Laugh? I nearly died: how an aneurysm led Scott Gibson to standup

Eight years ago, while returning home from a stag do in Blackpool, Scott Gibson began getting headaches that were so excruciating he rang the NHS’s 24-hour helpline and then had a stroke while on the phone. They sent an ambulance, but he turned it away and simply took to his bed instead – for four days. As he lay there, one thought kept going through his head: “I must be OK because I’m young and healthy.” Finally, he tried to head back to work, only to find himself going blind in one eye. Somehow he made it to hospital, where doctors diagnosed an aneurysm an inch-and-a-half deep behind his right ear. He needed major brain surgery, they said. The operation took seven hours.

After Gibson pulled through, he was determined to live life to the full – to live the life he’d always dreamed of, in fact. “I always wanted to be a storyteller,” says Gibson. “And, from day one, I knew this would be the first story I’d tell.” So, as a lifelong comedy lover, the Glaswegian embarked on a college standup course and was soon gigging regularly. In 2012, he took redundancy – £632 – from the call centre where he worked to focus fully on his new career.

But it wasn’t until last year that he made his Edinburgh fringe debut – after a false start in 2015, when the Stand Comedy Club, which has venues in Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh, refused to book Life After Death, as he called his show. “I don’t know why,” says Gibson, now 32. “I don’t know if they thought I was worthy of a room.”

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A clip from Scott Gibson’s show Life After Death on YouTube

At no point did I think: ‘I’m going to win an award with my debut show’

In Edinburgh, however, he proved an overnight sensation. The unheralded Glaswegian swiped the coveted best newcomer comedy award with a show you’d happily watch even if there were no laughs in it, so gripping is his near-death tale. Looking back, Gibson says he is glad about the enforced wait: the extra year’s work contributed, he believes, to his extraordinary success. I could fill this whole article with quotes expressing the burly Scotsman’s astonishment at winning his gong, joining a pantheon that includes Sarah Millican, the Mighty Boosh and Tim Minchin. “I never thought in a million years I’d even be nominated,” he says, having arrived at the festival with “no manager, no PR, no buzz. Didn’t even have a press release. I don’t know if that helped, having no expectations. But at no point did I think, ‘I’m going to win an award with my debut show.’”

Even being shortlisted, says Gibson, propelled him into a glamorous new world. “The nominees turned up to have press pictures taken – and there’s free coffee and bacon rolls! I’m thinking, ‘This is how the other half live!’” Of 18 acts nominated, Gibson believes he was the only one without an agent or manager. He credits his venue, the Gilded Balloon, with providing the support that made his triumph possible.

What made it doubly sweet, he says, was that the main award was won by his compatriot Richard Gadd, a first ever Scottish double-whammy and a rare instance of Edinburgh’s comedy awards recognising local talent. “Rightly or wrongly,” says Gibson, “we [Scottish comics] have an idea we don’t belong at the fringe. There is a voice in our heads saying we cannot compete with London, or the establishment.”

That’s partly because, for Scottish acts, the fringe is awkwardly positioned between home gig and alien environment. “It’s a home gig in that it’s in Edinburgh,” says Gibson, “but not in terms of the audience.” Then there’s the lack of a sustainable comedy circuit in Scotland, meaning acts can only ever do short sets in pubs, and seldom the hour-long narrative or themed shows that prosper on the fringe.

“It’s a hard apprenticeship,” says Gibson. “But it’s the best, because if you come through it, you can play anywhere.” So will his triumph be a confidence-booster for Scottish acts? “There’ll have been comics in Scotland who heard the result and went, ‘Brilliant! Next year, I’m going.’ And others who’ll say, ‘Well, that’s us for another 25 years.’ That’s unfortunately how we think, and it’s stupid.”

At any rate, Gibson will be back, with a show called Like Father Like Son, about “the male figures in my life and how those relationships formed me”. Already nearing completion, it will be one in the eye, Gibson promises, for anyone thinking: “All right, one-trick pony, let’s see what you’ve got.”

In the meantime, he is midway through a run at Soho theatre in London. Before his fringe success, getting a gig there was all he dreamed of, the apex of his ambition. However, his aspirations have not been much affected by awards glory. “I just love doing standup,” he says. “If you can pay your bills, go on holiday once a year, and do standup … ” The ex-call centre employee’s voice tails off. “I don’t know what else you’re wanting. It’s just a good life. Life’s good, man.”

•Scott Gibson: Life After Death is at Soho theatre, London, until 14 January.

Laugh? I nearly died: how an aneurysm led Scott Gibson to standup

I battled my anxiety by making people laugh. Funnily enough, it works | Naomi Petersen

To say that comedy “cured” my anxiety is perhaps an overstatement: I’m still living with it. But these days, I have come to view it as an exasperating recurring character in the film of my life, rather than the main antagonist that it used to be. My anxiety, in other words, is Jar Jar Binks.

As I write this, I’m preparing to take my debut one-woman comedy show up to the Edinburgh festival fringe, a challenge I’ve only recently felt mentally tough enough to undertake.

I’ve experienced anxiety in some form since childhood, which has manifested itself in a variety of symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, to night terrors, the occasional panic attack and an overwhelming array of destructive negative thoughts (I’m the one you want to party with). Graduating from drama school and working as an actor exacerbated the situation: the endless auditioning, frequent rejection and haywire routine made me feel even less in control.

I’m still reaping the benefits of the principle of playfulness throughout this process

Lots of things helped. An apprehensive visit to a psychiatrist helped me realise that the anxiety stemmed from being bullied at school and led to a course of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). Through this, I was able to understand and challenge my negative thought patterns. I was inundated with words of wisdom and those repeated cliches: stay healthy, lay off the booze, eat well and get plenty of sleep. All important, all true, all unfortunately difficult to put into practice for someone whose main joys in life include cake of all kinds and necking flutes of prosecco.

Yet the biggest revelation came back in January 2013, was entirely unexpected and nowhere to be found in the NHS leaflets. I had spent a few days existing in a semi-permanent state of what I affectionately dubbed “Towel-Face” – which can be roughly translated as spending a prolonged amount of time sitting on the bed staring at the wall in your towel post-shower, because the idea of getting dressed seems too overwhelming (honestly, I’m great at parties). Then on a whim, I signed up to an improv comedy course.

‘My anxiety, in other words, is Jar Jar Binks.’ Photograph: Allstar/Lucasfilm

Spending three hours making stuff up in a room full of incredibly funny people was nothing short of life-affirming. There is no feeling more joyous than laughing until your sides hurt and making others laugh too. My confidence grew, my social circle flourished and as I continued to throw myself into this world I began to feel less anxious in day-to-day life.

Fundamentally, I believe this is down to the fact that improv is so much about rediscovering a sense of play. As adults, how often do we detach ourselves from our responsibilities and just let ourselves play? How often do we genuinely take off our adult masks and get messy and silly, without worrying about how we appear? Almost never, especially if alcohol is off the table. It can feel like society actively discourages us from letting go and from reconnecting with our inner children. On the other hand, improv and comedy in general is all about finding and following the fun. When I fully embraced that, it was amazing how uplifted and free from worry I felt.

Related: As a neuroscientist who’s done standup, I know performance anxiety is no joke | Sophie Scott

Fast-forward four years, and comedy has become an integral part of my life: as well as performing and teaching improv, I’m also premiering my solo show “I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”. It’s a big-hearted, silly and joyful hour of character comedy, songs and storytelling that’s partly inspired by my own anxiety.

As I’ve been developing it, I’ve realised that comedy doesn’t just improve my wellbeing – it can also be a crucial platform for discussing mental health. Laughter has such a universal way of connecting with people that more sensitive subjects become instantly relatable and cease to be taboo. We should be searching for the humour in dark situations and using it to erase any stigma surrounding them.

I’m still reaping the benefits of the principle of playfulness throughout this process. The overriding lesson from developing the show is that it’s always most successful when I have the most fun. My job at its heart is to mess about, be silly, follow the funny and find the joy. When I’m entirely focused on that, there’s no longer any room for Jar Jar.

I battled my anxiety by making people laugh. Funnily enough, it works | Naomi Petersen

10 portions of fruit and veg a day - are they possessing a laugh?

I say “us” – but let’s search a tiny closer to home, shall we? Like you, in the Lambert kitchen, we try to maintain on prime of all this healthful eating advice. Seem all around and there are loads of nods to current suggestions.

There are the porridge oats (very good for cholesterol) here is the empty wrapper for 70 per cent dark chocolate (decreases blood strain) and above in the larder you will uncover walnuts (antioxidants), pole-caught tuna in spring water (protein), cinnamon (steadies the blood sugar) and – search, push that can of Heinz tomato soup out of the way, will you? – cod liver oil for vitamin D.

And continually underfoot – like an outdated Labrador and just as smelly – is the large box of property-delivered natural fruit and veg with which I try to plump out each and every meal (ahead of the leftovers get fed to the rabbits).

So absolutely my family need to be portion of the 30 per cent? Nicely, I’m not so certain we deal with it each day. So far I’ve had a handful of blueberries and I may possibly grab a tomato at lunchtime or some salad leaves. But that is leaving an terrible lot of veg to pack into my evening meal is not it?

Checking the NHS site for confirmation, I discover that whilst one particular tomato counts as a portion, it takes two handfuls of blueberries to make yet another helping, and I’d require to place away a total dessert bowl of lettuce. I could then make up my ten portions today by eating 14 button mushrooms, four heaped tablespoons of curly kale, sixteen medium okra, eight spring onions, a big parsnip, twenty raspberries and 1 peach.

Yes, it is daunting. Even if I make vegetable curry.

Of course the researchers’ intentions are noble. Shrink our nationwide obesity difficulty and we’d probably be ready to afford a fatter NHS. So no wonder campaigners are calling for fruit and veg to be subsidised to assist every person afford them in location of junk meals.

But I’m afraid I do not see cost as the significant hurdle. It’s not just the believed of the sheer quantity of fruit and veg you’d need to have to acquire in that helps make this ten portions sound a bit pie in the sky – despite the fact that can you think about how several damp boxes smelling of old boots would clutter our homes? (The researchers also found that canned and frozen fruit increased the risk of dying by 17 per cent, and fruit juice was identified to have no substantial advantage – so don’t feel you can get brief cuts with your storage.)

Nor is it an situation with recipes – vegetables from beetroot to parsnips now get caught in cakes. Let’s be frank. There are two reasons we are not going to return to the hunter-gathering grazing days of yore, which would slim down our figures and return our cholesterol levels to peak fitness.

Firstly, let’s be useful. If life is too short to things a mushroom, time is definitely too tight to masticate turnips, tomatoes and tangerines by the ton. No 1 I know chews these days. We’re as well active.

Secondly, there is the unavoidable problem of fermentation that consuming enormous quantities of – notably cruciferous – veggies has on the abdominal spot.

Digestion is challenging ample when your body is striving to stability the bloating caused by anxiety, mixed with the corseting result of a pair of Spanx (or merely your favourite tight jeans). Add in the bacterial effect needed to tackle a colander’s really worth of cauliflower, green beans and cavolo nero, at just 1 meal, and we’re speaking a knock-on methane-gasoline climate-alter effect which doesn’t bear considering about.

In addition, your body will be so distended and groaning, you will be fit for nothing at all but vegging out – potato-style – on the couch. Which is towards the complete anti-obesity ethos in the initial area.

10 portions of fruit and veg a day - are they possessing a laugh?

10 portions of fruit and veg a day - are they obtaining a laugh?

I say “us” – but let’s seem a small closer to property, shall we? Like you, in the Lambert kitchen, we attempt to preserve on top of all this healthful eating advice. Appear about and there are lots of nods to latest advice.

There are the porridge oats (great for cholesterol) right here is the empty wrapper for 70 per cent dark chocolate (minimizes blood pressure) and in excess of in the larder you’ll discover walnuts (antioxidants), pole-caught tuna in spring water (protein), cinnamon (steadies the blood sugar) and – search, push that can of Heinz tomato soup out of the way, will you? – cod liver oil for vitamin D.

And continually underfoot – like an old Labrador and just as smelly – is the huge box of house-delivered natural fruit and veg with which I try out to plump out each and every meal (ahead of the leftovers get fed to the rabbits).

So absolutely my household need to be part of the thirty per cent? Effectively, I’m not so sure we control it every day. So far I’ve had a handful of blueberries and I might grab a tomato at lunchtime or some salad leaves. But that is leaving an awful lot of veg to pack into my evening meal isn’t it?

Checking the NHS site for confirmation, I find that although a single tomato counts as a portion, it requires two handfuls of blueberries to make yet another assisting, and I’d need to have to put away a entire dessert bowl of lettuce. I could then make up my ten portions right now by consuming 14 button mushrooms, four heaped tablespoons of curly kale, 16 medium okra, eight spring onions, a large parsnip, 20 raspberries and one particular peach.

Yes, it is daunting. Even if I make vegetable curry.

Of course the researchers’ intentions are noble. Shrink our nationwide weight problems difficulty and we’d possibly be ready to afford a fatter NHS. So no wonder campaigners are calling for fruit and veg to be subsidised to assist every person afford them in location of junk meals.

But I’m afraid I really do not see price as the significant hurdle. It’s not just the thought of the sheer amount of fruit and veg you’d need to have to acquire in that tends to make this 10 portions sound a bit pie in the sky – despite the fact that can you picture how numerous damp boxes smelling of previous boots would clutter our properties? (The researchers also discovered that canned and frozen fruit increased the chance of dying by 17 per cent, and fruit juice was found to have no considerable benefit – so really don’t think you can take brief cuts with your storage.)

Nor is it an situation with recipes – veggies from beetroot to parsnips now get stuck in cakes. Let’s be frank. There are two motives we are not going to return to the hunter-gathering grazing days of yore, which would slim down our figures and return our cholesterol ranges to peak fitness.

Firstly, let’s be sensible. If life is too brief to stuff a mushroom, time is undoubtedly too tight to masticate turnips, tomatoes and tangerines by the ton. No 1 I know chews these days. We’re too busy.

Secondly, there is the unavoidable issue of fermentation that consuming tremendous quantities of – especially cruciferous – veggies has on the abdominal spot.

Digestion is tough enough when your physique is striving to balance the bloating triggered by pressure, combined with the corseting result of a pair of Spanx (or basically your favourite tight jeans). Include in the bacterial effect essential to tackle a colander’s worth of cauliflower, green beans and cavolo nero, at just a single meal, and we’re talking a knock-on methane-fuel climate-alter impact which doesn’t bear contemplating about.

Furthermore, your body will be so distended and groaning, you’ll be match for nothing at all but vegging out – potato-fashion – on the couch. Which is against the entire anti-obesity ethos in the first spot.

10 portions of fruit and veg a day - are they obtaining a laugh?

Students to laugh, tweet and bounce on university mental well being day

Students will get component in pursuits for university psychological overall health day. Photograph: Alamy

College students at universities all around the nation will take portion in pursuits like zumba and singing on Wednesday, to raise awareness of mental overall health concerns for university psychological well being day.

The day, set up in 2012 by the university psychological wellness advisers network and supported by Student Minds, is created to market the mental well being of people who dwell and work in higher training.

Routines on offer on campuses close to the United kingdom include jumping on a bouncy castle in Loughborough, drinking free of charge smoothies in Northampton and “laughter yoga” as effectively as tweeting about whether or not you are getting a #goodday or a #badday in York. Other occasions incorporate “tea and chat” and wearing onesies in Sheffield.

Rosanna Hardwick, communications officer at Pupil Minds, says: “Lots of universities are holding occasions on campus, like movie screenings, speaker occasions, meditation and yoga.

“The aim is to draw attention to the particular needs of students when it comes to psychological well being and to get men and women talking about it.

“Students are specifically vulnerable to mental health issues. The transient nature of pupil daily life can generate issues and items like moving away from home for the initial time, being independent and coping with the academic pressures of university, make it difficult.

“The week is made to let college students know what aid is available, like counselling and peer assistance groups.”

The day comes as the Priory group publishes the findings of its survey of 200 students who have mental wellness troubles and come from 18 diverse universities. The research discovered that a single in four students with psychological overall health concerns surveyed was not comfy talking about their difficulties with their peers.

A lack of comprehending, intimidation and the media have been all provided as causes for the social stigma that a lot of felt remained connected to psychological well being problems in the United kingdom.

Almost half of people surveyed said they had skilled a unfavorable backlash as a result of talking about their problems: sixteen% believed they had misplaced friends as a end result of admitting their psychological well being troubles. The exact same variety also explained that talking about their situation led their peers to “not get them seriously”.

First-12 months students had been the most vulnerable to unfavorable therapy by their fellow peers, with half of those diagnosed saying that they had been taken care of in a different way as a consequence.

Depression, anxiousness, tension, anorexia and bulimia have been the most frequent illnesses found in the survey.

In accordance to investigation by the National Union of Students (NUS), 20% of individuals studying consider themselves to have a psychological wellness dilemma. And the quantity of college students searching for counselling on campus has risen by 33% since 2008.

Dr David Kingsley, advisor adolescent psychiatrist at Priory hospital Cheadle Royal says: “Psychological wellness problems are remarkably common in students, like depression, self-harm, anxiety problems and consuming disorders.

“As this is often the first time that they have been away from property, they can really feel isolated and unable to accessibility help for their difficulties. Universities and schools usually offer you counselling and assistance for this kind of students and it is important that they really feel ready to accessibility this.

“It is also crucial that universities and schools aid other college students to understand psychological wellness troubles better. That way college students can access the help they require from their peers and their problems are not compounded by misunderstanding or prejudice from their close friends.”

A spokesperson from Time to Modify says: “We require to do a lot more in colleges and universities to educate and raise awareness about mental health troubles to show just how frequent they are and to aid men and women to come to feel relaxed talking about them.”

University psychological wellness day aims to draw all students’ attention to psychological sickness. Individuals involved intend to get people talking and to stage out that there is assistance obtainable on campus if it is essential.

• To discover out what is going on at your university click right here.

Students to laugh, tweet and bounce on university mental well being day