Breaking the stigma: Limerick man bravely speaks of his mental health challenges

ON THE face of it, 26-year-old Annacotty man Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin has everything going for him.

Confident, handsome, outgoing, a talented broadcaster and a Gaeilgeoir to boot.

But that’s the problem with only seeing what’s on the outside.

On the inside, things can be very different.

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Since 2019, Seán has been aware that he suffers from depression, and has experienced panic attacks.

At the time, he had no concept of what was going on with his body and mind, and he was drawn into a journey of self-discovery to fully understand what he was going through.

Now, with the annual Movember fundraiser on the way - where men across the world often grow a moustache and raise money to support causes like male mental health and suicide prevention - Sean has bravely spoken out, as he puts it, to: “break down the stigma and the barriers”.

Speaking from Galway, where the University of Limerick graduate now calls home, Seán said: “I was shocked in a lot of ways it could happen to me. There were things that I was aware of that happened to people. But it was one of those that I felt, ‘how could it happen to me?’ I would be very happy-go-lucky and outgoing. I would try to have a positive outlook on life.”

Like so many going through panic attacks, Sean initially did not realise what was happening.

"When I had my first panic attack, I fully thought I was going to die. It was the scariest thing to happen. I had no idea what was going on with my body,” he explains.

Mental health problems did not even register on the then 19-year-olds radar - when he went to his GP, it was a case of going through all the checks on his physical health - blood pressure tests, a cardiac exam and the like.

It was really only after this, they landed on mental health as a challenge for Seán .

“When I came to terms with it myself, I realised, if this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. As a young man, I think it’s important we talk about these things. I felt quite alone when it started happening to me until I realised that I wasn’t,” the 26-year-old explained.

There were signs prior to 2019, which he admits, he perhaps ignored.

“I was always a worrier, I was always an overthinker, I was always very anxious. Maybe it just built up to a crescendo and it eventually all came out. My body went into panic mode, and that was that.”

Living with depression and anxiety can still be very misunderstood. People can catastrophise over something like being a few minutes late for work on a morning after lying awake at night unable to sleep.

Seán explains: “The physical toll of being in ‘fight or flight’ mode regularly is definitely tough. I’ve not had a panic attack in quite a while, but what it does to you is insane. You get into such a heightened state.”

There are certain warning signs that Sean looks for - a pain at a certain spot in his back, which makes him realise he needs to start looking after himself better.

He uses a 'toolbox' when he spots what he describes as an “early warning system”, which can be waking up exhausted, appetite changes, or not making time for himself.

One of the reasons Seán works to raise mental health awareness is having seen other young men bottle up their emotions.

“You see sometimes people get to a point where they cannot hold it in anymore. That can manifest itself in so many ways. In anger and distress. In self-harm and in some cases suicide. Where people are so determined to bottle it up and push things down and down, the dam does eventually burst.”

Seán has been lucky enough to have access to therapy, plus supportive friends and family, but acknowledges that’s not been everyone’s experience.

As he puts it, many are left on extended waiting lists.

“More investment is needed to actively tackle mental health and health in general in this country,” he adds.

Fortunately, Seán is in a good space at the moment, despite the uncertainty of living “gig-to-gig” as a freelancer at times.

He is part of a rugby team, and some of his teammates are refreshingly open and supportive on mental health.

“We’ll talk about anti-depressants, we’ll talk about going to therapy, we’ll talk about how anxiety affects us. These conversations would not have happened before,” he adds.

The key thing he wants to finish on, is tackling the often-misguided perception that people who are open about struggling with their mental health are somehow weak.

“I see it though that people who deal with mental health difficulties on a daily basis, are much stronger than most people could imagine and admitting you are struggling is one of the bravest things you can do in a world that will tell you to keep quiet or push through alone,” he concludes.

For more information, and to get involved in Movember this year, visit https://ie.movember.com/

Alternatively, telephone 01-6854395

If you are struggling with some of the issues raised in this article, please contact the Samaritans. It’s the only charity in Ireland offering emotional support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to anyone who is in distress, lonely, struggling to cope or feeling suicidal. You can call 116123 free, or email jo@samaritans.ie.