Royals James Middleton Opens Up About 'Angst of Loneliness' and How His Dogs Helped Him Kate Middleton's younger brother has been candid about his battle with depression. By Michelle Tauber Michelle Tauber Twitter Michelle Tauber is the Editorial Director of Society & Culture at PEOPLE overseeing Parents, Royals, Health, Weddings and Politics. She was previously the Senior Editor of Royals at PEOPLE and PEOPLE's first and only Head Writer. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 5, 2019 01:44 PM Share Tweet Pin Email James Middleton. Photo: James Middleton/Instagram James Middleton continues to be candid about his battle with depression. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Middleton, 31, shared a snowy selfie in the mountains alongside one of his beloved dogs. He captioned the picture, “I’ve been in that angst of loneliness, where you’re really alone in the universe. Luckily for me I had my dogs 🐾🐾” Kate Middleton‘s brother first opened up about his mental health struggle in January, when he penned a searing op-ed for The Daily Mail revealing that he had sought treatment for depression a little more than a year ago. “During the day I’d drag myself up and go to work, then just stare with glazed eyes at my computer screen, willing the hours to tick by so I could drive home again,” wrote the entrepreneur. “Debilitating inertia gripped me. I couldn’t respond to the simplest message so I didn’t open my emails.” RELATED ARTICLE: Kate Middleton’s Brother James Makes His Instagram Public — Meet Her Dapper, Animal Loving Sibling! “I couldn’t communicate, even with those I loved best: my family and close friends,” he continued. James Middleton. James Middleton Instagram “I know I’m richly blessed and live a privileged life. But it did not make me immune to depression. It is tricky to describe the condition. It is not merely sadness. It is an illness, a cancer of the mind.” Middleton went on to explain that he felt completely alone in his feelings and even contemplated suicide. However, after months of suffering, he said he decided to do something. “I packed my dogs into my car and, telling no one where I was going, drove to a wild part of the Lake District I’ve loved since I was a child.” Pippa, James and Kate Middleton in 2016. Samir Hussein/WireImage An avid animal lover, he thanked his dogs for helping him. “I recognize, too, the role my dogs — Ella, Inca, Luna, Zulu and Mabel — have played in my recovery.” Middleton said he spoke out in hopes of reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. In addition, James felt compelled to follow the lead of his sister Kate, brother-in-law Prince William and Prince Harry, who have been strong advocates for mental health. “They believe we can only tackle the stigma associated with mental illness if we have the courage to change the national conversation, to expel its negative associations.”