Kiwi singer Stan Walker has opened up about his battle with anxiety, claiming that it was harder to deal with than his cancer.
The 29-year-old explained he used to believe anxiety was fake and would laugh when he heard someone talk about it. It wasn’t until the singer himself experienced anxiety that he understood the seriousness of the condition. Walker said he felt like he was being “attacked by a demon.”
“I started panicking. I yelled out so loud ‘no’ and ran downstairs to people because I didn’t want to be by myself,” he said.
“I thought I was getting attacked and didn’t know what it was.”
Walker was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 which resulted in him having his stomach removed to save his life. The singer’s family has an aggressive CDH1 hereditary mutation, giving them an 80 percent chance of getting stomach cancer.
Walker explains having cancer was the “easy part” as the anxiety that followed left him contemplating suicide.
“Sometimes someone has spoken to me and it’s been life and death for me and they didn’t even know,” he said.
“It’s the mental stuff that lasts.”
The singer explained that human connection and love has supported him through his tough time.
Walker will be finish 2019 with two shows in Waihi and Whitianga over New Years.
Where to find help and support:
- Need to Talk? – Call or text 1737
- Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline – 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans – 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
