Mental Health Awareness Week

With it being Mental Health Awareness week, I thought it would be appropriate to do my blog post on the topic this week.

There are many ways in which mental health can affect us - through anxiety, depression, bipolar, eating disorders.. the list goes on. If you haven’t been affected directly, you probably know someone who has.

Luckily, more people are talking - which is absolutely great. But more people than ever seem to be suffering.

I think having awareness and space to talk about it is crucial in moving forwards and making it a 'normal' thing to talk about. Luckily, I am surrounded by people I can be open to, and who are open to me. My best friend is a counsellor, as is my cousin - so I feel lucky I have these people around who in fact do very much normalise these types of conversations. 

I could write a lot about mental health, as it is a huge aspect of my health and fitness business. I suffered myself around 10 years ago with Bulimia, and since recovering, experienced big losses in my family and navigated grieving since then. I managed to get through huge shock and trauma by using my ‘mental health toolbox’ as I like to call it (I’ll list it at the end, it might help!), and going along life with heavy grief but managing it and feeling super able to live my life the best I can for them.

Along came February this year, and although I don’'t think I’ll write about exactly what happened to me for a long time, if at all - I can say I experienced a complete loss of control of looking after my body as it had other ideas, and I spent two nights in hospital recovering. For those who know me, know I am NEVER ill. I was never the sick kid, only being in hospital when I was 14 to have my tonsils out. So it was a shock for my family, as well as me, to see me so vulnerable and weak. But, it happens. Life happens to everyone.
After I got discharged, it was up to me to recover. I was severely iron deficient, leaving me with super massive anaemia symptoms. But, determined as I was to get control of my health back, I cracked on as I could and was soon back training lightly after 3 weeks. I ensured I was dosing up on supplements, good food and rest, and developed an even higher level of respect for my body. Physically, after 3 months I feel stronger than ever, but I am still anaemic. So I have to take into consideration if I train hard for a few days, I’ll be going easy for a few days after. I am allowing myself rest and cutting myself some slack in that respect.

After all of this, I’ve seen a counsellor twice, with my next session booked in. I was kindly gifted the sessions by a family friend who wanted me to go ‘just in case’. And I am so grateful. I felt a bit of a fraud as I felt mentally ok and have always believed something has to be really wrong to go to a counsellor. But it really isn’t that. It’s a space to offload your thoughts, without the worry or burdening of your loved ones - and I feel a little more clarity when I leave my sessions. There are things I’ve discovered through these sessions already that really surprised me, and I’ll share them soon - but so I don’t write a book - I’ll leave it there. Everyone’s experiences of therapy are so different, and some things just don’t work for people, so try to find something that does. Don’t give up at the first hurdle.

Anyway, this isn’t a post to blurb advice as I am not a mental health expert. Merely someone who has experienced some dips in the road, and also have close family members who have been affected too. I just wanted to share my thoughts in the thought it might just give someone a bit of ‘ah, me too’.

Here is my mental health toolbox, that I use to bring me back to me / ‘reset’ my brain / quieten the thoughts / gain clarity.

Dips and swims in the sea (all year round). Cold water is just ‘it’ for me.
Reading books. I get lost in them and forget all life for a precious 20-30 minutes a day. Crime thrillers are a fave. I also need physical books. Not screens.
Going for a run, usually without headphones, and super early. It allows me to let my thoughts go and take in nature.
Reflexology. I have this once every other month. I call it a treat but actually I feel I really need it. It’s the only time I feel I can totally relax and I just feel everything switch off (go see Helen at Essential Wellbeing in Falmouth, she’s magic).
Playing piano. I don’t do this often enough, but I have my keyboard that I’ve had for years (and won several music festivals with I’ll have you know. Absolute nerd I know). But I love it, and I love playing because I think about nothing but the music. Even better is trying to learn something new.
Painting & drawing. I’m not an artist, I’m not great at all. But I enjoy it. It really calms my mind. Again, something I haven’t done for a long while.
Yoga/Mobility . I aim to do this 2-3 times per week. It makes my body feel good, and my mind calm down with the breathing. (Major thanks to the ever brilliant Shona Vertue - check her on YouTube, you won’t look for anyone else).
Training. My daily ride or die. I have the odd rest day, but most days I sweat. Whether it’s lifting weights or sat on the WattBike, or doing some circuit type workout. If I’m training, I’m happy. And it’s a routine part of my life. Without it, I really think I would be in a different place mentally.

Overall, I am good. My view is very much, life happens and what else can you do but continue?! We aren’t here for long - so trying our very best to enjoy what we can in the small moments is all we can do. There will be inevitable times in life that are going to be the hardest times I’ll have in my life. I can’t predict how I will be and deal with things but I Know I will try my very best to use the knowledge and experience I have to keep my mind and body in as much alignment as possible.

I hope whoever is reading this, you are looking after yourself in some way.