'I was always the life of the party - no one knew the dark secret I was hiding'
25.12.2023 - 18:27
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
From the outside, Georgie Shears appeared to have it all – popular at school, a loving family and a nice home in Altrincham.
But Georgie was harbouring a dark secret. Her mental health struggles meant she felt inadequate throughout her life, masking her struggles by being the life of the party.
Things came to a head during the Covid pandemic when the 44-year-old became gripped by crippling panic attacks which left her trembling on the floor.
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That’s when she knew she had to take control – later immersing herself in mindfulness which finally helped to change the trajectory of her life.
“I was gripped by an overwhelming sense of panic,” Georgie, who lives in Chorlton, said. “All my past anxieties came rushing back, paralysing me like a punch in the gut.
“It was at that moment I knew something needed to change, drastically. I decided to take control of my life. That’s when everything shifted.”
Georgie says she first began experiencing poor mental health as a child following the breakdown of her parents’ relationship.
As she grew older, Georgie felt like an outsider. Despite having close friends in school, she constantly felt on the periphery of her group, always going along with the crowd while being the girl others wanted her to be.
She eventually learned how to mask her insecurities. “I was the life and soul of the party, always so much fun, a great laugh,” Georgie added. “I was having a ball. But, away from the dance floor, I was struggling with depression and was put on medication in my early teens.”
After leaving college, Georgie