In this episode of the Just Listen mental health podcast, host Juliette Sivertsen speaks to Auckland man Mathew Nuttall about living with anxiety.

Mathew says at worst, he lost eight kilograms in two weeks due to his mental distress. He couldn’t concentrate, was throwing up and experienced an intense self-loathing.

He initially kept his struggles quiet, but has since learned that opening up to friends, employers and his personal trainer, is the best thing to help him on his path to recovery, as well as fighting the stigma around mental illness.

His trainer Mark Shaw is now one of his key support people. Mark speaks to Juliette at the end of this podcast about the benefits of showing vulnerability.

Funded by the Mental Health Foundation of NZ, Like Minds Like Mine, supported by NZME.

You can follow host Juliette Sivertsen on social media through her Twitter at @j_sivertsen