Today is World Mental Health Day and my social media feeds are full of people opening up about how they deal with their mental health. Sharing stories is one of the most helpful things you can do. Helping anyone feel less alone or understood is such a big deal.<\/p>\n
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I’ve been pretty open my problems with my messy brain. I have depression and anxiety. The depression is long-standing, the anxiety is a newer addition. Both are hideous. I’m not sure I can write about them with any insight or finesse. Depression makes me feel numb. Everything is muted. The emotional equivalent of having water in your ear. Anxiety is my brain being on fire. Not a raging fire, something smouldering like knowing you’ve left the stove on and feeling sure your house will burn down.<\/p>\n
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My coping strategies are many. Hiding in the toilet has saved me from many an embarrassing meltdown. Time off work helped. I was terrified of taking a step back but my HR manager was great. The honesty helped. Having someone you work for tell you that you are obviously not OK and it’s too early to\u00a0come back was exactly what I needed and I’ll always be grateful to Deb. The time off was horrible, not restful and it\u00a0didn’t feel restorative but in hindsight, it was life-saving. It also helps that I know I’m not alone. My family has a history of mental health problems. It’s not my place to talk about what they have been through but being able to open up to people who understood makes things easier. I also have amazingly supportive friends. Proper amazing.<\/p>\n
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On the more practical side, meditation makes a real difference to me. I hate to admit but exercise helps. Walking the dog gets me outside. It’s difficult to get lost in your messy brain when you legging it after a runaway pup. Getting to the doctor and telling a professional is important. When I went I worried that I wouldn’t be able to explain. I needn’t have worried. Bursting into tears and staying incoherent for ten minutes got the message across perfectly.<\/p>\n
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I will always have to deal with my messy brain but I have ways to cope, a support structure, an understanding GP and there is always a toilet to hide in.<\/p>\n
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