The first time I experienced any form of mental health problems I was around 14 , after walking to a shop to pick up a takeaway with my older sister for the rest of the family, on the way home we were mugged which triggered my journey on that has turned out to be a long road to recovery. From this point onwards I suffered with mild anxiety,getting twitchy in big crowds, feeling nautious and sudden changes in mood and also the thoughts of not being able to breathe and swallow. This continues for a few years and until recently I thought the years that followed I was convinced I hadn't been suffering at all until my most recent journey along the road of anxiety and depression began, I was struggling to eat and drink, i don't leave the house for around a month, I refused to be alone, because the thought of being alone made me feel as if something terrible might happen, my irrational mind would just run wild , resulting in me ringing family members in the early hours of the morning and my chest what tighten ad I would struggle to breathe. As a 27 year old male, I have had 27 years of the media and people you meet almost conditioning you into feeling that being a "man " meant you had to be strong and not to cry or show emotions, it makes it hard and makes you feel embarrassed that you are unable to be what in many cases can be expected of you. Working in the building trade and trying to explain this to your boss is not easy, but I was honest and opened up about how I had felt and was feeling and although to start with it did not go down well , but with continued communication and updates, the situation calmed and he began to understand. I am now on medication morning and night which has helped me to sleep properly and I have regained my appetite and leaving the house by myself and doing the things I'd always liked to do, the medication doesn't just completely get rid of all the things I was suffering with, it has calmed them allowing me too control them and learn to deal with them. I have also taken up running which I have found helps me too control my breathing when my heart is racing and it helps to stop the feeling of cabin fever subside and helps release any excess energy the medication may cause. I feel now that no matter how you feel whether it's mild or a severe struggle with mental health , to talk to anyone that's asks or anyone you feel will understand is such a massive help and releases what feels like a massive pressure off of you , if people don't understand they're ignorant or simply are one of the lucky ones that has never experienced any mental health issues. Continue the journey together talking and sharing put feelings and we shall get to the other side stronger than ever . Lets keep talking