The Duchess of Cambridge's brother, James Middleton (31), is opening up about his battle with depression. In an op-ed with the Daily Mail, James talks about his darkest moments before seeking help and treatment just over a year ago. He says that "I know I'm richly blessed and live a privileged life. But it did not make me immune to depression. It is tricky to describe the condition. It is not merely sadness. It is an illness, a cancer of the mind."
A very Happy Birthday to the Duchess of Cambridge!
His Dogs Have Helped The Healing Process
James went on to explain that once he admitted to the fact that he needed help, it brought a sense of calmness over him. He packed his dogs into his car and went out to the Lake District in North West England to calm his mind with solitary walks in the mountains. James says that his dogs have been a tremendous support in the healing process and he hopes that because of him speaking out on his experience, he can help change the stigma associated with mental illness.
With his sister Kate, brother-in-law Prince William and Prince Harry all being strong advocates for mental health, that fact alone seemed to help James come forward and be open about his experiences with depression and ADD. Moving forward, James is trying to impose order on his life to help him control his symptoms. He is putting his best foot forward and using his experiences to help others.
