HELLO. I'M CARL VERNON.

Answers are what we are all looking for, right? Let's start there.


WHY DO YOU MOSTLY WRITE AND TALK ABOUT ANXIETY?

Write about what you know.

I've lived and breathed anxiety for as long as I can remember. I was crippled by it for over fifteen years, with memories dating as far back as five years old. It all got so bad I couldn't leave my house.

Today, things are very different, but it wasn't thanks to the pills that made me a zombie, or the usual, tired trash you find all over the internet. The turning point started with Einstein's definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

My life followed the same Groundhog Day pattern for years. Ten cups of coffee a day. Junk food. A bottle of wine in the evening to try and cope with the uncontrollable stress from a shitty job. Pumping my head full of crap from mindless TV. And still, every day I wondered why nothing changed.

The most profound and yet simple bit of advice I can ever give you is this: If you want something different, you've got to do something different.


YOU'RE NOT A COUNSELLOR OR THERAPIST. WHAT GIVES YOU AUTHORITY TO WRITE AND TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS?

I'm not these things on purpose. If I did all the usual NLP and CBT type stuff, it would make me the same as everyone else.

I like the common sense approach, and believe the key to change is simplicity.

The daily messages from people who say they've read one of my books and felt like it was written about them and for them is that personal connection and understanding I don't ever want to lose.


WHY DO YOU NOT MENTION MENTAL HEALTH, AND WHY AREN'T YOU A MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGNER LIKE THE REST OF THEM?

Mental health has so many negatives and stigmas attached to it, I'm not about to change that. Plus, I'm not a big fan of the term itself. It makes you think of segregation and straight jackets.

I would much rather talk to you about how you're doing. How is your mood and wellbeing? We can all relate to these things. 

Your mood doesn't have to define who you are. Things like anxiety, stress and worry are always temporary. They might stick around longer than you want, but they aren't permanent. That means you can always improve your situation, whatever is going on.


YOU USE INAPPROPRIATE COMEDY AND YOU'RE A BIT SWEARY AT TIMES. WHY IS THAT?

You've got to be true to yourself, whatever you do. 

The ability to laugh at myself makes me feel a lot better, especially compared to the uptight caveman, tense, anxious, stressed, worried, short-tempered and anal arsehole I used to be.

Anyway. A few passionate 'shits' and f-bombs here and there never hurt anyone.


YOU DON'T HAVE AN OVERPRICED PROGRAMME FOR ME TO SIGN UP TO. WHY?

Because rightly or wrongly, I believe in sticking to principles. One of those principles is to remain as honest as my human nature lets me.

I don't like them. Never have. It's all the buy buy buy and money-back guarantees that give me the willies.


IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CON ME, WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?

I coach on an ad-hoc basis. I've worked with lots of people with lots of different backgrounds. They all say they've never had coaching like it (in a good way). Some clients say they have got more out of one session with me than they have in the past five years of searching. If you want to judge for yourself, you can get in touch here.

You also have my bestselling books, and you might also like my courses.


HOW DID YOU GET INTO WRITING?

By chance. I left school aged sixteen without a proverbial pot to piss in.

Without daddy's trust fund to fall back on, I had to go out and make a living. I started my own business aged twenty-one, built it up, but grew to despise the corporate world. A combination of stress-induced ill health, keeping up with the Joneses and toxic people made me disillusioned with it all. I had to tell people how dangerous this stress and anxiety is.

Anxiety Rebalance came to exist, and it reached #1 on Amazon. It still shocks me today how many people can relate to my experience, and how many lives I've had the absolute pleasure of touching. 

I believe in 'self-help' as much as you do. But it turns out you can turn your life around with the right answers. I find books the best method to get these answers to you. While you keep reading them and finding them useful, I'll keep writing them.


DO YOU DO TALKS?

Funny you should ask. I do. In fact, I've shared the stage with the likes of Frank Bruno and Ruby Wax. More here.


WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL?

Finally, a lighthearted question!

There is only one animal worth mentioning. The lovely, independent furball that is the cat. They pick when they want a fuss, and they call the shots.


WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

Wow. We are getting into a conversation. You're asking me questions and you're really listening. I like you.

When I'm not writing books and putting the world to rights, you'll find me playing chess, reading, or debating whether or not to go to the gym. I'm also in the kitchen a lot cooking up a treat or two.


ARE YOU ON THAT SOCIAL MEDIA MALARKEY?

Unfortunately, yes. Truth be known I can't stand it, but we have to connect somehow, don't we?

You will catch me live most Wednesday's at 9:00pm on YouTube, and you will get all my updates on my Facebook page.​