100 Voices: Nicola Hughes - On counselling and understanding your mental health: #NowWereTalking

I’ve had counselling. In extreme cases – when I broke up with my ex – I took tablets to calm me down. Or if I’m travelling I take some stuff to calm me down. But I don’t want to rely on these kind of things. I’d much rather deal with it myself and, only in extreme cases, maybe take things. But, yeah, it’s a weird one: everyone says you should talk about anxiety because you need to talk about it. For me, it almost brings on an anxiety attack. But people say you should do that, to realise you’re not going to die, you’re going to be okay. And just kind of talk yourself through it. Now when I get them, honestly, I say it to my parents: I’m so lucky to have them. Because they’re the first people I call. I’m like, ‘Dad, it’s happening. I need to be calmed down’.

100 Voices was published in the Hot Press Mental Health Special in conjunction with Lyons Tea and Pieta House as part of the Now We're Talking Campaign. For more please visit hotpress.com/now-were-talking/