County Durham veteran Andy Denholm, who has battled both PTSD and depression, has been supported by the team at Wellbeing For Life (WBFL). Reporter Erin Gilhespie spoke to Andy about how he’s turned things around through mindfulness, exercise and slowing down.

People in County Durham live against a backdrop of poor health statistics. It is the fifth highest authority area in the North East for levels of adult obesity and rates of hypertension (high blood pressure) are above the national average.

So, when Andy, 57, went for a regular health check and discovered that he’d developed high blood pressure, he knew he needed to make a change. “I was a heart attack waiting to happen,” he says.

Andy’s GP offered him medication, but he was determined to take matters into his own hands. He got in touch with the team at WBFL, which is a free service for all those over 16 living or working in County Durham.

Andy and Tina in front of the Dean Bank at Ferryhill Literary InstituteAndy and Tina in front of the Dean Bank at Ferryhill Literary Institute (Image: ERIN GILHESPIE)

The team at WBFL explain to me that they are a client-led service. They focus on a person’s individual needs, and everything is tailored to them.

In Andy’s case, he was focused on improving his health, rather than looking for a quick-fix diet. The team tells me: “We’re a health improvement service. We don’t do diets, we do lifestyle change.”

WBFL offers one-to-one sessions across County Durham to help with a range of issues. Andy, who received his support at the Dean Bank & Ferryhill Literary Institute, says: "It’s like an umbrella service, they cover everything".

After his GP health check, Andy was immediately set up with an appointment at WBFL and he was amazed that there were no long waiting lists. He had weekly sessions with Tina Irving, who calls Andy an "inspiration".

His lifestyle change has allowed Andy to sustain healthy eating, even while taking a doctor-prescribed holiday to destress. Alongside his mental health journalling, he has even cut out caffeine and smoking, which he says has given him a newfound taste for healthy foods.

Part of Andy’s success has been taking his foot off the gas, learning to slow down and enjoy life. Being naturally hyperactive, he’s had to stop himself setting targets, and feeling guilty for not meeting them.

Coming from a regimented background in the army, Andy is used to this intense structure. He laughs as he says: "When you leave the army, they don’t de-programme you!"

Andy with all his supporters from WBFL at Ferryhill Literary InstituteAndy with all his supporters from WBFL at Ferryhill Literary Institute (Image: ERIN GILHESPIE)

So, Andy’s taken control and say's he's "got his mojo back". He says he’s removed the word "worry" from his vocabulary and learnt to "live for today, don’t worry about tomorrow".

Exercise is also something that the WBFL encouraged for Andy. He reconnected with his childhood passion for running. The evening before we met, he completed an impressive five mile run in the rain!

He confesses that it’s been a slow but steady process, from just getting out on a walk for his mental health, to giving running a go when he felt ready. He even has his bike on hand for when his joints are feeling stiff. One day, Andy would like to complete an Ultrarun in the Lake District, but of course, he isn’t putting pressure on himself to do so.

Now, Andy’s mission is to spread the word for WBFL. He has cards on hand for anyone he meets who may want one. He says his family, friends, and colleagues have all applauded his transformation, and he wants everyone to feel how he does.

 "I feel like a million dollars," he says.

Andy's practitioner, Tina, says he has been "an absolute delight to work with". 

"His dedication was clear right from the very start and, whilst weight loss wasn’t his initial goal, he absolutely smashed it," she adds.

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"He has followed all our advice, used the tools we’ve given him and has remained on track right from the start."

The final piece of advice from Andy is: "If you want to change your life, make that phone call."

To find out more about the services offered by Wellbeing for Life, visit their website at www.wellbeingforlife.net or email them at cdda-tr.WBFL@nhs.net