Andrew is the CEO of mental health startup Heard who are creating a trusted space for therapists. Becoming a CEO wasn’t always on the cards for Andrew. Early in life, he was beset with panic disorder, anxiety and depression and as a teenager he did drugs and ran with the wrong crowd. At his worst he had a stomach full of pills and a revolver in his mouth.
Listen To Episode 26
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:32 — 25.9MB)
Everyone likes a good rags to riches redemption story, the homeless person who becomes a radio presenter again, the kid from the projects who becomes an international musician. Andrew started on the wrong path but that’s not the story here. This is a story about putting in the work and grinding it out. Some of the work is stuff we all do to build a life, like studying at college and climbing the corporate ladder. The real story is the work Andrew has done and is doing on the inside to face and come to terms with his mental illness, and working on the scars of a traumatic past.
In this episode of Silent Superheroes, Andrew gives an inside look at his panic disorder, anxiety and depression. He talks about the mental health resources PWC offered, and also some of the gaps in their offering. Finally, he tells what he and his co-founders at Heard are doing to bring mental illness out of the shadows.
Links
- Heard (Andrew’s Company – A trusted place for therapists),
- Ginger.io (On-demand access to behavioral health resources),
- Calm (Meditation app for meditation and sleep).
About Support
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you’re losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.
Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away, perhaps when a stressful situation ends. But if you’ve had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder.
Although panic attacks themselves aren’t life-threatening, they can be frightening and significantly affect your quality of life. But treatment can be very effective.
Getting Support
Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.
It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/
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