I am not a medical or mental health professional. If you are struggling, please please reach out to your GP, or call Samaritans for free on 116 123.
I mention some triggering content, so please don’t read on if you are sensitive to some subjects.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and in light of some of the celebrity tragedies we’ve seen this year, the theme is “Be Kind”. We’ve seen the instagram posts. We’ve seen the videos. We’ve seen the often bandwagon jumping t-shirts.
I want to talk though about being kind to yourself. I don’t mean paint your nails or do a face mask. Or maybe do. I dunno, not really me. But I know that when you’re thrown into a situation where you feel out of control, I know it can be really hard to be kind to yourself. God knows we’re all out of control at the moment.
I’ve struggled over the years with anxiety and periods of depression, and for far too long dealt with this in some really unhealthy ways – withdrawing, lashing out, self harm – all that.
It’s been around 2 and a half years since I hit what I hope was rock bottom. I’ve talked about on here and on my instagram before – through a combination of circumstances combining situations in work and being the victim of sexual assault on the way home from a Christmas party (I’m sorry, I know some people don’t like that V word, anyway) I found myself in a very very dark mental health space. I’d been there before but it was all just really grim. The near constant crying was probably the healthiest part of it.
I was very fortunate to have a strong support network from family and friends, and am very very privileges to have been able to have taken some time away from working to rebuild my mental health and physical wellbeing, and reassess where I wanted my career to go. And hey, that’s when I started this blog!
My mental health since has probably been the strongest it’s ever been. It’s not perfect, maybe no-ones is, but panic attacks are at bay, and I try to be better at communicating how I’m feeling.
Going into lockdown was hard though. I’ve been worried about my parents since the beginning of all of this, and they were stuck off the coast of South America on Azamara Pursuit with a load of closed borders. They were absolutely fine and the ship stayed completely healthy throughout (despite what some media outlets reported) and the company did an amazing job of looking after everyone and getting them home to Europe on a chartered flight.
Generally though, lockdown was a break in routine (I’ll come back to that) and a reminder that sometimes the smallest actions can help you to be kinder to yourself.
So – my tips on how to be kind to yourself, in lockdown and out.
Keep talking.
Talk to your friends. Talk to your family. Talk to your colleagues. Anyone. Don’t go a full day without talking out loud. Call a friend, go on a walk and smile and say hello to everyone you make eye contact with.
Sleep
Get the amount of sleep you need, and don’t feel guilty if this is a lot. It’s been in the news that we’re all going through a collective trauma not seen for decades, everyone’s having weird ass dreams and Zoom quizzes can be quite mentally exhausting – don’t feel bad about letting yourself sleep,
Eat well.
I don’t necessarily mean eat 10 pieces of fruit and veg a day, but relish food. Learn a new recipe, take time to appreciate what you’re putting into your mouth – it’s fuelling your body. Enjoy it. And if that includes Instagramming the hell out of it, I’m a food blogger, I know I won’t judge you.
Feel the sunlight on your face
Get outside if you can. We’ve been so lucky to have an overall beautiful spring through lockdown. I’ve been enjoying going for walks before or after work – just me, the fields and a good podcast. Or sometimes, just sitting on the grass outside will do.
Some of the podcast and playlists I’ve been listening to on walks.
Keep a routine
I know it’s easy for me to say at the moment because I’m lucky enough to have been working from home which has helped massively, but I find even the walking and doing meals at the same time helps me.
But sometimes…
If one day you wake up and it’s just too hard to do all these things, that’s ok too. Sometimes you just need to shower and go back to bed – tomorrow will be a new day.
Of course these are only the basics – if you’re feeling like you really really can’t cope, please PLEASE seek help from a medical professional.
I want to finish this by saying thank you to all the professionals out there that help our country looks after their mental health – the counsellors, the RMNs, the call handlers, the teachers, the pastoral care teams, HR teams – there are so many amazing people out there helping us get by.
Stay safe, be brave and be kind to yourself.
Where to find help
Whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, these helplines and support groups can offer expert advice.
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
Men’s Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocduk.org
PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPELINEUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm, and 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare
Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
