It’s been a few years since seeking professional help in that of a counsellor, Michael Cohen. I have always been surrounded by a network of close family and friends who understand how my mind and I work, for that I am eternally grateful 🙏🏼.

Michael felt that I was suffering from anxiety, depression and showed characteristics of someone feeling suicidal. I would be lying if I said I had never thought about the idea of suicide.

It was determined that I had been taking things personally in life, consciously and sub-consciously, which meant that in any given situation I could become extremely frustrated. My tonality would change and the words that followed to whoever was in front of me were needless. I do not condone any of these situations, however what people do not realise is, whatever the scenario, it happened to be the catalyst of all that had been building up inside of my head for some time. I would never express what was troubling me, probably due to the male stereotype of having to remain strong at all times, this led to unthinkable thoughts continuously circling in my mind. Imagine the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, for years they’ve been arguing from a distance, eventually they decide to confront each other and meet in the middle, my mind. My mind became a battlefield and a lot of the time, the devil always won.

With no previous medical conditions, I contracted a lifetime kidney disease known as “Henoch-Schonlein purpura,” involving inflammation of blood vessels in my kidneys and joints which has since led to Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis. My Mum believes this is due to the stress and strain I was going through mentally.

I feel since seeing Michael and speaking to someone who I felt wasn’t judging me, I have become a much better person to myself and those around me. Michael taught me to change the way my mind filtered its thought process and perception and to simply ask myself...

 “Is it really that serious...”

Like the famous abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass once said: 

“there is no progress with out struggle...”

There are people of all ages, backgrounds and classes who are unfortunately suffering worse than me, please support those in need and always check in on those around you, even if they seem to be doing well.

We were not born by accident, the odds of us being born are at least 1 in 400 trillion and you matter to the world and I ❤️🌍.

Keep smiling and keep striving.

Charles