100 Voices: John Boyne Shares his Mental Health Struggles: #NowWereTalking

I’ve been taking anti-depression medication on and off since 2000 and, during that time, the strength of the tablets has varied. In the last couple of years, it’s been quite high. For a few years before that, it was quite low. There were times I made the mistake of trying to wean myself off them, mistakenly thinking that I could cope without assistance, but I’ve come to realise that I have a basic serotonin deficiency and need to supplement it rather than try to live with a low level.

In my professional life, I’m driven, ambitious and disciplined; in my personal life, I’m emotionally weak, overly sensitive and prone to feeling great upset at what should be minor setbacks. Like most of us, I have scars that refuse to heal and some days the scar tissue is more inflamed than others. So I take my medication, I talk to my family and friends, and I share my stories while listening to others.

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/