Mental Health Awareness

It's okay to not be okay...

I know that Mental Health Awareness Week has just passed, but I've been dealing with personal issues...

As a kid and during my teen years I never really paid attention to mental heath as much as I should've, it all started during my third year at college & since then I have been more aware about my mental health and how it impacts my life. Granted I never really paid close attention to the various signs until about 3 years go. That being said I'm still learning, I'm on journey that is one of the difficult ones in my life, it has opened my eyes to whole new world. 

Mental health. it sounds like another term, but if you dig deep there's a whole new meaning.... Every single person is suffering from anxiety, depressing, stress and so on. Often you don't realise it, why? Because it's not something you can SEE! Those suffering find ways to find ways to hide their issues for reasons, the common one being no one would understand. That is one that I relate to because not many  people know I suffer with mental heath. I never recognised the signs at first either, but during my third year at college I had my first ever mental breakdown, everything just got too much, but I tried to hide that fact I was suffering due to fear and judgment. I learned a valid lesson from that. DON'T HIDE! SPEAK OUT, LET PEOPLE KNOW YOU ARE SUFFERING, GET THE RIGHT SUPPORT YOU NEED! 

Eventually I did start counselling & honestly it changed my life, it pulled me out of the darkness, I was able to uncover many missing pieces of my behaviour and attitude towards a lot of what I face in my life. I guess, in other words I had a lot trauma from my childhood and teen years which I just pushed down & never spoke about.... That's another lesson I learnt, yes speaking to someone about your life & everything you've been through is NEVER EASY! Especially to a complete stranger you don't know or trust, but I can honestly say that first all it gets easy, you start slow, get to know the person & trust them. Secondly, speaking to a complete stranger is often a better option than speaking to a family member or friend. You avoid judgemental remarks and people pitying you or in my case telling you that it's all in your head and none of what you are through is real....

Now years later I'm working with CBT therapist & I have been since November last year. CBT has helped me immensely! Whilst doing that I speak frequently and openly with my close friends and professors at university whenever I'm struggling

Over the years and I'm learning to have a better understanding about my mental health and the importance of never suffering alone! I'm not going to lie, there's so much I have yet to face because I kept pushing away all my emotions out of fear. Yet, since 2017 I have faced more than I imagined in terms of mental health issues and throughout it out I picked up a few tips:

- NEVER SUFFER ALONE 

- TALKING ABOUT IT HELPS 

- DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP OR TELL SOMEONE YOU ARE STRUGGLING 

- LET GO OF ALL YOUR EMOTIONS, DON'T KEEP PUSHING THEM AWAY (you'll feel a lot better) 

- WHENEVER YOU GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES, SPEAK TO THOSE YOU TRUST (Family, friends, teachers, therapists or even nurses) 

- YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO PUT ON A BRAVE FACE

- MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET GO OF ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER OR CANNOT CHANGE (you will have less to worry about)

Have to say, most of these I don't follow often, I'm still learning to! But honestly for me what really helps is speaking to people, particularly my close friends, teachers & my therapist. I won't say family because of a simple reason that they do not understand, no matter how many times I've explained.... 

I suffer with anxiety and depression. I have panic attacks, I'm someone who over worriers a lot! I stress about little things, I often take comments about me seriously. All these combined are what makes me an insecure person, I have many many insecurities. My self-belief has been shattered more times than I can count. There's no lie I seek reassurance from people around me, but at the end of the day it helps me build my confidence, but often I'm guilty of continuously bugging people, even though I shouldn't! 

See, mental health is not something you can work through in day, week, month or even a year. There may be times that you may be able to work through it within a certain length of time, but if you are like me who has experienced trauma and continues to, then there's a chance you be dealing with mental health issues for a very long time! I used to be ashamed of them & I still am. Hence why not many people are aware of my anxiety or depression. But do you know what? I won't be ashamed! Having anxiety or depression, dealing with a variety of mental health issues DOES NOT MAKE ME A DIFFERENT PERSON, NEITHER DOES IT MEAN THAT I'M LOOSING MY MIND!! I suffer with medical conditions which are chronic & lifelong, I won't be ashamed of having anxiety and or depression, neither will I be ashamed of having insecurities! 

I'm gradually learning to not hide my emotions. Even with all the support I have I still have a long way to go. My journey isn't over, it has just begun and I'm willing to keep going! One of the most important lessons I learned over the year is that my mental health is as important as my medical health issues! 

Remember! 

•  Mental Health is as IMPORTANT as your physical, medical or any health issue!
•  ASK FOR HELP! Don't be afraid there are a variety of people you can reach out to 
•  NEVER hide your emotions, it'll just overwhelm you!
•  Do things you LOVE! Never let someone tell you to change your ways, if it makes you happy then keep doing what you love. Read a book, watch movies that make you laugh
•  NEVER let your life overtake you, remember to give yourself breaks. Looking after yourself & ensuring you are healthy not only physically, but also MENTALLY & EMOTIONALLY is  far IMPORTANT than your work, studies or other commitments. All of which I believe can re-do or get back. But not your health!
•  NEVER be ashamed of having mental health issues, it doesn't make you any less of you person! It actually makes you a STRONGER & BRAVER person!