Sam Cohen, 24, from Whitefield was diagnosed with ADHD when he was seven years old and later with autism when he turned 21.
He says that he has “always struggled with anxiety” but the Covid pandemic had caused his symptoms to get worse.
It even got to a stage where Sam stopped leaving his house.
Sam said: “Four years ago, during the height of the pandemic, my world turned upside down.
“I’d always struggled with anxiety, but suddenly it became overwhelming. I stopped leaving the house, barely ate, lost a stone and a half, and developed acid reflux.
“I felt physically and mentally drained – like I was stuck in a cycle I couldn’t break.”
After gentle encouragement from a friend, Sam started going to a nearby gym, which soon became his ‘sanctuary.’
He added: “At first, it was the only place I went outside of my bedroom, but it was a start.
“Being active made a real difference to my mental health, and the gym became a kind of sanctuary.”
Sam enjoyed it so much that after going through counselling to help his anxiety, he went on to undertake a L3 personal training course and qualified this year.
He is now self-employed at The Gym Group on Moss Lane in Whitefield and hopes to create a safe and inclusive space with ‘zero judgement’ for others who may face challenges when it comes to looking after their physical health.
He added: “Last year, I started thinking seriously about my future. I knew I wanted a career that didn’t involve sitting behind a desk all day.
“Becoming a personal trainer felt like the perfect fit – I love fitness, I can choose my hours, and if I’m having a tough day, I can adjust things to suit my needs.
“Four years ago, I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. Now, that light is shining brighter every day. I owe so much to the support of my family – without them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.
Sam’s mum, Joanne Cohen, is “incredibly proud of him”.
She said: “Exercise really helped his mind, and I know he wants to help others in the same situation.
“I am so proud of him. He doesn’t go many places but goes to the gym and the change has been unbelievable.”
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Sam continued: “The future feels a bit scary sometimes. There’s a lot I don’t know, and it’s hard not to think about everything that could go wrong.
“But at the same time, I know that if I stay focused and things work out, there’s also a real chance for something amazing.
“It could be the start of something really successful and full of promise.
“So even though it’s hard, I’m holding on to that hope and pushing forward.”