I nearly didn’t come.
All day I told myself I was too busy, too tired, or that it probably wasn’t for me anyway. By the time Friday evening came around, I’d already made three different excuses in my head. But I drove over, sat in the car for five minutes, and eventually walked in.
What I expected was awkward silence.
What I got was a simple “Alright mate, glad you’re here.”
No pressure. No spotlight. No need to explain everything straight away.
I joined the session, had a brew, listened to a few lads talk honestly about stress, sleep, work and family stuff. Nothing dramatic, just real conversations. It felt normal in a way I didn’t realise I needed.
By the end of the evening, I hadn’t “fixed” everything, but I felt lighter. I’d stopped carrying it all on my own for once. I also realised I didn’t need to have the right words. Just turning up was enough.
Over the next couple of weeks, I came back. I started recognising faces. The chats got easier. One of the team pointed me towards extra support options as well, which helped me take another step without feeling overwhelmed.
The biggest change?
I don’t feel as isolated as I did before.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds good, but it’s not really for me,” I get it — I thought exactly the same. But if you’re on the fence, give it one try. Come as you are. No pressure.
Sometimes the hardest part is just getting through the door.