I am looking to raise money as I have have had anxiety and depression on and off for a few years but didn't get diagnosed till recently when it got much worse.

Earlier this year in a high pressurising job which I had done for the last 2 years I found that it was making my anxiety worse due to the every day demands along with personal issues that i had.It felt like there was no support there at all though it was just the anxiety that made me feel like that. Every day just got more difficult. I couldn't concentrate and focus on anything. It got to the point where I could not sleep  and the anxiety was waking me up in the middle of the night or very early in the morning.

I lost confidence and at times I felt like giving up. It got to the point where I felt paranoid as the anxiety was severe.I was staying in for days at a time as didn't want to deal with people and found making decisions difficult. I was constantly depressed and started to self harm, that was when I went to the doctors who signed me off sick and put me on medication. 

With a lot of support from some good friends I started to get better. I stopped drinking,smoking and changed my diet. I started my running, getting myself fit again and lost the weight I had put on. It wasn't easy and it took a few months  but I knew it was something I had to do and in the end i felt so much better. I have been running for some years as its my way of dealing with anxiety and stress. 

On 15th October I will be running for Anxiety UK in the Birmingham marathon which is my 1st one,i am so determined to do this and i know i have it in me to do it. Having to deal with  anxiety myself I feel this is a worthy cause. Please sponsor me if you can, anything is appreciated. I have shared this story to help create awareness and make people who have mental health issues realise that they are not on their own .

The more support I got the better I felt. I still have anxiety most days but it's not as bad now and things are more positive. I still find it difficult when with groups of people and in public places but I just deal with it as best as I can. Things are looking up now and I feel better in myself. I have got my fitness levels up from my running and lost nearly 2 stone More needs to be done for Mental Health in the workplace and in the community as it does get ignored. There is still a lot of stigma around mental health and it needs to change.