A lot of people who suffer from anxiety experience guilt at the person they feel they have become, like they have failed themselves in some way. This guilt is usually brought on by a feeling that they can no longer do the things they used to, they may find themselves making excuses to go places or to visit people. I myself went through this until I told myself I had nothing to feel guilty about and I was going to waste no more self pity on myself.

It never ceases to amaze me how many different people from different professions can suffer with anxiety and yes I have even had doctors contact me for help. The main thing is to accept that for now you are not the person you once were and feel no guilt about it. Having an understanding partner is also a great help, someone who will not just tell you to “Pull yourself together” I had this support, I told my partner, ‘ you may not understand, but just believe me ‘.

Through my own suffering I felt at times I was playing a role in a film, acting to try to appear normal, other times just trying to hide how I felt. The pressure to keep up this pretence day in day was huge and truly exhausting. So if you see yourself in this way, learn to put yourself first. You cannot keep trying to be the person you once were. You need to stop putting on an act, admit that you are no longer the person you once were and tell yourself that you don’t have to keep this pretence up any longer.