The Quiet Struggles We Carry Alone
From We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson by WNTT
May 14, 2026 · 29 min
About this episode
Charlie Mackesy discusses the quiet struggles of anxiety, grief, and loneliness in an open conversation about mental health.
For Mental Health Awareness Week, we speak with Charlie Mackesy about anxiety, grief, loneliness and the quiet struggles so many of us carry alone. The bestselling author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse speaks openly about anxiety attacks, loss, vulnerability, male loneliness and why asking for help matters. In this open and honest conversation, Charlie reflects on the dark periods that shaped him, the friends he has lost, and the inner critic so many of us live with. He also shares the practical tools that helped him through anxiety, and why connection, honesty and feeling loved matter more than perfection. We're Talking Mental Health If you’re struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. We’ve included support charities below: Samaritans - call on 116 123 or visit https://g2ul0.app.link/xghDmmYV4Wb Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): https://g2ul0.app.link/npaQKXUV4Wb (00:00) Intro (00:42) Charlie Breaks Down the Darkest Period of His Life (04:36) How Paul and Charlie Actually Deal With Anxiety (12:48) Charlie’s ADHD Diagnosis and What It Changed (14:39) How Drawing Became Charlie’s Escape (16:12) Paul and Charlie on Grief and What Actually Helps (20:39)…
People in this episode
Host: Paul C. Brunson
Guest: Charlie Mackesy
Topics covered
- mental health
- anxiety
- grief
- loneliness
- vulnerability
- male loneliness
- connection
Keywords
- mental health
- anxiety
- grief
- loneliness
- vulnerability
- ADHD
- inner critic
- gratitude
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Samaritans, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Books & works: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
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