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"Mindfulness has been a removal of the crippling feeling of dread and anxiety"

Energetic, passionate, positive, happy, excited and content. These are all words that I would use to describe myself today, but it hasn't always been this way. Eleven years ago depression entered my life and since then I have had three episodes that have taken me to the darkest days I have ever experienced. I spent three whole weeks lying in my bed awake, unable to do anything and too caught up in my own mind to care. When depression came it was as if life had stood still. I would go a whole week without washing my hair, I just threw on my clothes and I became reclusive â pushing everyone...

Jonty's Story: A GP's perspective on mindfulness

Jonty Heaversedge is a GP who appeared on the BBC's Street Doctor.

Wendy's Story

When I got diagnosed with postnatal depression , I had no motivation. My doctor didn't look at any alternatives (to medication ) â you went in there and it was like âhere you are (a prescription). I saw the Community Psychiatric Nurse for a while but there wasn't enough support â it was only an hour a week, and there were no crÃ¨che facilities. I felt like society had let me down. I changed doctors earlier this year, and they introduced me to EXCEL. It's a real positive for me because it's a discipline and it changes your lifestyle. It's given me a new lease of life. There's the social...

Bringing Back Nicola

My name is Nicola I am 49 years young and this is my story. I used to consider myself a strong, upfront person, who did not really care who I offended and was not very sympathetic to other people's problems. I thought those who suffered with anxiety or depression were lazy and should pull themselves together and get on with life as I always had. In the last 12 years I suffered domestic abuse, became a single parent, and suffered a very harrowing personal bereavement. I thought I was invincible and was a bit wild and reckless in my personal life as I did not care very much about myself...

Melissa's story: Finding a treatment that works

I am 35 and struggled with severe depression for most of my twenties. I tried so many types of treatments including dozens of drug trials, various therapies, even ECT . I attended day programs and lived in residential treatment and group homes, often needing intense care.The pain was so severe I was hospitalised 20 different times for suicidality and self harm . Much of the time I was completely without hope. Though I have limited memory of the worst years, I know that it was like slogging through mud. Every movement, every step took so much effort. Being alive was exhausting. But I had...

Barry's story: Tourette's and true love

Barry has Tourette's syndrome, which causes him a lot of stress and tension.

Rebecca's Story: Living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder "I am now living with a mental illness. That is so hard to write and it conjures up horrendous false images portrayed by the media. That's not true, people with a mental illness are unique and have so much value. It can strike anyone at anytime so why is it so shameful to admit to anyone that you have a mental illness? No one would think twice admitting they've broken a leg would they? Â I find it hard to value myself but I am trying so hard. I have chronic post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of being stalked by an ex-work colleague. I was...

Paul's story: "I'd recommend exercise to anyone suffering with mental health problems"

I have suffered with depression and anxiety since 1997 and have been on medication, had counselling and taken CBT courses but by far the best method of controlling my conditions has been exercise.Â In 2010, I lost my father due to cancer, had redundancy from a job that I loved doing and more recently went through a horrible divorce.Â Needless to say I was probably at my worst I had ever been and started to consider giving up on life.Â With the help and support of my family and GP, I started exercising and really enjoyed Zumba. I was the only male participant in the class and started to gain...

Robin's Story: Running the London Marathon in memory of my mum

I chose to run for the Mental Health Foundation because this year marks 10 years since the death of my mum, Dawn Owen. My mum experienced various mental health issues, specifically a combination of severe anxiety , obsessive compulsion & depression . On a few occasions she experienced the more extreme aspects of mental ill health such as psychosis & borderline schizophrenia . At the age of 50, she died of a sudden and completely unexpected heart attack. A decade later I decided to do something special to pay tribute to my mum. Although a keen footballer, I am not an avid runner...