Enter Shikari and reliable voice of reason Rou Reynolds has taken to Twitter share his personal experience with mental health issues. Reynolds laid it all out for everyone to see in an attempt to jumpstart discussion and remind us “we’re all just humans.”
Reynolds gives us a rough timeline of on or around the band’s schedule performance for Download Festival last year. At this point, he was “halfway through 12 weeks of insomnia & gen. anxiety disorder” and had slept for about 6 hours during the week in question. Eventually, Reynolds burnt out, suffering “the nastiest panic attack” and hospitalisation. As a result, the band missed their Download warm-up show.
Even though they ended up making the festival slot, Reynolds explains he doesn’t remember any of the show, “I was a shell of a man surviving on adrenaline.”
He admits he hates it when he sees musicians complain about “internal “struggles”, but adds it’s important for people to understand that despite being ‘The star’ in the Star/Fan dynamic, “A reminder we’re ALL just humans. Vulnerable humans. Tired, frightened, vulnerable humans.”
Reynolds ends his series of tweets by highlighting how the system doesn’t help, “the NHS is terminally underfunded and the mental health sections often get the worst brunt of the cuts”.
He concludes “A wise Psychology of the future will be practiced like dentistry. Checkups every year for all (but for free, I hope) even if no ‘problems’.”
Enter Shikari and their thoughts will be in town very shortly for a run of headline dates under the good name of their current single The Red Shift.
Strange to think, this time last year, I'd only slept 6 hours this week!
I was halfway through 12weeks of insomnia & gen. anxiety disorder— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
After suffering from exhaustion I had the nastiest panic attack of my life & was hospitalised forcing us to cancel our Download warm up show
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
And the months that followed became some of the most strange & difficult of my life.
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
I don't remember Download festival at all. I was a shell of a man surviving on adrenaline. Even had vitamin shots to the arse (no joke)
— Rou Reynolds (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
I've never felt further from the little cockpit of one's mind. Felt detached, inept, scared.
Take away sleep & mental health crumbles— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
At its worst, some mornings after failing to sleep at all once more, I'd get up feeling utterly distraught & just burst into tears.
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
I hate rockstars moaning or banging on about internal "struggles" etc. So normally refrain from publicly exploring the personal…
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
…BUT it's vital to battle the divisive nature of 'showbiz' culture (I.e. the STAR! & the fans…) in every way possible
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
A reminder we're ALL just humans. Vulnerable humans.
Tired, frightened, vulnerable humans.— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
I'm not saying any of this for sympathy btw. (I'm absolutely FINE now!)
Save it for someone who's struggling in your life .— Rou Reynolds (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
Anyway, just incase any of that helps someone out there struggling now.
Big love all— Rou Reynolds (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
The NHS is terminally underfunded and the mental health sections often get the worst brunt of the cuts. #ThankYouToryAusterity
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
A wise Psychology of the future will be practiced like dentistry. Checkups every year for all (but for free, I hope) even if no 'problems'
— ʀ⎊ᴜ ʀᴇʏɴ⎊ (@RouReynolds) July 3, 2016
