Meet Laura

Derby, England, 37

OCD, ANXIETY

Hi, my name is Laura, and this is my mental health journey.

I think I have always lived with anxiety; my earliest memory is from when I was around nine years old. After watching Armageddon with my dad, I became convinced that an asteroid was going to hit Earth. At night, I would lie awake thinking alarms were signs that it was about to happen. Of course, it didn’t, and my mum bought me a dreamcatcher to help me sleep. Strangely, it worked for a while.

When I went to university at 18, things seemed to get worse. I moved far from home in Glasgow, and this became one of my biggest battles with OCD and anxiety.

I can’t pinpoint exactly when the symptoms began, but I became obsessed with fears that I had left the gas on or not locked the door properly. I had frequent panic attacks and sometimes ended up in hospital, convinced I was having a heart attack and going to die.

I wasn’t eating or sleeping, and I became so thin that my family grew very concerned. Panic often made me sick, which made eating even harder, and it became a vicious cycle.

This was over 20 years ago, when there was still a lot of stigma around mental health. People didn’t really talk about it, and getting help wasn’t seen as the norm. But I knew I needed support.

It had become so serious that, for me, I had 2 choices: ask for help or don’t continue.

Thankfully, I chose help. I went to my GP, started medication, and saw a university counsellor who supported me through that period.

My best advice is this: don’t worry about what other people think. Get the help you need.

I want others to know that you are not alone. Many people have been through similar experiences and have found the support they needed to move forward.

Mental health matters. You matter.

I’m very fortunate that my mental health is now well managed through medication and the support of family who understand my condition and know how to help me. On the rare days when I struggle, they give me the support and space I need.

Exercise has also played an important role in my mental health journey. When I exercise, I can switch off and focus simply on moving my body. For me, it has been powerful support for my health and wellbeing.

To anyone who feels alone, please know that you are not. We see you, we hear you, and your experience matters. Reach out to someone you trust, especially someone who has been through something similar and can help you through a difficult time.

Follow and connect with Laura @thewellbeingwarrior2