'Stand-up comedy is my anxiety coping strategy'

A comedy enthusiast who struggles with anxiety has described his stand-up debut as "exposure therapy".

Adam Rogers, from Chapeltown, Sheffield, decided to step out of his comfort zone and embrace his passion for punchlines.

"It was the scariest thing I've ever done, but was the most liberating thing I'd ever done," he said.

Rogers, 41, performed his first comedy gig in Sheffield in December 2025.

He understood the irony in his performance and said he had gained a "sense of freedom" through facing his fears, despite finding it "very anxiety-inducing".

"I wanted to do things that really challenged my anxiety and pushed me out my comfort zone," he said.

"It's amazing how long five minutes feels when you're in front of 200 people," he added.

He has now performed 11 times across comedy clubs and open mic nights.

Rogers was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder in 2019, but it was as he faced a milestone birthday in 2025 that he felt motivated to tackle his condition and change his life.

"The realisation that I was going to hit 40 kicked in and so I created a bucket list of things that I wished I'd done at a younger age but hadn't," he said.

The charity Mental Health UK said that anxiety can affect people in very different ways.

Its director of UK programmes, Deidre Bowen, said: "Common symptoms can include racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, feeling on edge, and a sense of being unable to switch off from worrying."

She added that it was understandable to want to avoid situations that make us feel anxious, but that gradually getting out of your comfort zone could help.

In a blog that documented his journey into comedy, Rogers described how his battle with the mental health condition stopped him chasing his ambitions.

Notes from a Nervous Comedian tackles perfectionism, vulnerability and isolation, all things Rogers has grappled with both on and off-stage.

He hoped his posts would inspire others to consider how humour can help.

He explained in his blog: "Sometimes the best way to silence anxiety is to laugh right back at it."

Rogers grew up in County Durham and moved to Sheffield in 2009 to be closer to his mother. His family has welcomed his new hobby.

"They all think I'm a bit crazy for wanting to put myself into that kind of situation, but that's the whole point.

"They're supportive because it's something that's helping me and my mental health."

As he discovered his love of stand-up, he also left his fitness career to pursue teaching.

He now works with children with learning difficulties as a teaching assistant.

He explained the change was part of his goal to help others overcome barriers in their lives, as he has in his.

Another bucket list activity Rogers ticked off this year was his first rollercoaster ride.

He said the experience would provide good material for his upcoming shows.

Rogers has set himself a new challenge of performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before he turns 50.

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