ALY - Short Documentary from Northern Stars on Vimeo.

Anxious minds was set up and is run by volunteers, who themselves could not get support when it was needed, no one should suffer alone or be on somebody's waiting list.

100% of funds raised goes on services to support people with anxiety and depression, that is the Anxious mind guarantee.

My  story

After leaving the Armed Forces, I was diagnosed with clinical Depression, chronic Anxiety and PTSD. I found myself on a waiting list for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and was offered mind-altering medication to help me until my name came up.

This was not acceptable to me, but I had little choice; there were few other options available at the time. So I waited, and weeks turned into months. All the time, I was getting worse, and I had heard nothing back from the NHS. After almost a year, I got a place with a mental health nurse from a mental health charity that supported Veterans. I would see him once every two weeks for an hour, and he would tell me all about the anxiety cycle. If I was having a good day, I would attend, and if not, I just wouldn’t make it to the treatment.

After six months, I gave up because I felt it was simply not enough support for me to recover. My Panic attacks were getting more frequent, and I could barely function as a person. I found myself doing what is typical of anxiety and depression sufferers; isolating myself by withdrawing, and locking myself away. Life was one big battle, and one that I was losing.

I ended up contacting all of the other charities that supported veterans and begged for support, but nobody could help me. They would just refer me back to the NHS, who’s waiting list I was already on. One other veteran charity gave me a little money that they got from my regiment, so I could see a private mental health specialist and be treated for a couple more weeks until the money ran out.

Feeling lost and alone, I didn’t know what to do or where to turn. All of the support that is claimed to be provided to veterans had vanished, and I had tried everyone. By this time, almost 2 years of my life had passed and I was still no further forward in making a recovery. If anything, I was getting worse.

I founded Anxious minds and started educating myself about anxiety and the mind, and looked at self-help techniques. I started treating myself regularly, together with a nutritional diet and fitness program and  the daily support of other sufferers. Within weeks, my panic attacks had stopped, and I could leave the house and go to the shops again. Already I could feel my anxiety decreasing and my depression lifting.

A year on, I am still fighting, every day getting stronger and stronger. I am determined to beat anxiety and depression for good, and of that I am 100% sure. I have achieved so much in a short period of time, thanks to the support provided by Anxious minds, my life has changed for the better since I started fighting back.

I lost the first battle, by doing nothing when waiting for professional support, but I will win the war.

Together we can beat anxiety and depression   

Around 25% of the population experience some kind of mental health problem. Mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental health disorder in Britain.  Even then, it is still under-reported, under-diagnosed and under-treated.These figures do not include the millions of sufferers that are alone suffering in silence, often fearing being labelled if they speak out.

If unsupported and untreated, it can devastate and destroy lives. That’s why we have got to do something to prevent this from continuing.

It has been reported that suicide is now the biggest killer of young men under the age of 50 in Britain. The self-harm statistics for the UK show it to be one of the highest in Europe; 400 per 100,000 population.

Anxious Minds was started by sufferers of anxiety and depression because of the lack of good quality, free support available  on a daily basis that can be accessed by anybody at short notice. Anxiety and depression suffering is a waste of life. We believe nobody should suffer alone just because you can’t afford to  pay for treatment, or because you’re on somebody’s waiting list.

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