World Mental Health Day

This is the first mental health day I can truly say I feel mentally healthy!

That is because I have been investing in myself and took the decision to explore the underlying issues that I have been experiencing throughout my life.

I can honestly say I have not had the constant negative noise in my head for the last 6 months.

If I feel anxious I can deal with it through mindfulness and if something triggers feeling I recognise them for what they are and deal with the situation head on.

It has been a journey of self discovery, reforming relationships with myself and others and challenges but it is well worth it.

Things I have done

Invested in myself

✅ therapy

✅ developed my freelance work

✅ ensured financial issues addressed

✅ reiki

✅ Massage

Learning and creativity

✅ mindfulness

✅ inner child healing

✅ writing – from listing things I am grateful for and every small achievement (getting up was a struggle at one point ) to publishing my blog, performing my poetry and writing prose and doing courses

✅reading more

Physical exercise –

✅ running

✅swimming

✅ yoga

✅ Zumba

✅ Pilates

Not been able to do anything consistently due to health issues but consistently tried

✅ dancing as much as possible

Get back to basics

My time in the Caribbean taught me the importance of getting in touch with nature, grounding and appreciating the natural things so look up and look around and soak it up

This was my equivalent to going to church some may feel comfort from religion I felt connected and part of something bigger and at peace

✅ walk

✅ be near trees

✅ be near river or sea

✅ if possible go barefoot

✅ get out in natural sunlight as much as possible

Conscious about what I consume

✅given up alcohol

✅no prescribed or other drugs

✅given up meat

✅ cook from scratch

✅ no processed foods

✅reduces sugar (trying to cut it out)

Surrounded myself with people who genuinely care about me and the world we live in

✅happy to be on my own

✅more time with mum and kids

✅ quality time with good friends

✅ able to socialise

✅been involved in shared Interest and activity

I am also very lucky to have friends with skills and talents so I was able to access

✅shiatsu

✅reiki

✅massage

This was my journey after a lifetime (having been dealing with undiagnosed complex trauma since the age of 4, eating disorder from 16 and PTSD since 25)

I had come to terms with the realisation that I was destined to live with these for the rest of my life. I never thought I would escape it .. and maybe the anxiety and depression will return… but at the moment I feel good and I know I can recognise and acknowledge the feelings and know I will overcome whatever happens in the future.

I hope that whatever you are going through you know you can ask for help and there is always hope ❤️

#worldmentalhealthday #askforhelp #britaingettalking

Young Minds https://youngminds.org.uk/

CALM https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/mental-health/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness/

@reikibylysha for reiki

@krworkouts for massage

@zenshiatsuandwellbeing for shiatsu