As the UK goes into lockdown, there's no specific theme for this episode of the coronavirus diaries - instead Alan and Ben just chat about their experiences of this extraordinary time, and how it might be impacting on their mental health.

12: Lockdown catch-up - the coronavirus diaries

Alan and Ben have been friends since they were four. When they were twelve, Ben found out that Alan lived with anxiety. A few years later Alan found out the same about Ben's OCD.

So they went from just talking about football, to talking about their lives - their real lives - therapy, medication, CBT tactics, the lot. Though obviously they still talked about football.

And it helped, it really helped. So they've started a podcast. They hope that more people (especially men) hearing other people (especially men) talk about mental health will help to change the stigma that's still out there, and help more people to look for solutions rather than hide their problems away.

They can't promise there won't be football references, but they can promise honesty, empathy and real, lived advice.

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Alan and Ben have been friends since they were four. When they were twelve, Ben found out that Alan lived with anxiety. A few years later Alan found out the same about Ben's OCD. So they went from just talking about football, to talking about their lives - their real lives - therapy, medication, CBT tactics, the lot. Though obviously they still talked about football. And it helped, it really helped. So they've started a podcast. They hope that more people (especially men) hearing other people (especially men) talk about mental health will help to change the stigma that's still out there, and help more people to look for solutions rather than hide their problems away. They can't promise there won't be football references, but they can promise honesty, empathy and real, lived advice.

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12: Lockdown catch-up - the coronavirus diaries

12: Lockdown catch-up - the coronavirus diaries