NOTE: By now you’ll have probably heard that we’re not actually selling
bottled Chris Hughes’ tears infused with mineral water, because that is
ludicrous (L’Eau de Chris – get it?). But the message behind the
campaign is most certainly real – don’t bottle it up.
Mental health charity CALM
(campaign against living miserably) recently unveiled some shocking
statistics. In Britain suicide is the main cause of death for men under
45, with 75% of all suicides being male.
When you put this stat
alongside a new finding that says 84% of men keep their emotions to
themselves, it’s not very surprising.
We didn’t just use Chris for this shoot because he looks good in a
pair of boxers. On this year’s Love Island he opened up on camera in
front of millions of viewers about dealing with anxiety himself, showing
that behind a smiling façade the condition can affect anyone, anywhere,
at anytime.
Topman caught up with the new face of CALM to openly talk about his
battle with anxiety and how he first sought help, as well as how he
deals with it on a day-to-day basis.
When did you first recognize you suffered from anxiety?
“I remember it being on a Sunday because it was just such a chilled
day at home. But then I started struggling to breathe. Then it went on
every day for a couple of weeks. I thought…This is a bit odd. I went to
the doctors and it was quite easy to diagnose, but it then lasted months
and months. I eventually saw a hypnotherapist and after 3 or 4 sessions
with him it really helped me. I worked on turning my problems into
shapes and concentrating on my breathing, all kinds of things. It made
things a lot easier.”
How important is it to share how you’re feeling with friends and family?
“Massively important. Whether it’s friends, family, work colleagues
or anyone. With any troubles in life, like anxiety, you kind of keep it
to yourself. But it’s kind of like halving an issue straight away when
you share it with someone. And you never know who’s going through the
same thing as you, because people can suggest ways they dealt with it.
So you need to be open about it.”
Is anxiety something you’ve gotten rid of completely or manage?
“Manage. I got rid of it for a while, but it’s something that does
reoccur. For me it does play on my mind, I’ve always found ways to deal
with it when it comes. Just knowing that I have overcome it before and
you can be happy, when it does hit you again you know it’s something you
can solve.”
What advice would you give to someone suffering from anxiety?
“Speak to your family and friends. Don’t be afraid to speak up about
it, it’s such a common issue now. I don’t know if that’s because more
people are speaking about it now…but just share your feelings. The more
people that know about it, the more you can be yourself and not put on a
face wherever you go.”
Why do you think a lot of men bottle their emotions up?
“I think guys speak out less than girls do, they keep their emotions
locked up. Guys need to stop that and speak up more about depression,
anxiety and mental health. I personally think it’s never a weakness to
show emotion or cry.”
How important are charities like CALM in helping young guys with mental health worries?
“So important. It’s good to know there are people on hand at CALM who
help everyone go through their situations and give advice. They’re so
unique; they’ll give guidance and help to everyone. That automatically
makes your anxiety easier knowing someone is there for you to speak to.”
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