Sue and Noel Radford reveal worrying cause of son Josh’s ‘debilitating’ health condition

Sue and Noel Radford have opened up on the cause behind their son Josh’s “debilitating” health condition.

Josh, 18, took centre stage last night in the latest episode of 22 Kids and Counting in a brave special episode.

Scared mum Sue was seen whisking him to A&E after weeks of complaints that he was “going blind” and “couldn’t breathe”.

Josh eventually received a diagnosis of anxiety and agoraphobia, as he struggled to leave the house for more than two months.

Sue and Noel called in a psychiatrist to help, although she remained tight-lipped on the triggers for his mental health deterioration.

But the couple have now explained to concerned fans some of the reasons believed to behind it.

Sue and Noel Radford reveal ’causes’ of Josh’s anxiety

On Monday lunchtime, Sue and Noel appeared as guests on Channel 5’s Storm & Alexis Show. Their appearance came hours after Josh’s Story had aired to the nation.

The couple were both frank about the multiple reasons behind Josh’s anxiety, comparing him to eldest siblings, Christopher, 36, and Sophie, 32.

Speaking about their older generation of kids, Noel said: “Teenagers were outdoors then. There was none of this stay in and stare at a screen.”

He also shared his concerns about social media, which neither Christopher or Sophie had to grapple with.

“These days, teenagers feel like that have to impress,” Noel added.

Sue, meanwhile, described Josh’s condition as “debilitating”.

She told Storm Huntley and Alexis Conran: “Having anxiety is really debilitating and seeing what effect it has on Josh has been really hard to deal with. You try your best to get them through it, but it can’t be rushed.”

Highlighting another potential trigger, she continued: “Josh has been having counselling. She’s mentioned he needs to spend less time on the computer.

“From watching from when we started filming to now, he’s definitely a lot better. But he’s still got a long way to go.”

22 Kids and Counting: Josh Radford’s story

Last night’s episode of 22 Kids and Counting, called Josh’s Story, followed the teenager for a year as he came to terms with severe mental health struggles, later diagnosed as agoraphobia.

The programme offered viewers an unflinching look at Josh’s experience, as well as the impact on the wider Radford family, as they searched for answers and support.

Viewers were invited by Josh into what he described as an emotional and often frightening journey.

The episode opened with Josh explaining why he agreed to share his story on camera.

He said: “No one would have guess I’d have the problems that I have now. It’s hard to say I’m struggling.

“I’m doing this to try and help other people. I do hope that me doing this does give people courage to also open up and ask for help.”

Josh’s Story began on his 18th birthday, a milestone that quickly raised concerns for Sue and Noel when he struggled to engage with the celebrations.

When gifted 10 driving lessons, Josh hesitated, saying: “I don’t know if I can. I would probably have to feel confident. It’s probably waste of money knowing you’re going to fail.”

His anxiety became clearer when he skipped his own birthday outing with siblings at a local go-karting centre.

“Josh has always been the life and soul of the party, so him not wanting to socialise, it’s not Josh,” Sue reflected.

Noel initially labelled his son as “lazy”, before realising there was something far more serious at play.

Josh later told his parents his eyes were “feeling funny”, prompting Sue to book an eye test.

“I’m not sure how to describe it. I don’t see as well as I used to. The only explanation I have is like I’m in a dream,” Josh explained.

During the appointment, he added: “I’m not sure what’s wrong with them. It’s like I’m going blind.”

Josh was diagnosed with a stigmatism and given glasses, though the reassurance brought little comfort.

Panic attacks and hospital dash

Josh’s anxiety escalated during a visit to a busy shopping centre, where he experienced a severe panic attack.

“I’m not sure what happened, it was all the noise. Out of nowhere, I randomly felt it coming. It just hit me,” he said.

After telling Noel his vision had “gone funny” and he could not breathe, the family left immediately.

When a similar episode happened a week later, Sue admitted the earlier incident “was just beginning”.

Josh’s brother James recalled being woken at 3am to find him pacing the house.

Sue recalled: “I could see the panic on his face. I said, ‘Right, come on’. We got dressed, I got him in the car and got him up to hospital.”

Noel waited anxiously at home as Sue and Josh spent seven hours at hospital, eventually returning with an all-clear.

Despite this, Josh admits the fear lingers.

He sadly said: “You feel like you’re dying. It’s impacted me every day, thinking about my health. I can’t see me without this anymore. Or if I will even be here in the future. “

Josh’s diagnosis

Months later, Josh attended a GP appointment, though Sue struggled to persuade him to leave the house.

Once again, physical tests showed nothing wrong, but his mental health continued to deteriorate.

Josh soon became unable to leave home at all. Sue called it “heartbreaking”, while Noel sought advice from a men’s mental health charity.

Desperate to help, the couple invited a clinical psychiatrist named Sarah to visit their home. By then, Josh had not left the house for two months.

“It’s definitely over our heads and not something we have ever dealt with in the past,” Sue admitted.

Sarah believed Josh’s anxiety and agoraphobia have been building subconsciously over several years.

She recommended therapy, which Josh begins on a regular basis, while keeping the root causes of his condition private.

Her support gradually helped him take small steps, including managing a visit to the barbers.

Josh closes the episode with a message to others who may be struggling.

“There’s still a long road ahead but I hope there’s a time in the future when I can look back and see this is when I turned my life around,” he added.

Read now: Sue and Noel Radford left terrified as daughter Sophie goes missing in 22 Kids and Counting

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