A few days ago I saw the lovely Claire had done the Mental Health Tag as it's Mental Health Awareness Week. I really wanted to do the tag myself as I'm so passionate about spreading the word and raising awareness of mental health issues, their is still such a stigma attached to it and it needs to stop. The more people who talk, the better!
1. What is your mental health issue? - Generalised Anxiety, though the most prominent part of my anxiety is the health side, I am always worried about getting ill. I also suffer with panic attacks.
2. Do you have medication and/or therapy? I've never had medication and I really don't want to start any, I worry I'll get too reliant on it. I had one councelling session when I lived in Leicester which helped me massively in just one hour, but as we moved back to Sheffield I couldn't carry on with it. I went down the councelling route last year but after waiting ages for an appointment, on the day I just couldn't force myself to go. Currently about to start the process again as I know councelling will help and I'm determined this time to go through with it.
3. What therapy/medication have you tried and has any worked for you? Apart from one session a few years ago, I haven't had any other therapy. I felt so much better after one session, just being able to talk about my feelings and I hate that I couldn't carry on with them, so I'm really determined to go down that route again this year and get proper councelling for my anxiety. I've spoke to several drs in the last few years regarding my anxiety and I've never really felt they've been of much help.
4. How long have you had problems for? My anxiety first started towards the end of 2013 when I had just started uni, and got really bad at the begininng of 2014 when I chose to leave my course. I couldn't cope with uni and I hated my course, aswell as not knowing how to tell people and trying to find a job, I just couldn't cope with it all. Since then I've had good months and bad months.
5. Does your family/friends know? There are quite a lot of people I don't even talk to anymore but I'm almost certain they read my blog so I'm sure they'll have figured out I have anxiety. The people I do speak too, all know.
6. Does this affect your work and daily living? I actually ended up leaving my job last year due to stress and anxiety. My anxiety had been under control for a while and then I started getting put under more pressure at work, as well as generally being left out and treated differently to others. I was so stressed every day, it eventually got the point where I was having panic attacks before work, and I ended up being signed off work for around 3 months. I then chose to leave, there was no way I could go back. Now on my good days I feel like I can do anything, I'll be so motivated. On bad days, I don't even like to leave my bed, I just like to do nothing.
7. What makes you feel calm? I find the TV show The Office makes me feel pretty calm. It's just such a funny show that no matter how I'm feeling, it will make me laugh and really calm me down. Sometimes a bubble bath and a book can help too, I just need focus my mind on something else.
8. What do you do in crisis? I try to talk to people but a lot of the time I like to just sit alone and try and calm myself down. Sometimes talking to others does help but other times I can't get my words out properly and can't explain what I mean, so time alone is sometimes best for me. Music helps too, I'll put my earphones in and just turn the music up loud.
9. What advice would you give to others suffering? Do whatever it is you need to thats going to make you feel better. If talking helps, talk, it's so important to know you're not alone and that their are people who can help. If you're going through a tough time and don't want to do anything out of your comfort zone, then don't. If I'm not in the right frame of mind to go and see people, then I just won't. I have to put myself first and sometimes that means being a bit selfish. It's totally fine to put yourself and your needs first.
10. What makes you smile? So many things, George, reading through my London blog posts, going out for meals, exploring new places, CAKE. Loads of things.
11. Describe your mental health issue in 5 words - Exhausting, lonely, stressful, scary, confusing.
12. Insert a picture to make people smile - I really struggled to pick one because there are quite a few that make me smile but this one is just adorable.
I hope you've enjoyed reading this post. It might not be for everyone but I think especially as it's Mental Health Awareness Week, posts like this are so important. Feel free to copy the questions if you want to take part. If you do let me know so I can check out your answers too!