A TEENAGER who suffered from severe anxiety has told how posing for a horse-themed naked charity calendar has helped her overcome the condition.

Kellie Harvey, of Pickhill, near Thirsk, said undressing for the Lady Godiva-style Country Girls calendar had presented her with the ultimate challenge.

The calendar, also featuring Jessica James, from Carlton Miniott, near Thirsk, and ten other riders from across the North, aims to raise funds for the Myelin Project, which works towards finding therapies for nerve damage caused by multiple sclerosis and leukodystrophy, a rare central nervous system disorder.

Miss Harvey said she had suffered from social anxiety, causing depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, for as long as she could remember and had always feared "something tragic was around the corner".

The former Thirsk School pupil said: "Simple everyday tasks such as walking around the supermarket, going to the toilet, or making a phone call, were a nightmare that I tried to avoid at all costs.

"Over time it all became too much, the fears were overwhelming, consuming me, making every moment of every day a struggle."

Miss Harvey said after therapy enabled her to deal with everyday life, she decided to pose for the calendar to prove to herself that she was healed.

The 19-year-old said despite advice from her friend, Miss James, who has appeared in five of the calendars alongside her ponies, she was very nervous ahead of the photoshoot, but the photographer put her at ease.

She said when she saw photos of her posing with a Shetland pony in a rural setting she was thrilled.

"I never imagined how much it would help me and my self esteem", she said. "I am so incredibly proud of how far I really have come on my journey with anxiety.

"My life has changed so dramatically, I am living proof that the darkest days don’t have to be permanent, the dark clouds will move on.

"You just need to be strong enough to reach out, ask for help, and take each day as it comes.

"I hope my story can help others, even if its just one person, reach out, be brave enough to ask for help, that’s the hardest part, but so very worth it."