The DonnyFest (previously Askern Fest), is something I’ve always been interested in attending, but with my anxiety, unfortunately festivals, even in my home town, weren’t doable.
After the last Donny Fest was at the Doncaster Rovers stadium, it seemed more achievable.
As I’ve documented this year, I’ve been pushing myself as much as possible with exposure therapy to try to beat my anxiety, and DonnyFest was another target this year.
After a very successful ‘Mental Health Matters’ awareness video at the business showcase, I thought it would be a good idea to do the same, but at DonnyFest, with any artists and business connections there.
The idea was fully supported by Andy and the rest of the DonnyFest team, which was fantastic.
To help with capturing content, I had the help of Ellie, who has a lot of experience with video and photography, I just wanted different ideas and perspectives, and someone to capture moments while I’m talking or doing stuff.
The DonnyFest team kindly sorted me and Ellie out with media/press passes to try and help with what we were doing, which was hugely appreciated.
Not only did it give us a better chance of seeing the artists, but also capturing content closer to the stage, it also gave us access to the media/press area, where we could leave any bags or equipment and chill out away from the noise and crowded area, and even though we didn’t use it, knowing it was there helped me.
In the days leading up to the event, I was getting increasingly anxious, I made it clear to the DonnyFest team that I was anxious, and if it doesn’t go to plan, then I apologise, but I’ll do my best, and anything we get is a bonus, and they were fully supportive and understanding.
Seeing how long of a day it was, made me anxious, but I knew I could leave at any time, but I wanted to stay as long as possible.
But it being a completely new experience did worry me, the fact I was also having someone with me for the first time made me anxious as I wasn’t just by myself.
As with anyone though, I made it clear to Ellie what we were doing, the plans, and if either of us want to go home, we can.
The day arrived…. I was a lot calmer than I thought I would be, and knowing there was going to be a lot of business friends and connections made it slightly easier, along with the support I had from the DonnyFest team.
I arrived at 1:15, met Ellie and got signed in with Jodie, at first it was very very overwhelming, the noise, set up, people, it was more overwhelming than I expected.
Once me and Ellie had walked around the full site, we started to get content.
I must admit, as it was our first time with backstage passes, it took a while getting used to them, it felt strange and like we weren’t meant to be there, but seeing others backstage helped.
I didn’t quite anticipate just how hard it would be to get the content of the artists we wanted, and we struggled a lot, but that was mainly down to me, next time I’ll know what to expect and have a better chance of getting them.
My main targets were ADMT, Lucy Spraggan and Jamie Webster, any others were bonuses, we only managed to get ADMT, but hopefully more next time.
We certainly made up for it with the amount of business friends and connections we had pictures and videos with.
During the event, I felt like there were two different half’s, the first half I was in work mode, I was quite tense and overwhelmed trying to get photos and videos and also trying to make sure Ellie was ok, the second half was when I’d stopped focusing on content, left everything behind and went to relax, have a drink and spend time with people I know, and of course I enjoyed this part.
I’m so surprised that I didn’t have more of a headache after the first half, as it was so tense and overwhelming for me, but the second half was so nice to put everything down and content wasn’t the priority.
It was so good seeing and being with so many friends and connections, and what made it even better, was that the majority of people were not in work mode, so people were relaxed, enjoying themselves, and it’s so good to see and be around.
These people, are the fantastic people who have massively helped me in the last year and helped me in bearing my anxiety, the love, support, encouragement and backing I get from them, it’s so incredibly powerful, and I’m so grateful to them.
As time went on I was just taking it minute by minute with how I was feeling, knowing I was only 10mins from home if I wanted to go.
But thankfully and surprisingly, I felt ok and I went to the very end of the event!!
I couldn’t believe it, but I was so happy I did.
WHAT A DAY!!
Once I was home, I was extremely anxious about how I was going to be the next day, after a full day, most of it being anxious and overwhelmed, and also a very late night.
To make sure I went to sleep a little more relaxed, I went to sleep at 1:30am, waking up at 6:30am I felt ok, I was in disbelief, but as the day went on, I felt a little tired and my head was tender, but no headache and I felt good, I was so happy about this.
The buzz I got mentally, not only from the day and event, which was incredible, but also waking up headache free was so good.
So again, thank you to Andy, Jodie and the rest of the DonnyFest team for all the help and support with me and MHFC.
Thank you to Ellie, I hope I didn’t make you feel awkward or not involved at any point, hopefully I improve in the future.
And thank you to everyone who got involved in the video and supported me on the day!!
Hopefully, see you at DonnyFest27.
DonnyFest26 ‘Mental Health Matters’ video is coming soon.
Click here to read my previous anxiety posts.
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IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH FOOTBALL ⚽️💚
EVERYONE WELCOMED & SUPPORTED
#MHFC #MentalHealthFC #MentalHealthMatters
