Confession Time | Mental Health

*Warning, this is a very long and quite personal post, so feel free to skip over it or at least get yourself a cup of tea. Mentions of depression, anxiety and prescription drugs (not specified) throughout.*

Today I wanted to talk about something important. Like really important. My mental health.

I'm pretty good at pretending I'm okay to the people around me. Certain people can always tell when things aren't right, but mostly it goes unnoticed. This is kind of my own fault, I really hate asking for help and admitting that I need it. I'm usually quite a private person and I don't like to bother other people with my stuff. However, my mental state has gotten to the point where I can't do this on my own anymore.

I finally went to my doctor last week. I'd actually booked this appointment three times beforehand, but I cancelled them, because I really really did not want to go.

Take Care of Your Mind

Today is World Mental Health Day! Today is the day to talk about and raise awareness about mental health, the facts and the support available. 

So what is mental health?

"a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being."

Mental health problems  can include; depression, anxiety, addiction, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, PTSD and many more. Poor mental health can also develop because of external factors in our lives, such as, abuse, a traumatic change/event, stress and even just from living an unhealthy lifestyle. 

I personally have had problems with my own mental health as I'm sure some of you have too. In fact, 1 in 4 of us has some kind of mental health issue throughout their lives. This is why it is so important to discuss. 

Mind is a fantastic charity that raises money and awareness about mental health and you can visit their website here for more information on specific mental health disorders.

What if you're having mental health problems?

If you or someone you love feels that there may be an issue with mental health please do go and speak to your doctor. There is no reason to be afraid or ashamed. It is their job to help you and make sure that you are in good health, this includes your mental health!

If you don't feel up to it or are unable to go to a doctor, there are also a heap of charities and helplines available. Here's a handy list provided by the NHS. 

Below are also some helpful websites for when you're having a hard time.
The Quiet Place -  for when you're stressed or anxious
The Thoughts Room - for when you need to clear your head of negative thoughts

The Dawn Room - for when you need some positivity and reassurance
Calm - nature sounds and short guided meditations
Calming Manatee - a silly/cute, yet useful collection of memes.

Cute picture of Flint as a puppy to add some cheer :)

Take care of yourself

Bicks xx