Being Bressie

In many ways, it seemed that Niall Breslin had it all – a successful career in television and music, good looks, and a model girlfriend.

What many people didn’t know is that Niall – better known as Bressie – has struggled with anxiety and crippling panic attacks since his teens.

These issues are addressed by the 34-year-old in his new book, Me and My Mate Jeffrey, which has topped books sales in Ireland. It recounts stories from Bressie’s teenage years, when he experienced insomnia and hair loss due to his anxiety, and his injury-plagued days as a rugby player for Leinster.

“It’s a hard book to read, but it has to be. I can’t pretend it was easy to write, but I always said that if I was in the position to change anything that I would talk,” he says. “When I was 15, I would have loved if someone had said that how I felt was normal.”

A panic attack before The Voice of Ireland live show was the tipping point and forced the singer to speak out. Despite his fear of judgement, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“You wonder: ‘What will people think?’ But I received nothing but love, support and empathy. I thought I’d be slagged, but that didn’t happen. I’ve learned that you can’t sustain that level of worry all the time. It’s toxic and a breeding ground for anxiety,” he says.

“It was hard for my family, but I had to tell my story. I want to help other people. I feel happy, strong and healthy now, and I have relative control over my mind, though it ran riot for so long.”

Hailing from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Bressie says that farmers and those living in rural areas should be more open about their mental health.

“Farmers are expected to be made of steel and not talk, but this needs to change. It doesn’t matter if you’re expected to be mentally tough. I was at the Ploughing Championships and farmers spoke to me openly about it, which was great,” he says.

“The best form of support is peer-to-peer social support. On a rainy Tuesday night, you want to have someone to turn to for support. You can manage anxiety, but not on your own. Everyone needs someone to talk to,” he adds.

Now he plans to explore the close relationship between food and mental health at the Savour Kilkenny Festival on Tuesday 20 October, where he will speak alongside a guest nutritionist.

“I’m speaking from personal experience and why I think food is important for good mental health. It is so important for wellness. I’m not a qualified dietician or a nutritionist, but I do know that diet is paramount,” he explains.

“For me, I saw a difference when I started cutting out processed food. Why would you eat that when we live in this country with so much great produce? Over the years, you can taste the difference between processed and natural. And Roz (Purcell, Bressie’s girlfriend) is passionate about food and has taught me the benefits of eating raw vegetables.”

It’s been a busy few months for Bressie, with filming for season five of The Voice of Ireland now underway and Bressie’s Ironmind set to air on RTÉ Two.

The latter involves four people examining the link between positive physical and mental health through completing a half-Ironman challenge.

“These four people are looking to take control, like me,” says Bressie. “They have full support from counsellors and sports psychologists. We’ve all been training and learned a lot.”

Fans of The Blizzards, Bressie’s band, will be pleased to learn that the group are back writing music and playing together.

“We stopped enjoying it, but we’re back together and it’s about having fun and being creative. We have a lot of respect for each other as a group,” says Bressie.

Bressie’s schedule is full-on but he wouldn’t change it.

“This time of year is really busy but I’m always hungry for new challenges. Some people love lying on the beach, but I can’t do that and that’s OK.

“It used to upset me before that I couldn’t relax, but my anxiety has allowed me to do more things because I can’t sit still. I use that energy in a positive way now.”

Visit Bressie’s website www.alustforlife.com for more

information on mindfulness,

wellbeing and mental health

Tickets to Bressie’s seminar at Savour Kilkenny cost €15 and are available through www.set.ie and Langtons or Rollercoaster Records in Kilkenny city