Out of all the tears shed and wept words said since the death of Gary Speed, a common theme has been the question of why he didnt seek help. Why when he reached such low depths of despair did he not call upon one or more of his seemingly vast pool of loving friends to talk to them and at least try and get some help. I can understand why people wish he'd spoken up and not held his demons inside, but i wonder would it really have saved his life if he had cried for help. If Gary had told his wife or...

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,...

I have a couzin, I see every now and then and shes going to uni, im so jelous of her!!! that is everything I wanted to do, actually have a life, experience things. I havent got the money to get myself there, Im so immature. I cant even look people in the eyes, how could I possibly make it? I still have my old geography work books, I miss learning so much that I read the books over and over. I feel so useless

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...