I know this can sometimes be a bit of a taboo subject, but I'm writing a blog post on my own thoughts/experiences with mental health. 1 in 4 people in the UK suffer from a mental illness at some point in their life, so I know this blog post wont go to waste.'You don’t have to be an expert to talk about mental health'.
If your friend had a broken leg, or he or she had just come out of hospital after an operation, you probably wouldn't think twice about asking how they were. Anyone can experience a mental health problem, so being able to talk about it is important to us all.' - www.time-to-change.org.uk
These above statements are so true. We often assume that because we don't know alot about mental health we have no way to help anybody suffering, and this could not be further from the truth. Mental health issues are so vast and common, ranging from things such as depression, low moods, anxiety, panic attacks etc. I myself would suffer from anxiety and often get very low moods, it makes me feel like I just want to shut the world out and be on my own. In the same way as somebody may have a difficult time talking to their friend who has mental health issues, I have often found it very hard to speak out about my experiences with the illness. The past few weeks for me have been a great turning point. I finally plucked up the courage to tell some of my friends about the things I was experiencing and they couldn't have been more supportive. I didn't want to ever be labelled as that friend who never wanted to go out or was always grumpy, as it was something I just couldn't help. This has took a great weight off my shoulders and I can even feel my moods improving. For me I know I will always suffer with this, and like everyone I will have good days and bad days. My advice for anyone in a similar situation is simply talk about it! Its one less worry we really don't need!
Ways I manage my mental health
These are just some things I do/Advice to fellow sufferers
- Be yourself. Do what you want. Wear what you want. Don't be afraid to be you. Don't let people tell dictate how you live your life. Not being true to yourself is one of the worst things we can ever do, trying to change ourselves to fit in will just hold us back in the long run. Embrace who you are, faults and all. One day you will wonder why you ever worried about it in the first place.
- Don't compare yourself to others. I used to be so bad for doing this, just to make myself even more insecure and down. It was a vicious cycle. The thing about comparing ourselves to other people is we aren't them and we never will be. Why waste our time wishing we could have somebody elses hair, face, or body when we have our own and in perfectly good condition too! Learning to love yourself is a major part of this, we are who we are and should concentrate on the things we love about ourselves not what we wish we could change.
- Exercise. Sometimes this can be like pulling teeth for me, especially if I am feeling low and don't even want to leave the house. I really find though that when I fit in exercise, even if its a quick walk I feel so much better about myself and getting fitter cant be bad! Add music and or a friend to make it that bit more exciting.
- Eat a healthy diet. This is an important one for me. As a lot of us are, I would always unnecessarily worry about my weight. I find eating a healthy diet and having the occasional treat now and then allows me not to worry and get on with my life. (by the occasional treat now and then, I mean lots and lots of chocolate!)
- Have a routine. When I don't have a routine I can find myself very low and distant from others, having nothing to do or sitting around the house all day isn't good for anyone. Whether its eating meals at the same time everyday, taking daily exercise, or meeting with friends weekly, routine is a great way to keep busy and keep my mind off other things.
- Get out and see the world. This is quite similar to having a routine. Everybodys life needs excitement and activities or we would constantly be bored sitting around doing nothing. Even if you don't feel like it, getting out and socialising with friends, shopping, going to classes all help fill up the day and keep my mind at bay. If there is something you want to do that you have never done such as travelling the world, visiting a different country or even going to university, I say go out and do it. We never know until we try, at the end of the day our health and happiness is all that matters.
For more information on mental health here are some great websites and resources for more information! http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/talk-about-mental-healthhttp://www.rethink.org/http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/http://www.mind.org.uk/
