Men’s group

23/02/2025

23/02/2025

05/02/2025

05/02/2025

03/02/2025

“How could I start my story...
Well my name is William, I'm french I'm 41years old.

I had a normal childhood I guess, I had friends but I always felt like I was alone somehow.
I think that I was a normal kid, the happiest, smiling, having fun, laughing, playing with friends.

My parents did what they could with what they have, we were quite poor, sometimes we had to found vegetables in garbages near shops when my parents were jobless.

My dad was not demonstrative, he never said that he loved his sons, never played with us , never bought us toys, but as I said they did what they could with what they had.

As a teenager I wasn't popular, I had friends but always feeling alone and liked to be that way.
When I finish school and graduated, I went to university for a few years but stopped.
I went in the army, in the french foreign legion. My family has a long military history.
I fought, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, Ivory coast and others countries... After 8 years I worked in an English PMC.

During my service in the legion and plc I had to take decisions , I saw and made things that you can't forget.
I'm still having nightmares these days.
I get married, had two beautiful boys , my only treasure.

My wife never gave love, attention, or care.
She said lot of mean things to me, like " you're not a good dad" " if I knew I would never marry you" " it was the worst decision of my life to marry you" and some others things like that . She went to male friends many times, and I was struggling with my mental problems because of my PTSD, she never care about the way I suffered in silence, about the my feelings, even when I said that I was suffering.

One day I took my gun and went in the forest to kill myself, to put an end to all of this...I loaded the gun put it in my mouth , with my finger on the trigger. I was suffering so much...alone in my head , stuck between those walls, trying to get to the surface to breath, bit always going deeper and deeper....

I was about to pull the trigger, but didn't had the courage to do it... I loved my boys so much , I couldn't do it. I took the gun out of my mouth and shot all the bullets in a tree , crying .
Today I'm still struggling , I have nightmares about what I did and saw. And my life is so empty, I feel nothing, I feel empty, cold .....I feel so sad and I'm suffering so much... I 'm about to divorce, but I don't want my boys to be sad, to suffer....

I put a mask on my face with everyone, smiling, laughing but inside I'm alone in the dark. My only reason to stay here are my two boys.”
-anonymous

30/01/2025

“Hey my name is Brindley I was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia
I had a reasonable childhood I have 3 younger siblings growing up which had its challenges at times, sometimes we didn't always get along fighting over silly things cause we didn't always get what we wanted. I didn't really fit in at school, I didn't really make many good friends and struggled with my education which led to me not believing in myself thinking I wasn't good at anything. I also got bullied a bit at school as well for being an awkward kid that wore glasses and wasn't very clever which led me to having low self-esteem and confidence and with having some issues at home I ended up having to go to a mental health ward to get help as I was have a mental breakdown at the time and didn't know what was wrong with me. After going in and out of hospital for about 3 months I was given the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder bipolar type at the age of 16 with the help of Headspace and a couple of different Psychologist over 6 years I was access different types of therapys to help maintain my mental health and to help me get by and live a normal life again. When I was 24 I managed to start working again as my first job I had a bad experience with them and took me a few years to build up the courage to explore work again but after therapy I felt I was ready to try working again and I became a disability support worker and a suite porter at a sports arena and I have been working at both these roles for about a year now and I'm really enjoying it.
When I was struggling I found it helpful to use some of the techniques that my psychologist taught me to help me ground myself and make sure that I don't take on to many responsibilities or any unnecessary stress as this will possibly cause me to have a relapse.
I have a routine that I try to stick to help me keep on top of my mental health I go to work, see my GP and psychologist every couple of months to keep track of my progress to make sure I'm doing well.
To the men that are struggling out there is always someone you know that is willing to listen to help share your experiences and thought so please don't think you have to carry them alone.”
johnson

30/01/2025

“I guess I was born into struggle. My dad left before I was born, and my mum raised me as a single mother. It was just the two of us. I was bullied at school, constantly picked on, and always trying to fit in. By the time I was a kid, I’d already turned to self-harm as an outlet for my pain.

When I was nine,I realized had a drinking problem and began to get worse. Eleven came around , I started working to help support us. Juggling work and school ,life felt like one endless uphill battle. At fourteen, I hit rock bottom and tried to end my life. I didn’t succeed, but the pain didn’t stop. She never found out nor would I tell her. I was always worried about giving her more things to worry about.
At sixteen, I moved out—not because I didn’t love my mum, but because I was trying to save our relationship. We still held on to each other in small ways, sharing dinner nights twice a week to stay connected.

One of those nights changed everything. When I was eighteen, she called me, asking for help. I arrived to find her bruised and beaten by her partner. I tried to take her home, but he turned on me, hitting me with a timber bat. Things escalated into a fight, and when I left, I genuinely believed I’d just ruined my life and was headed to jail for murder.
Her drinking spiraled after that, and by the time I was nineteen, I lost her completely. Losing my mum left me feeling numb, empty, and utterly alone. Something I feel I’ll never get over and that’s ok because she is worth the grief.

For years, I survived on autopilot, suppressing my pain and pushing through. But by the time I was 37, I couldn’t keep going. I was deeply unhappy and depressed. I wrote a letter and was ready to tap out for good. When I sought help, I was told the waitlist to see someone was 9-12 months. I told my GP, “I won’t make it that long.” He recommended going to the hospital, where I could see someone immediately. At first, I refused—I’d raised myself my whole life, so why would I need someone now?
But something told me to go. Within two hours, I was speaking to someone. I stayed for a week, started getting answers, diagnoses and eventually signed up for a six-month therapy course. That program changed my life. It gave me the tools to start piecing myself back together and focus on what truly adds value to my life.

Throughout it all, sport has been my constant. It’s saved my life more times than I can count. People don’t always understand the sports I play, but that doesn’t matter—it’s not for them, it’s for me.

I still struggle. There are days where the weight of everything feels unbearable. But I don’t quit. I can’t. Too many people look to me for strength, and if my story can help even one person hold on for one more day, then that’s worth it to me.
To anyone out there fighting battles in silence: You are not alone. You matter. Don’t give up.”

28/01/2025

“I had a great childhood growing up no complaints there, but I was always an anxious kid , I was lucky in that I found everything pretty easy but was always a people pleaser and felt I needed people to like me .
Fast forward to my late 20s I got into my first serious relationship and I'm achieving high in my work . Looking back now that relationship was built on my enthusiasm to do whatever it took to make it work when it really shouldn't have but at the time I just figured that's what a relationship was like.
I was regularly depressed, anxiety was huge , stressed all the time and this led to addiction and dishonesty. I regularly just told my partner what she wanted to hear to avoid any personal discomfort.
Fast forward 6 years it all started to unravel , drinking loads , doing regular drugs , and living my own life and not worried about my marriage,
We separated due to my addiction and dishonesty in the relationship and that's when I went down hill big time, I drank from morning till Night , cocaine,meth ,w**d replaced food, I lived in lala land and one thing led to another and I was deciding the best way to off myself.
After 18 months of al this plus on top of that almost losing contact with my son , I luckily had the police take my fi****ms away after telling a family member goodbye .
After that I made the decision to just chuck everything in my car and moved in with a family member to attempt to dry out as my alternative was prison of death .
After a few times seeing a doctor/ shrink I started a detox taking a couple of months.
I changed my diet ,ate clean I worked out every day .
Now proud to say 5 months sober and have just moved into my own place again. I have my son regularly, have gone from 48kg to 65 kg and feeling good mentally, I still have dark days but I've come to realize that there's not many problems that can be fixed by me worrying or getting depressed about them .
I meditate daily, work out regularly and have made it a point to worry about my Mental health before worry about other people and I've found good people have found me in the process without me having to do anything except be a good version of myself. It'll take time to move on from my past but the best I can do now is just to try and improve on myself and be the best I can.”
-Anonymous

28/01/2025

“Let me tell you about my battles. Actually I am a man so chances are I will probably never tell you about my battles because that would be somewhat unmanly. I once had this masculine, romanticised view of the battles I would face in life. A view inspired by those modern day prophets, movies, television and music. Through this lens I dreamt that when troubles came I would be like Tharin with his dwarf brothers, standing to fight a huge orc army with the haunting refrain of Ed Sherrin’s, “I see fire” floating through the air over the slow motion clash of battle. “And if we should die tonight, then we should all die together.”
I pictured myself standing with my band of brothers, we few, we happy few, grimly determined, unwaveringly loyal, fierce and strong. Let the enemy come, for we will stand shoulder to shoulder to face whatever is thrown at us.

Sadly though this has not been the case in my life. Through a mixture of fear, isolation, and stoicism my battles have not looked anything like the romantic band of brothers. My battles have not taken place on some field of honour. Rather the battleground has often come in those, laying in bed, staring at the ceiling at 3am type of moments.
There has not been the clash of weapons and the yelling of encouragement. Instead there are these quiet voices of condemnation that speak from some dark place deep in my soul. Voices that whisper words which seek to steal away my hope, courage and peace.

These voices that say you are not good enough, not special enough, not young enough. You are not loved, desired, liked even. These siren like melodies that remind you of all your mistakes, all your shortcomings, all your greatest fears that you have tried so hard to keep hidden from the harsh light of public scrutiny.

These are the battles I fight. Quiet, lonely struggles that no one else ever knows about because in the morning I once again gather up my brokenness, tuck it all away behind my mask of all-togetherness and step out into the world to face another day. Hoping that the tiredness will claim my body later that night so that I will not have to fight again that evening. I long for a band of brothers, but I have convinced myself that no one cares, that no one would understand, that everyone is too busy. So I lay here alone, at 3am, writing about my current battle. A battle I am losing more and more, all the while trying to hold on to a sliver of hope and strength.
I know some would say there is a hope in your faith. A God who has a long history of taking hopeless situations and lives and doing something extraordinary with them. But the voices tell me I am not one of the chosen ones.

Others might say there is hope in loved ones. The strength of a happy marriage and close family, but the failure of this is now a viscous cudgel the voices use against me as I lay in my bed alone.
Despite all this, somewhere deep inside me is this flickering ember that stubbornly refuses to go out. That refuses to succumb to the tempting voices that seek to pull me towards the sleep.
I do not know what that ember is or why it continues to burn. Maybe it is a gift from God after all? A sign to show that he has not forsaken me, that he is not finished with me yet. Maybe it is His way of reminding me that those persistent voices are indeed not telling me the truth, about him or me.
So I will continue to fan this ember, I will continue to fight, I will continue to hope.”

27/01/2025

“My childhood was great, I grew up in a good home with a good family and we stayed together. I never really struggled with anything until I was 23-24ish and I realised something wasn’t right in my head. Unfortunately I realised too late and if it wasn’t for a feeling and a chance phone call I wouldn’t be hear right now. What happened is a bit of a blur. 2017 I went for a drive at 8pm-ish. Found myself in the middle of a bridge here in Hobart. I made a video apologising to my family and best friends and was about to send it when the phone screen changed because I was receiving a phone call. My best friend was on the other end and she just said “Jackson are you okay? I’ve just got a bad feeling.” I told her no, where I was and she wouldn’t get off the phone until I got back to my car. She then came and picked me up. Her girlfriend at the time drove while we were in the back, my head in her lap bawling. I don’t remember how I felt before that but I remember the feeling afterwards. A bit of shame, relief, luck, thankful. Life now is great, I’m on top of my game and have routines and processes to keep me on track, a good support network and a job I love that keeps me motivated. Because I’m where I’m at I sent this page live and aim to help men, I would’ve killed for something like this when I was younger. What helps me is simple, I watch stand up comedy and YouTube clips of a British comedy tv show. Phone calls with my inner circle, the gym and watching certain clips I have saved on Instagram.
Lastly I’d say it’s okay and you’re not alone. You’re allowed to feel like this and you are loved and if you don’t feel like you’re loved, if you feel alone then don’t do anything permanent because you shouldn’t give the bastards the satisfaction. Fight, every day, because it gets better.”

27/01/2025

“Hey guys. I’m just your typical bloke on the surface, but like many of us I’ve got my demons I battle with on the daily.

I often question my life, compare myself to others, & just think what the hell am I even doing here!? Often the answers my mind creates are not so nice.

My childhood was tough, my young adult years were all about running away to “find myself” which did not really work out & in the last 2 years I’ve had some seriously tough adversities to overcome.

One day on my way home from work a car cut me off on my motorbike. I had no time to move & hit them hard. I broke my neck, ribs, & crushed my foot. The doctors said I was lucky to survive the spinal injury let alone not be a quadriplegic.

After 12 long months of recovering from this close call with death & I was finally fit enough to return to work, I got diagnosed with vocal cord cancer.

So, I went from not being able to move to not being able to talk properly. In the middle of all this, I lost my father at just 56 years young. What a crappy couple of years.

Safe to say my mental health went out the window. Old childhood issues resurfaced & I continued to struggle in finding my place in the world. On more than one occasion I came close to being another su***de statistic. By far the biggest killer In Australia with increasing rates every year, most of which being young men.

Do you want to know what stopped me?
By letting it all out. By being real with myself. My whole life I had put on a mask to hide my sadness from the world. Instead of dealing with my depression I channelled it through anger or escaped it with drugs, s*x & alcohol.

Only in recent times have I had the courage to open about my issues, & once I began to put them out there it enabled me to break them all down.

My advice: If you are in a bad place there is no shame in telling a Dr, we are so blessed in this country to have access to mental health plans & affordable medication so take advantage of it! You do not need to fight your demons alone.

Also If you have a mate who you think needs help go be a good mate, INSIST on hanging out. It might just save their life.

Finishing up my story on a positive; I fought long & hard & am happy to say I recently won my battle against cancer.

Guess it is time to continue finding myself again!

In closing, what happened to you yesterday may not be your fault, but how you act today is your responsibility.

Sending love & light to everyone out there fighting your own battles. Feel free to reach out to me or check out my page for plenty more uplifting but real talk

Remember guys, we are all in this together ❤ “