He adds that he had no problems coming to terms with the diagnosis, instead recalling a sense of optimism. ‘I still remember sitting in the doctor’s office and being diagnosed, and it felt like one of the key moments in my life because it marked the point where recovery started,’ Robran says.
Now that he had a recovery plan, which included both medication and sessions with a psychologist to undertake cognitive behavioural therapy, Robran was able to start adjusting and implementing the changes he needed to make.
‘It was important to understand what triggers were for me and how to manage different situations. Paying closer attention to moods and reactions to stimuli became important, and made life a lot better.’
In addition to this, Robran started to work on strengthening the area of his life which had been most neglected because of his anxiety: his friends.
‘Having a social network is important to foster relationships and have someone to talk to, should you need it,’ he says. ‘Maintaining contact with friends is important and having a common interest like a hobby helps with this.’
And more recently, he discovered the benefit of physical activities, saying ‘it helps so much to be active and stay healthy, and relaxation exercises like meditation can assist in calming your mind’.