Mark’s Story: Pushing my anxiety
06/08/2025
The Covid pandemic really affected my mental health and I had a breakdown. Before that, I had been studying for a PhD. After they found the right medication, I came out of the depression but then having to face things made my anxiety worse, which was crippling. It was really difficult for me to even get up, wash, shave and go out.
I joined the support sessions at Manchester Mind, attending once a week. They saw me when I was pretty bad and after seeing me improve, the volunteer coordinator asked me if I wanted to support the group as a volunteer. I found it useful as getting involved in things can help to get you out of the house and I could push my anxiety in a safe space.
When you’re depressed, things are overwhelming – like filling in forms. Whilst volunteering I had some advice support to reassure me about benefit forms I’d completed. It really helped and I felt that I also wanted to learn about being an advice volunteer.
The volunteer coordinator enabled me to access the Volunteer Advice Training and it was a really big step for me to attend. It was terrifying and anxiety producing entering new group, but absolutely great! It got easier as I learnt more about the benefits and other systems, which gave me a real sense of achievement.
In a limited time, the course covered all the backbone of what you need to know for advice work and it’s important to get that right. It was an intellectual and emotional journey. I did my placement at Manchester Mind. That’s my safe place.
After finishing the advice training I started volunteering at Manchester Mind in the support sessions, doing a 4-hour advice session once a week and a group session once a week.
It gave me the confidence to feel like I could handle pretty much anything when I take people into the advice room. I can figure out what they need and handle their anxiety but when I am unsure I have support from the supervisor in the next room.
It’s so much easier to do this for other people, I’m more motivated to achieve something than I would be for myself. Some people show gratitude and others don’t, that doesn’t matter to me. I’ve learnt a lot about people and how they handle things differently. I’ve been helped and now I help others and then that impacts their friends and family.
I stopped feeling like my anxiety was closing in on me and volunteering gave me the motivation to get out of bed, shower and look presentable. My family don’t live nearby and they feel less worried about me since I started volunteering. My life has changed a lot and my PhD isn’t that important to me any more, instead I want to find opportunities that are more fulfilling.
I recently took a big step with a new job in the voluntary sector. I’ve been offered a position as a Peer Support Worker. Going back to work has been a goal of mine for a long time so I’m thrilled and peer support feels right. It’s reciprocal, It’s real, It feels like the start of a new chapter.