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WHEN MY LEGS went from underneath me and my breath stopped coming, just minutes before we were due to go live on The Voice, I knew this was panic at its worst. Yet in the midst of the madness, something became clear. If I got through this, the secret I had guarded for years with all my life could not remain secret for much longer.
After experiencing a terrifying panic attack just before he was due to appear on live TV, Bressie knew he couldn’t hide the truth about his mental health issues any longer.
Later that night, Jeffrey was born.
In an interview with TheJournal.ie Bressie explains how humanising his depression or ‘black dog’ has helped him:
Video: Aoife Barry/Órla Ryan
When he was a teenager he went through a period where he suffered from daily panic attacks – one came on pretty much every time he lied down. As a result he suffered from insomnia and his hair started to fall out. He told no one what was going on.
At the age of 16 he intentionally broke his own arm.
Here, Bressie talks about why he did what he did and the “very misunderstood issue” that is self-harm. He also discusses his younger self’s fears about being sent to a mental institution.
Video: Aoife Barry/Órla Ryan
Bressie admits there is now, thankfully, less stigma around discussing mental health due to the work of several initiatives.
The 34-year-old previously played football with Westmeath and rugby with Leinster. He found musical fame as frontman of The Blizzards and a solo singer before working on The Voice.
On paper – like a lot of people – he had no ‘reason’ to feel depressed, but – like a lot of people – he did.
In his book, Me and My Mate Jeffrey, he speaks candidly about how his secret battle with his mental health eroded away relationships, such as those with his bandmates.
A lot of bridges have been mended since he opened up.
In the last couple of years, I’ve had so many friends coming to me going ‘Ah, now it makes sense’. And I’m like ‘No, I wasn’t just an ignorant bastard who kind of kept to himself and, as my mates would say, is wired differently’. My behaviour started making sense to a lot of people and no more so than the band.
The Blizzards went on hiatus in 2009, but are back in the recording studio working on new material.
Bressie has used a number of methods to help regain control over his anxiety and depression in recent years, including cognitive behavioural therapy, exercise and medication. He set up My 1,000 Hours to help people look after their mental health.
We’ll have more from our interview with Bressie over the weekend.
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Always found Bressie to a great proponent of lifting the stigma of mental health. Fair play to him.
The social stigma is felt by ordinary people living ordinary lives. Just as strong as ever on some level. I went into a pub with a friend just a year or 2 ago with a young woman. Not a million miles from the town Bressie comes from. The barman sat over beside us. He gave me a devious look and said “Your Bipolar, your on medication and the whole town knows about it!”
a) I had an adverse reaction to “anti-depressants” which cause my symptoms a few years back and no longer associate with the label “Bipolar”. Which should not be given to someone who is reacting to an SSRI.
b) I am off most of the “cover up” medication 4 years (which needs to be done under supervision of doctor due to withdrawal) ie the drugs prescribed to hide my drug reaction as opposed to been honest about it.
c) I don’t know the whole town.
I eventually complained to someone that now owns the place. He just said “Well, you can always drink somewhere else”. Nice ! In any other field that would be seen as discrimination. That is just one example.
Also we have the link to violence misrepresented in the media. People with mental health issues are generally no more violent than the rest of society. Unless psychoactive drugs or alcohol are involved. Or withdrawal from such drugs that is not managed and supported correctly.
“Mental disorders are neither necessary, nor sufficient causes of violence” ~ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525086/
Decent bloke,good on him for highlighting this and giving his time to it.
Was listening to him on the Last Word this evening. Respect!
I didn’t know much about him or have an opinion of him until I heard his interview on ‘Irish Man Abroad’.
It was incredible. I highly recommend listening to it. He’s really tackling mental health head on.
https://soundcloud.com/an-irishman-abroad/episode-39-niall-breslin-bressie
He’s tackling his own mental health head on. Each of us have our own journey.
In my experience, while it is good for people to tell their stories, when people hear it’s been dealt with in the media by celebrities or in soap story lines (which are usually way off the mark) then they assume it’s all fine now. The green ribbons are bought and the logos are on the T-shirts. But they forget to check on people in their own community that may be vulnerable or don’t give the necessary support to family members in recovery.
One of the biggest obstacles in my own recovery, other than the flawed biomedical model, was lack of SUPPORT and people giving me the silent treatment. That lack of support can inhibit and delay the healing process. Granted it seems to be swinging around at the moment. I don’t think that mainstream Psychiatry and their drugging regime fully comprehend the damage they can do to family relationships with their poor understanding of mental well being.
I am not biologically or genetically flawed. But their damaging approach has a lot to answer for. Psychopharmacology doesn’t have the answers. I’ve been down that road to no where and it was a long, painful road back. Psychotherapy, developing self- resilience, having Support around you etc does have the answers. People should be enabled and not disabled by the system.
He is so articulate about the issue of depression and a great role model for younger people struggling with this. Good for you Bressie, good for you.
If you aren’t a bit depressed at times, you are not normal.
But for those who suffer from troughs of deeper depression, my heart goes out to them.
It’s a horrible menace that you can see quite clearly when you are on top of it, but when you are on the bottom of it you don’t know if you’re on the way up or down.
The human condition is a cruel beast indeed.
More power to Niall Breslin is humanising this. Many others out there will know it is a very tough path of highs and lows.
Still something that very few people, especially blokes, feel they can talk about so fair play to him and others for lifting some of the stigma.
Jaysus i hate Bressie and had no idea this was an issue for him.
Hopefully, if this message can positively affect someone then i will forgive…every. other. single…thing he has done.
Still kinda funny he wrote a book though.
At least he’s not a Charlie….
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Charlie
Dinner/drink?
Bressie is a powerful advocate and is generating a much needed debate … mental health is more that the absence / presence of mental illness. We need more conversations about our emotional life and how to grow and thrive and have mental fitness
This speech last year is when I first heard him talk about his battle with depression and this is brilliant. https://youtu.be/-cu8WqQNPZk
Spoke with an Kilkenny hurling legend retired from the game for some time … He was very critical of how after his retirement that it was individuals in his club that had to step up to the mark to protect his & other mental well being not the greater organisation – he also pointed out that a lot has change since then – I think Bressie has opened a lot of doors for us.
while I commend Bessie for all he is doing but he’s not the only one that is doing this . there is a few others that do great work . let’s not forget them too . bressie is not the only one , what doors has bressie opened for us all ?
Young men more open than before to speaking about depression
when a celebrity opens up like bressie has it really gets people talking and it really raises awareness . other celebs have done the same too . credit goes to all of them , not just bressie . people on here are acting like bressie is the first .
It should not matter who speaks out, once it brings awareness to the subject of depression and people do take an interest in what well known people have to say whether we like it or not. So good on you Bressie.
every time I see him on TV I change channel such a boring sod if I ever seen one.
Denise, you are an antidote to depression yourself – I read your comments and say “well at least I’m not as perpetually miserable as Denise.”
WTF is a bressie?
A good musician.
Let’s not lose the run of ourselves, now.
Jenni. Name a good song of his, actually just name a song of his.
he did have a few great songs out , didn’t he ? I’m sure it was him .. oh wait …nah sorry can’t think of one !
Jake, shouldn’t you be smashing Lion Reds, and skulls, in the East Tamaki Tavern rather than reading Irish news?
We have internet in there now Bru.
true bro, true
As a person who has and still is going through the bastàrd crap of depression and extreme anxiety , I find him a bad “ambassador ” . Then again though , I think to much . I don’t mean that in a funny way , seriously . Hopefully he’s helping people .
Daily Meditation, mindfulness, walking in nature, minding yourself. Or whatever works. Watching caffeine and alcohol. Talk therapy. Learning to breath correctly.
Jon Kabat-Zinn – Sitting Meditation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGKe7b8NVWA
Dr Wayne Dyer is someone that was an inspiration to myself and many more. I have benefited from listening to him over the past few days. He died a few days ago.
Also the daily maintenance plan of WRAP ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BK_jLMToeM
Everyone has their own unique journey.
Just discovered these meditations. Have done the first one. Felt very healing ~
https://soundcloud.com/hay-house
Trust me! Trust me! I’m a doctor. Is that one of his songs?
Personal narrative is part of the Recovery process ie telling your own story.
Bressie on radio yesterday ~ http://www.todayfm.com/player/podcasts/The_Anton_Savage_Show/The_Anton_Savage_Show/40202/0/im_going_to_have_a_panic_attack_on_live_tv
I had a panic attack on live TV. Kept breathing and going. They are nasty but sometimes you just have to accept them. Granted when interviewed by Matt Cooper I didn’t have an attack. It must have been his calming voice :)
Panic attacks ~ What’s happening? Am I dying? http://www.wellbeingfoundation.com/panic-and-anxiety.html
( by doctors Aine Tubridy and Michael Corry )
As someone who broke a bone in my hand and shoulder, it’s not a nice experience having your hand in a cast and shoulder in a sling. Especially if it’s your dominant hand.
30 % of the country are “mentally ill” or have mental health issues? I suppose if you follow the latest Psychiatric bible, the DSM-V, you could bring that % up. For example, if you don’t get over the death of a spouse in 2 weeks it is now classified as ‘Major Depressive Disorder’ ! Not forgetting that 69 % of the DSM-5 taskforce had financial links to the pharma industry.
It’s only a couple of decades since we had more people locked away in this country (per capita) than anywhere else in the world. I watched video footage of Prof Ivor Browne back in the 60s. He pointed out that there weren’t more “mentally ill” people in this country. Just more beds.
Bressie is human like everyone else. When we all realize we are part of the human race then maybe we will be less concerned about presenting a perfect image. Maybe we will except that we are emotional beings living in a beautiful, dangerous world. Then we will not want to label some and pretend that the rest are doing fine. Then we will see we are all part of our big human family.
” When the power of love overcomes the love of power then we will be free.”
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.”
https://www.facebook.com/positiveoutlooks/photos/a.152811358094903.27226.152560524786653/1021487927893904/?type=1&theater
http://www.mindfreedomireland.com
Mary: a survivor of ECT and decades of psychiatric drugging ~ http://www.vimeo.com/87711795
That is a Recovery story from the Council for Evidence Based Psychiatry page. http://www.cepuk.org
https://truthman30.wordpress.com/2015/09/04/me-and-my-mate-jeffrey-niall-breslin/
He is a great ambassador in some ways, however I wish he would stop promoting the absurd notion that depression and anxiety are merely chemical imbalances in people’s heads…
https://truthman30.wordpress.com/2015/09/04/me-and-my-mate-jeffrey-niall-breslin/
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