It’s been a long hot summer here in the UK, and… Wait. I take that back. It was approximately two weeks in August, but even so, my autumnal heart has been waiting for October to roll around…
I’m not one of the Halloween-as-Christmas kinda people, but more of a jumping-in-leaves and wearing wellies on a crisp walk kinda person.
I’m also an anxiety-and-depression kind of person. I’ve been on medication for the last year for the anxiety, and I’ve also been through the NHS wringer of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). You probably wouldn’t know it to look at me, or talk to me, but I’m often incredibly anxious and make self-deprecating jokes to cover up the awkward feelings I get when talking about my mental health. (You wouldn’t believe the number of jokes I had to cut out of this).
All of this to say that mental health is something that I feel is important to talk about, and so the fact that it’s World Mental Health Day on 10th October is something I’m going to celebrate. The theme this year is making mental health and well-being a global priority, and all I can say is – PREACH.
Mental health isn’t a joke. Many of us – before the pandemic, probably about 1 in 8 people – live with some sort of mental disorder. Most of us can’t get access to the treatments and support that we need to be able to manage our mental health, whether that’s due to stigma or simply a lack of trained medical professionals in our local area.
So here’s my two cents. If you can, talk to somebody. A friend, your parents, your sibling, your partner. I don’t say ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’, but I do believe in the power of talking things through.
I’m also going to be one of ‘those’ people who espouses the power of yoga. Hear me out here! I love yoga because I’ve been doing it for years, and I absolutely HATE running. Not my jam, hurts my knees. But movement as meditation is about the only meditation I can handle, and when the brain weasels are at their worst… that’s when I know I need to get moving. If it works better for you, you could try silly dancing in the kitchen (another favourite), or hiking (also love it), or even *shudder* Zumba.
I know I’m lucky in as much as I’ve got a supportive family, a caring partner, my physical health and I’ve been able to access the mental health support I needed. I remember though, during the pandemic, panic attacks and raging rows where I felt like I was drowning under the weight of everything.
So, on 10th October this year, would you do me a favour? Check in on anyone you haven’t heard from in a while. Donate to the World Mental Health Day Fund here, if you can. Attend vigils, tweet about it, or at the very least, talk about it. There’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.
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