Whitchurch man beats depression with personal trainer

Anthony O'Sullivan found himself slipping into depression when his father started showing signs of sudden onset dementia.

The stress he was under trying to help his father led his doctor to issue him a powerful antidepressant.

But Anthony was determined not to become reliant on drugs and instead prescribed himself a keep fit regime.

His story is an example of an increasing awareness of the power of exercise to combat mental health issues.

The 57-year-old, from Prees, near Whitchurch, joined a gym and found a trainer.

Now two years on Anthony is fitter than ever, both mentally and physically, and avoided a breakdown as well as losing 54lbs of body fat.

He said: "Caring for my father had become very difficult.

"We are a very close family and when his dementia started to develop he really changed and became quite aggressive.

"Coping with looking after him by myself was hard and I started to struggle to cope.

"I didn't do much exercise before and was often seeing the doctor.

"I thought I was losing my mind.

"I went to the doctor and was prescribed anti-depressants but before opening the box I decided to join the Bodytech gym in Market Drayton.

"Going to the gym and increasing my fitness has given me the mental strength to triumph - not just cope - over a difficult situation and resulted in me being in the best physical shape of my life, inside and out.

"Following my mother's death I not only remained focused but took the necessary training to become a personal trainer in my own right.

"She died aged 95. She was a woman who lived life to the maximum and she inspired me to continue."

Experts say exercise can help people with depression and prevent them becoming depressed in the first place. It is now more than just heresay – it has become official NHS advice.

Anthony said that he now goes to the gym three times a week and has never felt so fit.

He hopes to inspire other middle aged people who find the stress of caring for elderly people difficult.

He added: "I have found that fitness has completely cured my asthma.

"For the first time in my life I am free of an inhaler.

"I used to use it several times a day - but in the past year I have not used it once.

"Also I have not been sick one day since starting training. My doctor has pointed out that regular exercise provides a huge boost to our immune system.

"I have also lost 54lbs of body fat which is great.

"I would recommend getting a personal trainer to anyone - it changed my life.

"I am now 57 going on 30 and feel great.

"I started at a low point and that has dramatically changed."

Dr Alan Cohen, a GP with a special interest in mental health, says that when people get depressed or anxious, they often feel they're not in control of their lives.

He said exercise was a way to combat that and that the physical benefits were almost a bonus.

He said: "Exercise gives people suffering from depression control of their bodies and this is often the first step to feeling in control of other events.

"Any type of exercise is useful as long as it suits you and you do enough of it.

"Exercise should be something you enjoy, otherwise it will be hard to find the motivation to do it regularly."