For as long as I remember I would break out in sweat for no reason. Any time, for any reason. There was no pattern. And then one morning at work I thought I was having a heart attack. I asked my EA at the time to drive me to hospital. After spending the day in hospital for tests and wearing a monitor for a week I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I was told to take medication called Paxtine. That certainly moderated my ups and downs but left me feeling nothing. So, I quit them and have learnt to deal with it knowing that it never lasts long. And this “dealing with it” continues today and beyond. You’ll see me anxious sometimes if you haven’t already.

As a leader I am supposed to be cool, calm and collected. I am not supposed to show vulnerability or weakness. And this is just another one of the reasons I get anxious. But maybe, if I and we can be more open about mental health, we can together just accept that as human beings it’s OK to show weakness and vulnerability and that anxiety and depression can be normalised and supported. I’m in.