“I don’t remember Download festival at all”, Rou Reynolds’ Important Message On Mental Disorder
Photo: Tom Martin
Rou Reynolds, singer and lyricist of Enter Shikari, has recently opened up about his own struggle with a nasty combination of generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia past year. In a string of tweets, he shared a very important message: mental illness can hit everyone, no matter if it’s the “rock star” or the fan. Here is his full message:
Strange to think, this time last year, I’d only slept 6 hours this week! I was halfway through 12weeks of insomnia & gen. anxiety disorder. After suffering from exhaustion I had the nastiest panic attack of my life & was hospitalised forcing us to cancel our Download warm up show and the months that followed became some of the most strange & difficult of my life. I don’t remember Download festival at all. I was a shell of a man surviving on adrenaline. Even had vitamin shots to the arse (no joke). I’ve never felt further from the little cockpit of one’s mind. Felt detached, inept, scared. Take away sleep & mental health crumbles. At its worst, some mornings after failing to sleep at all once more, I’d get up feeling utterly distraught & just burst into tears.
I hate rockstars moaning or banging on about internal “struggles” etc. So normally refrain from publicly exploring the personal BUT it’s vital to battle the divisive nature of ‘showbiz’ culture (I.e. the STAR! & the fans…) in every way possible. A reminder we’re ALL just humans. Vulnerable humans. Tired, frightened, vulnerable humans. I’m not saying any of this for sympathy btw. (I’m absolutely FINE now!) Save it for someone who’s struggling in your life.
Anyway, just incase any of that helps someone out there struggling now. Big love all
