A man from Oldham who suffered bouts of long Covid that kept him bedbound for months has praised a local mental health service for helping him get his life back.

Around four years ago, Josh developed long Covid syndrome at a time when there wasn't much support or awareness about the condition.

The 33-year-old then said his mental health suffered as a result, which saw him experiencing frequent panic attacks.

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The father-of-three became worried about his children's health.

He said: “Kids get sick all the time.

"I’d turn to the internet to see what might be wrong and this made things worse.

"I struggled with their doctors’ appointments and hated waiting for results to come back.

"I would always assume the worst. I didn’t like them to see me worrying.” 

His physical condition meant he was bedbound and prevented him from being as involved with his children as he wanted to be.

With a new baby in the family, he felt guilty and more anxious as time went on.

Josh had enjoyed travelling before he became ill, and found himself starting to feel out of control, trapped and claustrophobic on public transport.

He tried to push himself to get out but ended up being stuck on a tram due to a problem on the line.

This led to a severe panic attack, which was the final straw.

Josh explained: “I felt like I was dying. I couldn’t breathe.

"There was no way out and it just took over me.

"I knew I couldn’t carry on the way I was.”

He then reached out to his GP for help and was referred to NHS Oldham Talking Therapies where he attended regular therapy sessions with Rachael Starkey, a cognitive behaviour psychotherapist.

Ms Starkey helped him to understand the challenges he was facing and gave him new coping techniques.

He noticed an improvement in his mood and a newfound hope that his life could get better.

Josh added: “Rachael was so understanding, and I felt listened to.

"She made me feel at ease and comfortable sharing what I was feeling. There was no judgement.

“My children gave me the focus I needed to truly give this a go - I want to be better for them.

"The support is helping me control my thoughts and feelings and I’m a lot calmer.

“I know what to do if I start to worry or feel overwhelmed. It’s been so helpful.

"I’m not exactly where I want to be, but I’m getting there.

“It’s hard to admit that something needs to change. Try not to feel afraid about what others might think.

"There’s no shame and by the end, you’ll probably feel proud that you’ve got the help you need.”

Ms Starkey also said: “It shows real strength that Josh asked for help, which can often be difficult for dads.

"But I’m so glad he did, as he’s made brilliant progress.

“It’s especially important for parents to reach out during the perinatal period, which is from pregnancy through to the child’s second birthday.

“It’s vital children have the best start in life to reach their full potential.

"And this relies on parents, carers and wider family members feeling supported and being in the best mental and physical health.

“Lots of things can impact mental health, sometimes it's little things that build over time.

"Whatever the reason, we’re here to help.”

NHS Oldham Talking Therapies is for people over the age of 16 who are registered with a GP in the borough.

Throughout 2024, drop-in sessions for dads, co-parents, and granddads are also being held at family hubs across Oldham.

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk