Penning an essay on mental heath for The Daily Mail, James Middleton reveals that he was inspired to speak up about his struggle due to his sister's work with charity foundation Heads Together.
- January 14, 2019
AceShowbiz - Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge's brother James Middleton has opened up about his secret struggle with depression.
The businessman, who has maintained a relatively private life since his older sister married British royal Prince William in 2011, has bravely penned an essay for The Daily Mail newspaper.
James explained in the op-ed that his mental health had deteriorated for a year before he sought help two years ago in December 2017.
"I know I'm richly blessed and live a privileged life. But it did not make me immune to depression," he wrote. "It is tricky to describe the condition. It is not merely sadness. It is an illness, a cancer of the mind."
Despite becoming an uncle to Catherine's two older children - Prince George and Princess Charlotte - in the time he was battling depression, he confessed he was "existing without purpose".
"It's not a feeling but an absence of feelings. You exist without purpose or direction. I couldn't feel joy, excitement or anticipation - only heart-thudding anxiety propelled me out of bed in the morning. I didn't actually contemplate suicide - but I didn't want to live in the state of mind I was in either," the 31-year-old shared.
James was also told by his doctor that he had an irregular heartbeat spurred by stress and anxiety, and when he finally sought help for his depression from a psychiatrist, he was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.
"Today, I feel a new sense of purpose and zest for life," he wrote, adding that he was prompted to speak out after being inspired by the work undertaken by Catherine and William for their mental health charity, Heads Together. "If I could leave you with just one thought, it would be this: 'It's OK not to be OK'."
