Thatcham mum breaking stigma around anxiety she faced after lifesaving operation

A married mother of one from Thatcham is breaking the stigma around anxiety with her poetry.

Emma Welch, who has suffered with anxiety for years, said her condition became worse after a life-saving operation she had at just 22 years old.

She told newburytoday how anxiety can affect her life on a daily basis.

“I've had panic attacks on multiple occasions,” she said.

“Some days I can feel really panicky about things. It seems to be worse when I’m tired.

“I basically don’t want to leave the house sometimes, and it takes an extra bit of strength to get out.

“It can be really scary because I’ll get a feeling in my stomach, which I don’t understand at the time.”

Mrs Welch, who works in finance, said she has found different ways to cope with her anxiety – one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK.

Her two poems – Anxiety My Friend and Silent Screams – have been published in two international anthologies of poems and short prose compiled by author Robin Barratt.

“Robin got back to me and said he really liked my work and that he would like to put it in his upcoming book,” she added.

She said watching the film Inside Out 2 with her three-year-old son inspired her first poem.

“Anxiety is basically overprotection,” she continued. “You need anxiety to know not to walk out in front of a car

“But when it becomes overwhelming, which is what happened to me, that’s when you need to have a conversation with yourself to say, ‘I’m okay’, because your brain is just on overdrive.

“I wrote my second poem at a time where I wasn’t talking to people about my anxiety.

“I think it’s such a stigma because people feel they need to look like they’re fine.”

She also spoke about the other ways she has improved her mental health.

She continued: “Exercise usually makes my anxiety feel better.

“I think team sport is really important as well, because I have quite a good support network.”

She praised the support she has received from the Central Family Hub in Thatcham.

Asked what advice she would give to anxiety sufferers, Mrs Welch replied: “Just talk to somebody, whether it’s your doctor, Talking Therapies, which has helped me a lot, or parents and friends.”

A recent NHS survey found the proportion of 16- to 64-year-olds with common mental health conditions increased to 22.6 per cent in 2023/4 from 18.9 per cent in 2014.

The proportion was higher in women than men at each point.

Visit https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ to access mental health support.

Newbury Samaritans is available for urgent 24/7 support. No referral is required.

Contact jo@samaritans.org or call 116 123. Always call 999 in an emergency.