hope to not have to go through what I do. Have finally also started seeing a psychiatrist to get some help with regards to controlling the all encompassing anxiety which has been more prevalent since work changes. What helps me, well, definitely my sport, Cycling, surfing and also my family, my wife and my two young kids. Just starting to challenge my thoughts and it will be a long road to practice techniques to live a happier/healthier mindful life. Thanks for listening. Cheers
