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(Un)Popular Opinion: Let’s talk about Mental Health

October 7, 2020(Un)Popular Opinions, Life Lately, Lifestyle
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Easy Mental Health cure: a cup of tea, and a good book.

This week we are looking closer at mental health and the impact it has on all people.

Having a mental health illness is still considered a stigma pretty much everywhere you go. It is important, nowadays more than ever, that we understand what happens and we start to look after each other more.

I am talking from experience: I was firstly diagnosed with depression when I was 14. Early last year I was diagnosed with it again, and on top I was also diagnosed with severe social anxiety.

Remember, mental illness, like anxiety or depression, is not something that you can always see. 

The person suffering from it may seem fine, behave fine, and do things in a completely normal way in front of other people. It is when you are left with your own thoughts or something it’s said or happens that it comes out like a monster ready to eat its prey. If left unnoticed or untreated, it can trigger other phobias or trigger other more pressing health issues.

For example, there was a time where I faked so well my moods at home, school, and work, that I made myself believe I was okay. This was until I reached the tipping point and almost took my life multiple times. There were times where I would be out with friends and totally overthink what was said. Or simply say I would attend gatherings, and then wouldn’t show up with an excuse. A year ago, I realized only because I would have panic attacks every morning right before leaving the house to go to work.

It is terrible to experience, as it leaves you in a constant state of fear, panic, and physical strain. It is also distressing to watch a loved one experience this.

Thankfully, there are a lot of things that you can do and shouldn’t do to help if you live or take care of someone with mental illness:

  1. Try to recognize the signs. Do they say things like “I am in constant pain” or “I don’t see the point anymore”? Do they become less proactive or restless? Do they behave out of the ordinary at home? Do they have physical symptoms that repeat throughout the day? Are they in a persistent worry? Do they avoid certain situations?  Do they behave compulsively? 
For example, I become restless, lightheaded and start forgetting things or spacing out during conversations. I also get rushes on my hands or legs which I tend to uncontrollably scratch.

2. Reassure. Remember to be mindful of what you say. Ensure you mark the fact that you are there to help.

3. Do not judge. Or say things like “ don’t worry about it” or start your sentences with “at least…”. These are recognized as toxic positivity and do not help. You are actually endangering your relationship with that person.

4. Listen without giving your opinion. Just listen. If you listen but then give your opinion, they may just become detached to you and won’t share how they feel. Something I hate it’s when people tell me “I understand, but I also feel that way and I do not say anything.” It makes you think the person you are talking to doesn’t really care.

5. Encourage seeking help from a professional. There are free services here in the UK that are provided by the NHS. There are charities, like the Samaritans that are there to help at no cost and are a phone call away. Some people, like me, may find it easier to speak to someone else rather than a close person, as they may think to be judged by their loved ones.

6. Make time. Be there. Sometimes that’s all one needs.

The NHS has a useful list of links and phone numbers to help you and your loved ones.

I recommend getting help. It has helped me, it helps lots of people everyday. Remember peeps, your mental health is important.

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About Federica

Fred is the mastermind for all things design of this blog, and around the web, she can be found on Not a Skilful Sailor and dotting.away. She is the person that has pushed Simona after she lost my job to give this blog thing a shot again, and subsequently found herself tangled in it, one way or another.

She is the extrovert of the group, the person who’s struggling the most with the being home situation. She thrives around people, but was not like this growing up, let us tell you that. She is the coffee guru of the family, loves our cat TJ more than Cristina and Simona (doesn’t even try to hide it a bit), and has got a new-found love for baking thanks to lockdown.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kat

    January 7, 2021 at 11:10

    This is a really honest and insightful post. It’s so important to highlight and remember that a lot of mental illnesses are things you can’t see, but that doesn’t mean they’re not there! Thank you for sharing x

    0
    Reply
    • Federica

      January 8, 2021 at 12:24

      Hey Kat, you are indeed right! We need to normalise mental illness and make it more accessible to everyone. I am glad you think the same x

      0
      Reply
  2. Lynn Mejia

    December 10, 2020 at 05:43

    I agree. We still have a long way to go in being comfortable talking about mental health but I’m glad we’re getting there! Society needs more empathy towards mental illness and with posts like this one, I’m hoping we’ll be there sooner than later xo

    0
    Reply
    • Federica

      December 10, 2020 at 11:12

      Hey Lynn, thank you for sharing the same feelings! We definitely need to be more empathic towards people struggling with mental health. It should be something we could freely talk about! X

      0
      Reply

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    Annnd Fred has a smaller read list. For the whole Annnd Fred has a smaller read list. For the whole year really 😂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But nonetheless still a great list of books. Here’s a sneak peak of what she’s up to. 📚⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So in honor, we popped some of that delicious corn, took out our scrabble board and played, well until we were tired @cristina1994 kicked our asses! She’s the queen of scrabble guy. 👸🏼 👸🏼 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This week @simonarosano posts about her Updated Winter Skincare. She has tried new products which now she loves and work wonders to her skin.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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    Happy Monday Everyone! ✨✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Happy Monday Everyone! ✨✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How’s everyone doing? We have been a little nostalgic today and went through all our pictures from our many visits to #Cambridge, since today marks the birth of the author and former Cantabrigian A.A.Milne. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you ever visit, on a corner street between university there’s the original shop where all Winnie The Pooh toys were first sold. 🧸 🧸🧸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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    Who is tired of all this rain? 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Well, it’s definitely a great day to pamper yourself since we are stuck indoors. And what a better way than a bath? 🛀 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We use these salts from @thisworks in those rare occasion we have a bath, and they are soo nice and soo relaxing we feel like angels afterwards 😇 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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