Panic attacks: I felt like I wasn’t real

Milli had always wanted to live and work overseas. But when she finally made it over to London, she found herself unemployed and homesick. Struggling with the pressure to get a job and ‘live the dream’ she started experiencing panic attacks.  She had no idea what was happening. She thought she was…

Healing from trauma: The day I let people in

As a kid, Nicole was loud, bubbly and dancing. It was her dream to be a professional dancer. And one she worked towards every day.  When she was a teenager, Nicole went through a traumatic experience and dancing became her way to cope. To express herself. To help her manage these emotions she was …

Becoming friends with anxiety: It's not a shameful secret

Catriona Bisset is an Olympian and the fastest Australian woman to ever run the 800m. But for a decade, she left the sport she loved. Anxiety became a constant companion and centred on one thing she couldn’t outrun – her body.    Through therapy, she is learning to accept anxiety and depression as…

Depression at work: I wanted to hide it from everyone

For Geoff, mental health was something briefly touched on in medical school as something to be aware of in patients. Not himself. Doctors don't get sick. So when the stresses of work started to catch up with him, Geoff didn't know what to do. And it was a long time before he sought help.  Hear Geo…

Overcoming grief: How my community helped me

At 20, Sandi lost her brother to suicide. In 2018, her long-term marriage broke down, and she found herself living alone. Slowly, Sandi’s friendships began to deteriorate, and she was eventually hospitalised with major depression. Moving into a retirement village at a relatively early age, Sandi r…

Self-denial: I’m pretending to be someone I’m not

Growing up, Sean loved his life. He was surrounded by his brothers, and they spent all their time playing sport. He didn't want anything to ruin it. And being gay - well, he didn't know how that would go down.  Ignoring that part of himself led to the creation of Sean’s alter ego, Hank. Appearing …

Managing depression: My inner critic won’t leave me alone

Guilt and shame defined Jake’s life for over a decade. He couldn’t see past his own self-loathing.   When he asked for help, everything changed. And while talking was hard, it was nothing compared to the anguish and loneliness of silence.   This is a story about recovery and turning down the volu…

Anxiety vs depression: the unwinnable war in my head

Emily’s childhood was defined by pressure. Pressure to get the perfect grade, to fit in, to excel. Their impossible standards left them feeling like a failure. All the time.  This episode is about the constant battle between anxiety and depression and how recovery looks different for everyone.   …

Anxiety and my AFL career: What does help even look like?

Living out his dream in the AFL, Liam Stocker thought mental health wasn’t something he had to worry about.   His anxiety had other ideas. Panic attacks became a regular occurrence, although Liam always felt he had to hide them.  This latest episode of Not Alone is about accepting help, however s…

Social anxiety: I'm terrified of dating

From an early age, much of Amy’s life has been consumed by anxiety, especially in social situations.  Dating was especially difficult.  Nerves around dating are something almost everyone can relate to. But for Amy, it was overwhelming dread. And for many years, it stopped her from even trying to …