‘I only left my halls to go out’ - ex-Bristol University student on incredible life turnaround to become Tik Tok influencer

‘I had 0% attendance and didn’t even attempt any work’
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

A 24-year-old who spent years hiding his collapsing mental health behind a daily intake of drink and drugs is now reaching millions of people as a wellbeing influencer. Hamza Dar – known as Humz – was on a ‘downward spiral of anxiety and drugs’, made worse by undiagnosed ADHD.

In his first year at the University of Bristol he did not submit any work and had a 0% attendance rate. But he sought help through the University’s mental health services, was able to turn his life around and left with a first. Now he shares self-care advice - which focuses on meditation, visualisation and cold water immersion - with his “community” on TikTok.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Humz had been a promising young footballer who earned a scholarship to one of the best grammar schools in Manchester. But during his A-Levels and gap year he fell into a cycle of long nights partying, followed by days of anxiety and depression.

“My brain started to deteriorate,” he said. “I was quite a confident guy but I developed the maddest social anxiety out of nowhere. It got to the point where I couldn’t even speak to my own family without feeling anxious.

“I had never really thought about mental health before. I couldn’t handle the anxiety, so I just took more drugs and drank more alcohol.

He had been excited to study at the University of Bristol but his destructive behaviour only continued there.

Before Hamza sough self-care he’s only leave halls to go partyingBefore Hamza sough self-care he’s only leave halls to go partying
Before Hamza sough self-care he’s only leave halls to go partying
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I only left my halls to go out,” he said. “I’d finally go to sleep at 8 or 9am and wake up at 6pm. In my first year I had 0% attendance and didn’t even attempt any work, my brain was too fried.

“My anxiety was going crazy and I felt so heartbroken. I barely spoke to my parents and I know my mum was really worried. I messed up her life for a few years. I failed my first year but couldn’t bring myself to tell my parents.

“I started talking to the uni’s wellbeing team. It was the first time I had ever spoken about my mental health: they were so helpful, they kept me going.”

Humz was given a second chance by the University. During the repeat of his first year he received an ADHD diagnosis and chanced upon a self-help book by Dr Joe Dispenza.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He started to look after himself and took up meditation – sometimes meditating for an hour and a half at a time – and began visualising a different future, featuring a very different Humz.

‘My anxiety was going crazy and I felt so heartbroken.'‘My anxiety was going crazy and I felt so heartbroken.'
‘My anxiety was going crazy and I felt so heartbroken.'

After a month he began to feel renewed: “But it was a year or two before I felt healed and it’s still a process now – you’ve got to keep on top of things.”

Throughout this he felt a spiritual desire to help others with their struggles.

“I found my purpose in recovery and that’s helping others. We never learnt this stuff in school but everyone should – and I want to help do that. In the same way that Marcus Rashford is for school dinners, I want to be for mental health.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Getting that first from Bristol was the moment that topped everything. I knew how important it was to my mum after all I’d put her through. I had to work really hard; I just kept visualising getting my results and hugging my mum again and again.

Humz at his University of Bristol graduationHumz at his University of Bristol graduation
Humz at his University of Bristol graduation

“Our relationship is the best thing ever now. We are super close.”

Humz now reaches millions through his TikTok channel, which focuses on mental health and particularly cold water immersion. Many videos show him slipping into ice baths. Two of his videos have been ranked number one in the world of all ice bath content on TikTok.

Humz has a cold shower each day, meditates morning and evening, takes regular ice baths and works out frequently. He no longer relies on substances as a coping mechanism and is instead “obsessed” with natural highs.

After graduating he landed a well-paid grad scheme with Pepsi, but turned it down to focus full-time on helping people improve their mental health.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.