Colm Hayes has opened up about his struggles with anxiety and depression.
The broadcaster recently announced he will be leaving 2fm after spending a decade with the station and as he looks back on his time as a broadcaster he recalls the daily struggles he would face before work.
The Santry native said that there was a time he would get sick right before work due to his anxiety.
He told the Sunday Independent, “I would vomit before work with anxiety. It would happen in the mornings, Over time it would creep up.
“People talk about the black dog of depression coming at night but I think they always hang around in the morning as well. Just before you wake up and can get out of bed and be positive, they see the weakness and that’s when they go for you.”
Although to listeners Colm seemed like an outgoing, happy-go- lucky radio personality, in reality he was suffering with on going sadness and anxiety on a daily basis.
He said, “You can put on another face (on the radio). And if you do have doubts or anxieties and you’re not completely comfortable in yourself, you can become the radio person.”
The broadcasting legend went on to explain that his worries about the future were what got him down the most and the feelings would take on a physical form at times.
He said, “For me it manifested in my gut. It would be twisted, I would be sick, just wondering what the future is going to hold. I would be a terrible man for casting myself about five years ahead and I always tended to be this old man walking the streets.
“My biggest fear was not having any work, not being able to support my family. That must be one of the greatest anxieties of western society… and it is frightening.”
Colm is a Cycle Against Suicide ambassador and he’s using his own experience to help other people suffering with mental health problems.
