Enter Shikari‘s Rou Reynolds has shared his battle with general anxiety disorder in a series of tweets.
The frontman revealed that he also suffered from insomnia, exhaustion and had a severe panic attack during a difficult period last year, during which he described himself as “surviving on adrenaline”.
“Strange to think, this time last year, I’d only slept 6 hours this week! I was halfway through 12weeks of insomnia & gen. anxiety disorder,” Reynolds began on Twitter on Sunday (July 3). “After suffering from exhaustion I had the nastiest panic attack of my life & was hospitalised forcing us to cancel our Download warm up show.”
“At its worst, some mornings after failing to sleep at all once more, I’d get up feeling utterly distraught & just burst into tears,” Reynolds added in a later tweet.
He explained that he had decided to share his story as “a reminder [that] we’re ALL just humans. Vulnerable humans. Tired, frightened, vulnerable humans”.
Reynolds ended his series of tweets on mental illness by pointing out that “the NHS is terminally underfunded and the mental health sections often get the worst brunt of the cuts”.
“A wise Psychology of the future will be practiced like dentistry. Checkups every year for all (but for free, I hope) even if no ‘problems’,” he advised.
Read all of Reynolds’ tweets below. Further information about General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is available on the NHS website.
Strange to think, this time last year, I'd only slept 6 hours this week!
I was halfway through 12weeks of insomnia & gen. anxiety disorder— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
After suffering from exhaustion I had the nastiest panic attack of my life & was hospitalised forcing us to cancel our Download warm up show
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
And the months that followed became some of the most strange & difficult of my life.
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
I don't remember Download festival at all. I was a shell of a man surviving on adrenaline. Even had vitamin shots to the arse ? (no joke)
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
I've never felt further from the little cockpit of one's mind. Felt detached, inept, scared.
Take away sleep & mental health crumbles— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
At its worst, some mornings after failing to sleep at all once more, I'd get up feeling utterly distraught & just burst into tears.
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
…BUT it's vital to battle the divisive nature of 'showbiz' culture (I.e. the STAR! & the fans…) in every way possible
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
I'm not saying any of this for sympathy btw. (I'm absolutely FINE now!)
Save it for someone who's struggling in your life ?.— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
Anyway, just incase any of that helps someone out there struggling now.
Big love all ?— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
BetaBlockers & other pills didn't help (+ I actually get anxiety taking medication anyway ?) CBT &mindfulness helped https://t.co/J86GzUBG4H
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
Yeh. Seems it's mainly for slowing heart rate. For me mindfulness achieved that and faster, after training https://t.co/bf94xSOSQ1
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
The NHS is terminally underfunded and the mental health sections often get the worst brunt of the cuts. #ThankYouToryAusterity
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
A wise Psychology of the future will be practiced like dentistry. Checkups every year for all (but for free, I hope) even if no 'problems'
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016