I wasn't diagnosed until 45 but in hindsite I can recognise times through my life when I wasn't well, particularly when depressions and anxieties affected my ability to function. I have realised my illness impacted those around me - particularly my children.

I winced the other day when my adult daughter referred to not having done something and she was obviously bitter about it. When she was a teenager I never took her and her siblings into the big city. During conversation a few days ago she mentioned how embarrassing and unfortunate that she had not been allowed to go to the malls or downtown like her peers did. It nearly broke my heart. The real truth was that my anxiety about going to the city made me panic stricken. I had not realized that something seemingly so innocuous had such a horrible impact.