Gary Speed took his own life yesterday. Not but a day later and his face still swims my mind, his voice drifting through and clashing with the sound of the tv. A highlights package of his best goals plays on a loop, left foot and right, booming headers. The effect his death has had on me has been huge; at first i shivered in shock followed by some very emotional tears and a feeling of tragic loss.

I obviously never personally knew Gary and im too young to have appreciated his glory...

Sometimes I leave my little flat and venture out for a walk. I live pretty centrally in Exeter so as I step outside I'm faced with a relatively busy road, people walking and cars going by. There are times when I do this and I feel fine, ill walk down the road arms swinging, head held high, and I breath in the fresh air and off I stroll. At other times, ill round the corner from my building and as I hit the road anxiety strikes and I become a nervous mess. Its as if I've never walked before,...

Of all the life affecting conditions, problems, illnesses, addictions or diseases that effect so many of us at one point or another, I believe that social anxiety disorder is up there with the worst. What makes it relatively unique in terms of how a person suffers from SAD is that we often suffer in silence, without much understanding or support and very little sympathy. By its very nature it renders people with intense shyness, some more so than others, which makes the very act of talking about...