Your stories

My name is Brez, I am 32 years old and I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and depression 13 years ago, after the death of my grandmother. Looking back now, I would actually say my anxiety was present from the age of about seven - I went through some pretty traumatic times for a youngster. But, the official diagnosis wasn’t until my adult years when the anxiety became...

Anxiety, GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder), emetophobia (fear of vomiting), depression, anorexia. These are just a few of the labels I have picked up in my 21 short years on this Earth. It’s usually great to get a diagnosis, then we know what we’re dealing with or how to make it better. But, with mental illness, it’s rarely straightforward! I’ve had these diagnoses for...

She is well educated, has a good job and was well brought up. She's living in a dream flat with her best friend, doing her dream job, with a great circle of friends. You wouldn’t think, then, she would spend two and a half years in and out of a psychiatric hospital. Or survive a suicide attempt. You wouldn’t think that, at 31, she’d have to move back home with her parents and...

My story starts when I made a change in careers. I bought myself a Ford Puma (which I loved) and, having accepted a new job, my confidence was at an all-time high! I’d had the car a week and was keen to drive it everywhere I could.  One sunny Saturday morning, I decided to go out for breakfast with my boyfriend (now my husband) and wanted to drive there. On route, along a dual...

I have three beautiful children, two of whom are autistic. Our journey with multiple autistic children has certainly had its challenges. And it’s only now, four years after diagnosis and six years after the first referral, that I am beginning to see a positive change in our family dynamics. Lola is eight and is diagnosed with autism, with a demand avoidant profile - we call it...

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been quite an anxious person. I tend to overthink scenarios and often get stressed over making the wrong decision. Whether it’s something important or simply just deciding what I want for dinner, the idea of making a bad choice has occasionally led me to make no choice at all. I am incredibly hard on myself when I do make a mistake, as...

It’s a common assumption that transgender people (regardless of how late in life they might decide to transition), know from an early age that they were “different” from their peers and recall instances in childhood where they expressed a gender identity contrasting their birth sex. Girls who cut their hair short, boys who preferred to wear dresses. Of course, gender identity...

Ever feel that you don't know where to turn next? Or you don't know what support is out there? Well, there is hope. There is the right help out there to help you move on with your life. And, when you find the right treatment and the right counsellor, you won't look back.I suffer from borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety and panic attacks, so my mental health needs are pretty...

Known for daring documentaries that tackle sex, body image and social taboos, Anna Richardson is brave, risky and strong. She is a TV presenter that pushes boundaries and sparks conversation (we’re looking at you, Naked Attraction). Off camera however, she has battled a series of mental health issues, from anxiety, to depression and agoraphobia. In this honest interview with Happiful, Anna...

I walked through life quite happy and confident, with only a few scenarios jogging my path questioning my mental ability to handle this world until I turned 14 years old. I had been around mental ill health since a young age. My auntie was my first introduction. A loving and gentle soul, all I knew was that she had to live in a large building surrounded by lots of people who were there to help...