A Kyabram-born paramedic was having the time of his life living overseas when a panic attack on the London Underground turned his life upside down.
This year, he shared his experiences of an epic decade-long journey of learning how to overcome and live with his anxiety and agoraphobia in a book — and it all began with a few base jumpers in Europe.
On May 7, Christopher Breen’s How A Base Jumper Saved My Life shot to number one on the Amazon Best Sellers list for Anxiety and number one on the Movers and Shakers list.
Mr Breen said while he did not write the book for accolades or to top charts, he was appreciative of the response.
“Of course, it feels nice, but I feel better about the fact that now I’ve got this as a resource that has the ability to help so many people suffering,” he said.
“Ten years ago, I thought if I could help someone else, it’s only fair for me to share that knowledge that I learnt, so that’s why I wrote the book.”
The non-fiction book tells the story of Mr Breen, how he suddenly became aware of his anxiety on the London Underground and how he struggled for years to understand it.
Then, on a trip to the Swiss Alps, and at the height of his anxiety episodes, watching base jumpers face their fears head-on showed him there were other ways of thinking about his anxiety.
Through research, commentary and personal experience, Mr Breen coaches readers through the methods he used to face anxiety, encouraging those with anxiety to give in to the physical effects and embrace the nerves.
The book’s focus is more topical than ever, at a time when efforts are ongoing to destigmatise discussions around men’s mental health.
A survey by Beyond Blue in 2022 found that only 36.4 per cent of men who experienced a mental disorder sought professional help for their mental health compared to 51.1 per cent of females.
Mr Breen touched on the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, and how he hoped the narrative would change.
“Growing up, there was a fair bit of stigma attached to mental health, and Australian culture probably lends itself a little bit to that,” he said.
“Once upon a time, you didn’t want to be labelled as someone with mental illness because then people would think something was wrong with you.
“I’ve got two teenage boys, and they see me wearing my uniform and didn’t know me when I was unwell.
“It’s important for them to understand that you can have periods when you’re in a tough place, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to last for ever.”
He began writing his book more than 10 years ago when his girlfriend, now wife, Tanya Breen, suggested he get all of his thoughts down in writing.
“She was with me the whole time saying: ‘Have a look at you and where you started, you were scared to leave the house, but now you are out there saving lives and making a difference in their worlds,’ and she pretty much said that this was a story that I need to tell,” Mr Breen said.
Mrs Breen also played a part in creating the book. Her illustrations pop up throughout the book as guides relating to words on the page.
Maureen O’Shea, Mr Breen’s mother, still lives in Kyabram and was happy to see him complete the book.
“I’m very proud of him and what he’s been able to do to help people. It took him 10 years to put that book together,” she said.
“I was surprised when I read through the book to see that he was as anxious as he was.
“As a kid he would always do what all boys did and show off his muscles and act all tough, so I was surprised to see that he had some anxiety all through his life.”
Nowadays, Mr Breen continues his work as a paramedic in Melbourne, where he lives with his family.
He said the methods he outlined in his book had helped him to maintain composure in his high-stress occupation as a paramedic.
“I always wonder where I would be — who I would be — if I hadn’t gone through what I did,” he said.
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have the skill or the strategies to deal with my stress of anxiety, and because I do, I actually learned how to rethink a lot of my responses to things at work.
“It’s probably one of my proudest achievements — overcoming my anxiety.
“I just want to let people know that you’re not alone, and it’s okay not to be okay.”
If you or someone you know needs assistance or is at risk please contact:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636