MALE PRIDE

I must have started and deleted this blog about 20 times now trying to put what I feel into words so I am just gonna do what I do best and say it as it is.

I have suffered with depression and anxiety for many years now. I'm not sure when it started, maybe I have always had it but it has been masked by other factors.  One thing for sure - It got worse as I have got older, when stress levels are raised by having more responsibilities. You may be asking what's the point in me shouting out? It's because for years I have been hiding behind bravado because of the stigma that is Mental Illness. The MALE PRIDE trying not to show weakness as a man, be the man of the house that is expected of a father or husband. I want to let other people know that it is okay to be depressed and to talk about it to lighten the load.  It's not just a matter of cheering up. The phrase  "You just need to cheer up" still rings around my head after it took weeks for the wife to convince me I needed to see a doctor and for me to sit there and dig deep pushing the male pride aside and relay the feelings I have had, still have and the dark moments; for him to take a deep breath look me in the eyes and say " you just need to cheer up " hit me like a bull hits a red flag. 

Its been a fair few years since that doctor and now I can feel the feelings and counteract them with positive stuff. Exercise and pushing my mind and body in different challenges is my way. There are 2 reasons for this.  1 being that the body releases the natural chemical endorphins when you exercise which gives you a buzz of importance and happiness.   The 2nd would be the commitment of a challenge and raising money for a charity keeps me focused and if you can get a world record like we did in 2011 even better.

When I have a low day the best way for me to destress is to get on my bike. Only a cyclist knows how a dog feels with its head out of a moving car. The wind in your face, endorphins rushing around your body creating positive thoughts, the wonderful view of the countryside on a summers morning and the coffee and lump of cake you will inhale half way through your cycle is a great feeling.

From the forthcoming blogs if I could make somebody feel that they can have a chat to their friends or pull themselves away from the 10 stone duvet that gets heavier and heavier as the days all roll into one, go for a walk around the block and do something active I will be a happy man. Next year is no different from the previous as we have a challenge set. We will be aiming to cycle from John O'Groats to Lands End in 4 days. That will be an average of 220 miles a day...so a lot time will be spent on the bike from now until Easter. This time round we will be raising money for the charity Mind and trying to promote Time to Change, who Mind also support to try and get rid of this stigma.

We need to get the stigma of mental health well and truly kicked into touch.