Wednesday 13 May 2015

Mental Health Awareness Week 2015

I'm pretty sure I wrote a similar post to this last year, that probably makes little sense to anyone. That was before I'd been diagnosed with depression; I was suffering, but I didn't really know why or what to do. Things got progressively worse throughout 2014, and I finally sought help the day before Christmas Eve. I'd like to say I'm on the path to recovery, and I really hope I am - but I have no doubt in my mind that it's gonna be a long hard journey. I've opened my eyes and I can see the light flickering in the distance, at the end of a tear-stained rainbow, and I know I'll get there eventually.


I'm lucky, because I have faith in myself, because I've been brought up to know that times get rough but you'll get there in the end. I'm also unlucky, because my lifestyle doesn't allow me the "luxury", for want of a better word, although it absolutely isn't, of spending my days in bed with snacks and Netflix when my mental health is at an all time low. I'm two thirds of my way through a degree, and now have a part time job in a cafe (I'm on Sam's MacBook and don't know how to get the fancy accents above letters...) I feel as though my mental health is now third down the line of importance, and that's a hard thing to deal with.

Most mornings, I can't think of anything worse than getting out of bed and getting on with whatever I have to do that day; there's a physical ache in my bones that holds me back. But another part of me whispers in my ear that staying in bed all day isn't going to solve the problem. I don't really know what I'm trying to say here. Things work differently for everyone; I know my depression would be worsened if I didn't push myself, but for some people that's how they cope - and that's okay too. No two people are the same, and we all deal with things in different ways.

What I will say, though, is that it's exponentially important to get help of some sort. Be that medication or therapy, whether a lot of trial and error is involved, don't let fear stop you from getting the medical help that you both need and deserve. If you had a chest infection, you'd be straight to the doctors getting antibiotics to cure it. And while there's no quick fix for mental illnesses, 99% of the time there's something that can be done. Nobody's saying it will be easy, but if you don't try you'll never know.

Depression is not mascara tracks running down your cheeks and Lana Del Rey lyrics scrawled on your hands in biro. Depression is ugly, and it's terrifying, and it's sleepless nights with sweat on the back of your neck. Get help, and surround yourself with positivity and people who love you. There are people out there who would do anything to see you get better.

MIND Charity
Rethink Mental Illness
SANE MentalHealth
YoungMinds

Sorry if you're at all fed up of reading about mental health, but if you are, unfollow me. The conversation is only just beginning.



2 comments:

  1. What a lovely post. I'm depressed too and was diagnosed just over a year ago. I things would go back to normal once I started taking medication, but it's more like 3 steps forward, 1 step back. It's hard, but I can tell it's going to be worth it. For every tough day you go through, there are plenty of amazing days on the other end, and I can't wait to get there. Good luck :) xxx

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  2. Aw Katy, you have such a talent when it comes to writing. This was a lovely post to read and I'm glad to see that you're getting better, even if at times you feel like you're not. You need to look at how far you've come : ) I've said it before and I'll say it again - you're just brilliant and fabuloooous!! So have faith in yourself girly. xxxx

    Jessie | allthingsbeautiful-x

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