Great Ayton Walk

Hi, my name is Anthony and I am the Walk Leader for Great Ayton. I don’t have much of a story to tell when it comes to the reasons I’ve struggled with my mental health in the past. There's been no obvious triggers, no traumatic life events... just a quiet sadness that sometimes creeps over me, unannounced. I’ve hidden my struggles with my mental heath since being a teenager, from anxiety attacks to bouts of depression. I felt guilty for being sad or lonely when I "didn't have anything to be sad about". What I do know is that I usually struggle with it alone because I never found a way to share my feelings with the people around me. It’s often easier to share your struggles with a stranger than those you love. No matter how supportive our loved ones are, it can be easier to open up if there's no expectation, no pressure to be okay. Or maybe you don't feel like you have anyone to talk to. You feel lonely in a sea of strangers. I want to start a group so that every week, no matter what might have happened (or not happened), you can find people willing to listen or even just be another person to spend some time with for some quiet companionship. It’s very easy to feel isolated and alone so I want to be a friendly face for people who might just need that moment of connection or understanding.

When they meet