Still Here: The Story Behind By a Thread

I always thought mental health was something that happened to other people.
To me, it looked extreme — something you’d see on the news or in a film. Growing up, it meant being “crazy,” locked away, hearing voices, losing control. Not something I ever expected to experience myself.

Until one night, over dinner, something shifted. I felt like something was stuck in my throat. I panicked. I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was dying.

That was my first panic attack.

When Panic Becomes a Pattern

At first, I thought it was a fluke.
“That was weird,” I told myself. “But it’s over now.”

Except it wasn’t.

I can’t remember exactly how long it took, but it happened again. And again. That same tight feeling in my throat, followed by absolute dread. Every time felt like the first time. Every time felt like the end.

It started taking over.

The panic turned into constant checking. I began obsessing over how my body felt. Every ache or sensation became a threat. Every niggle convinced me I was dying. I spiralled into health anxiety and obsessive thoughts. I couldn’t stop Googling symptoms, couldn’t stop fearing the worst. I felt like I was trapped in my own mind.

When Everything Else Started to Fall Apart

Eventually, it took everything from me.
I stopped leaving the house. I couldn’t work. My relationship broke down. I lost control of everything that once felt normal. I was in and out of GPs, A&E, mental health crisis teams — searching for something, anything, to help me feel safe again.

But nothing could touch what I was feeling inside.

That’s the darkest part people don’t always talk about — when you’re so afraid of living, it feels impossible to go on. I got to that point. I really did. And I knew something had to change.

I couldn’t live like that anymore.

The Turning Point

What changed things wasn’t a pill or a professional — it was people.
Hearing from others who were also struggling, who shared their stories of fear, panic, recovery — it gave me hope. I finally realised: I wasn’t broken. I wasn’t alone. And I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

That connection sparked something in me.
If I could take that feeling — of being understood — and turn it into something real, maybe I could help someone else feel safe too.

That was the first seed of By a Thread.

Why Clothing? Why Start Here?

I didn’t start with a grand vision.
I started with a feeling — of comfort. I noticed how much safer I felt when I was wrapped up in soft, warm clothes. A hoodie. A sweatshirt. Something that made the outside world feel a little less sharp.

Clothing became part of how I soothed myself. It helped me stay grounded. It gave me a sense of control when everything else felt too much.

So that’s where I began:
Making clothing that helps you feel safe.
Clothing that says something, even when you can’t.

By a Thread is about comfort, connection, and quiet strength.

“Still Here.” Why Those Two Words Matter

I chose Still Here as the first message because it says everything I needed to hear — and everything I still hold onto.

Over the years of struggling with mental health, I’ve lost people.
Friends who didn’t make it. Who lost their battles with depression, anxiety, trauma.
And I still carry that — the guilt, the sadness, the wondering if I could’ve done something more.

Sometimes I look back and think, “I’m still here.”
I remember how hopeless it felt.
How I thought it would never get better.

But it did. And it still is.

Even though I still have battles today, it’s nothing like it used to be. And there is light now. There’s hope. There’s connection.

That’s what Still Here is about — surviving. Quietly, painfully, bravely.
It’s for the people who are still fighting.
And it’s a tribute to the ones we lost, too.

What I Want You to Feel

When someone wears something from By a Thread, I want them to feel what my friends didn’t get to feel.
I want them to feel safe. Seen. Understood.

I want them to be able to sit there in something soft, something comforting, and think:

“I’m not alone.”
“Someone else gets it.”
“Maybe I’m just one day away from feeling better again.”

Because the truth is, you might be. You’re still here.
And that’s powerful. That’s enough.

By a Thread isn’t just about clothing. It’s a reminder. A quiet one. Worn close to your heart.

This Is Just the Beginning

This brand started from pain. But it’s growing from purpose.
The Still Here drop is only the beginning of what I hope becomes a movement — something that helps people feel less alone, even if just for a moment.

We’re building more than a clothing line. We’re building community, connection, and comfort — one story, one drop, one thread at a time.

Thanks for being here.
Thanks for still being here.

– Steve