This blog is part 3 of a 4 part blog series by York Ending Stigma Champion Bremner where he is sharing his experiences of anxiety and depression.
“I have dealt with my anxiety and depression positively, however, still get episodes of feeling low.”
In this chapter, I will talk about life at the end of 2021 and 2022 and how I have dealt with my anxiety and depression positively, however, still get episodes of feeling low. We left off previously when I just started university. I didn’t have any friends at university as I didn’t live in a university accommodation or go out drinking or partying. I had friends that I would talk to online, but it wasn’t quite the same as face-to-face contact. Also, I had just started a new job in fast food. For me, it was some of the worst experiences I have ever dealt with being bullied and taken advantage of which made me very anxious. I was genuinely afraid to go to work. This carried on for about 6 months then I met this girl on a dating website, we would just start out talking and we met a few times which was nice as I actually could communicate with someone face to face, which did lift my moods at times.
“I was dealing with my anxiety and depression quite well and ultimately saw a change in my life.”
In May 2022, my first year of university came to an end and I was feeling okay. My friends were back from their universities so I could see them more and life was good. By then I was dealing with my anxiety and depression quite well and ultimately saw a change in my life. Keeping myself occupied by going to the gym, playing football and going for runs a few times a week helped a lot. Then a month later I was playing 5 aside with my friends and silly me decided to go in goal with no gloves on and then the next thing I knew, I broke my wrist. Due to me breaking my wrist, I couldn’t drive or go to work. This affected me mentally as I couldn’t see the girl I was talking to, also I just lost some independence, and I just couldn’t do the things I enjoyed. The only positive was that I didn’t have to go to work, however, that meant I didn’t earn any money. So, my life was at a standstill for at least 2 months. In those 2 months, my main ways of coping were talking to my friends online and just going for a walk with the dog. Luckily I finished my first year of university, or I would miss out on a lot of work due to me having to travel. 2 months passed and I finally got my cast off. Therefore, I could go back to work and drive. However, working at fast food would only last another 2 weeks before I couldn’t handle it anymore. It made me realise I couldn’t handle the pressure that came with the job and it made me scared to go to work. In the final part, I will talk about my new job and how I am coping in the present day.
“Keeping myself occupied by going to the gym, playing football and going for runs a few times a week helped a lot.”
Resources for England
- Anxiety UK – anxietyuk.org.uk
- Mind – Depression
- NHS – Depression in adults
York Ending Stigma
To 
find out more about our work and to join us to end mental health stigma in York, please refer to our website https://yorkcvs.org.uk/york-ending-stigma/ or email us on yes@yorkCVS.org.uk