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James Middleton candidly opens up about his battle with depression

The 31-year-old is the brother of Kate Middleton

James Middleton has revealed his battle with depression in a candid op-ed.

Writing for the Daily Mail, the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother admitted that he sought treatment over a year ago.

James wrote, “During the day I’d drag myself up and go to work, then just stare with glazed eyes at my computer screen, willing the hours to tick by so I could drive home again.”

“Debilitating inertia gripped me. I couldn’t respond to the simplest message so I didn’t open my emails. I couldn’t communicate, even with those I loved best: my family and close friends.”

 

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“I know I’m richly blessed and live a privileged life. But it did not make me immune to depression. It is tricky to describe the condition. It is not merely sadness. It is an illness, a cancer of the mind,” he explained.

After months of suffering, James finally came to terms with how he was feeling after taking a trip to a place he’s loved since he was a child.

“I’d finally confronted the fact that I couldn’t cope any longer, that I wasn’t all right; that I desperately needed help,” he said. “And this recognition led to a sort of calm: I knew if I accepted help there would be hope. It was a tiny spark of light in the darkness.”

James also explained why he didn’t seek help from his family at the time, “You may wonder why I didn’t confide in them, but those who are closest to you are the hardest to speak to. It was impossible to let my loved ones know about the torture in my mind.”

 

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In the op-ed, he also opened up about being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) last year, and being “severely dyslexic” as a child.

James also thanked his dogs for helping him throughout his recovery.

“I recognize, too, the role my dogs — Ella, Inca, Luna, Zulu and Mabel — have played in my recovery,” he wrote.

“Ella, particularly, has been my constant companion for ten years and she’s been with me to all my therapy sessions. In her own particular way, she has kept me going.”

 

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The Boomf founder said he wanted to speak out about his experience to help change the stigma associated with mental illness, and he also wanted to follow in the footsteps of his sister Kate and his brother-in-law Prince William – who have both been strong advocates for mental health.

“They believe we can only tackle the stigma associated with mental illness if we have the courage to change the national conversation, to expel its negative associations,” he said.

If you have been affected by anything in this article, please call 1800 247 247, or visit pieta.ie

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