Life can sometimes throw us curveballs we don’t expect, and James Middleton knows this all too well. At his lowest point, when depression and anxiety consumed him, he distanced himself from his family. Now, the British entrepreneur, thrust into the spotlight when his sister Kate Middleton started dating Prince William back in 2003, has bravely opened up about his mental health struggles in Tatler's August issue. Let’s dive deeper into his journey and how he’s finding his way back to himself.
Struggling Beneath the Surface
In a candid conversation with Tatler, the 32-year-old Middleton described his battle with depression as “crippling.” It’s the kind of struggle that makes even the simplest tasks feel insurmountable. “It’s what keeps you in bed,” he explained, “while anxiety makes you feel guilty for being there. I thought, what do I have to be depressed about? I’ve been so lucky with my upbringing, I had everything I could want.” Despite all this, James realized there was something missing, and the more he ignored it, the more it took over his life.
The Pressure of Public Scrutiny
Being associated with the royal family brought a whole new level of scrutiny to James's life. He admitted that the public judgment about whether he was a success or a failure weighed heavily on him. “That does put pressure on you because, in my mind, I’m doing this irrespective of my family and the events that have happened,” James confessed. It’s not easy having the world watching your every move, especially when it feels like they're waiting for you to stumble.
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As the brother of Pippa Middleton, James is well aware of the spotlight's intensity. He shared that he tends to be guarded when it comes to speaking about Kate and the royal family. “I lead a separate life to them,” he said. “If there’s an interest in me, great. If there’s an interest in me because of them, that’s different.”
Finding His Way Back
James first opened up about his private battles with mental health after writing an op-ed piece for the Daily Mail in January. He revealed that he sought treatment for depression, which he likened to "a cancer of the mind," for the first time last year. Besides dealing with dyslexia, he was also diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. It wasn’t easy, but it was a crucial step toward healing.
At the time, his parents
