About Andrew:
I used to be born with Cystic Fibrosis (identified at three months previous) and have confronted quite a few challenges bodily and mentally all through my life.
In 1979, once I was born, the typical lifespan for a CF affected person was simply 17 years. My dad and mom by no means stored particulars of my situation from me, so I grew up absolutely conscious of my very own potential early mortality. This information, together with the fixed want for medical interventions and hospitalizations, positioned quite a lot of psychological and bodily stress on me, but in addition inspired me to grab alternatives and attempt to benefit from life.
I’m now coaching with a small group of associates to climb Mount Kilimanjaro on Could 27, 2025, as a way to raise money to support HeadsUpGuys.
WHAT WAS THE MAJOR TURNING POINT IN YOUR RECOVERY MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY
After I was 37, I obtained a double lung transplant to deal with life threatening lung illness, and shortly afterwards I used to be in a motorbike accident that resulted in additional surgical procedures to my hip, leg, ankle, wrist and shoulder. This era broke me each mentally and bodily, and made me really feel like I wanted to retreat into my thoughts.
Even by this expertise, although, I really feel that life is gorgeous and treasured, and there’s nonetheless a lot to get pleasure from. Realizing that I may make it by such an impossibly difficult state of affairs has reinvigorated me to maintain residing life to the fullest.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT REALLY HELPED?
- Taking therapies severely and staying active: Staying as wholesome as doable and remaining as lively as I can helps to maintain me mentally sturdy.
- Having fun with out of doors actions: Actions like fishing, mountaineering, and tenting have helped me find peace and reconnect with nature.
- Setting my very own tempo allowed me to maintain doing actions that I like at an adjusted fee.
- Perspective on life: By way of every part that has been thrown at me, I’ve tried to deal with the wonder and preciousness of life.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER GUYS FIGHTING TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH?
- I’m not massive on giving recommendation; nevertheless, I might say that our minds are a robust software. This software for me is wonderful in its means to assist get by troubling occasions if I can deal with the positives and wonders of life. (Concentrate on the positives like a small job completed or the best way the solar rises and units, the sounds and smells of nature. It doesn’t at all times must be quite a bit).
- I additionally compartmentalise quite a bit. I don’t understand how I realized to do that but when I’m being overwhelmed by a state of affairs or in extreme ache I can “put it away” in my thoughts. I can field out ache and my mind received’t acknowledge it for a sure time frame after which it can usually subside. Additionally, if I begin to have anxiousness about my well being and my mortality I’ll field it out and deal with both duties at hand, train, mountaineering, constructing one thing and so forth. and shortly the anxiety will go away.
– Andrew Brownell, Armstrong B.C., Canada
Be part of Andrew and his Buddies in Supporting HeadsUpGuys
Be part of Andrew Brownell and his group on an epic climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro to lift consciousness and funds for HeadsUpGuys, supporting males’s psychological well being, one step at a time. Collectively, we may also help males conquer their very own challenges, simply as Andrew will conquer Africa’s highest peak.
