- Inspirational quotes
- John Green books
- A good nights sleep
- A food diary
- Educational leaflets about your illness
- A bubble bath
- Self-Help books
- Anti-depressants
- Sex
- A colouring book
- Thinking about
how fortunate I am
- Fake it until you make it.
- Just eat
- Just talk about it.
- Just ignore it.
- Just fight it.
- Just.. just just just get over it.
- SMILE!!!!
how fortunate I am
While these things can momentarily provide respite or distract you from the farty thoughts being sloshed around in your poobrain, this wishy-washy approach to caring for your mental health can only do so much. And there is oh so much pulling yourself together one can do; we're not curtains.
Just because people can't see inside your skull, (thank goodness - that'd be quite gross), does not mean that you are not worthy enough to receive proper professional help. Without your brain, you're rather scuppered aren't you? Your head needs to be looked after. Mental illnesses are as equally detrimental as any physical illness. You may have to stand up and be your own advocate at times, but help is out there. Don't think that because you couldn't finish a colouring-in book, that you can't get better.
Way too many people close to me have suffered long and hard without either seeking or receiving help from professionals, and this is where the big conflict comes in. Unfortunately due to our (rather rubbish) government, who are probably equally or if not more unstable than our mental states, over the years we have seen budget cuts and lack of funding to not just the NHS but particularly to mental health treatment. Many people are either turned away or not treated properly for their mental illness. This, unsurprisingly, deters people from pushing for the proper help that they both need and deserve and can result in their mental health deteriorating. Whether it be, not having a dangerously low enough BMI to be taken seriously, or not being convincingly suicidal, too often are those struggling battling with receiving diagnoses and treatment. This is why writing this blog post is difficult; matter of fact is that mental health in the NHS needs to be taken more seriously.
Somebody very close to me, who had been struggling with severe anxiety, was sent away from the doctors and told to 'go read these books at the library.' Somebody else very close to me has been shuffled around different departments redoing the same assessment over and over again for the past year, still waiting to receive any form of help. And the other day when he was due an assessment (after waiting six months for it) was told he couldn't receive the assessment as he has moved house, meaning he has to go through the entire process again. If this was somebody with cancer, there would be an uproar.
We cannot blame the doctors within the NHS, no, they are wonderful and work tirelessly. Yet we cannot ignore the fact that so many people are being failed by this wonderful institution. If I turned up to A&E with a broken arm, would they turn me away and say 'come back when it's fallen off?' If I went to my doctors and discovered that I had cancer, would they turn me away and tell me to 'wait until it had spread further?'
Beds are full, and waiting lists are longer than a queue in Lidl at 6pm.
HOWEVER,
Whilst this is the reality, this is not to say you shouldn't reach out for help. Now, from experience, I know that sometimes you simply cannot talk about it. You cannot put into words the mush that your brain is producing. How are you meant to 'just talk about it' if you don't understand it yourself?!
I am no expert but I can say, is seek somebody close to you that you trust and whether writing down or speaking to them just say the basic things. Even if it's just 'I am not okay.' Don't let it fester underneath until it burst from the seams because, well.. that would be messy.
Once you have done this, have a little google (think of it as procrastination) of some charities or organisations. If you really don't know what is going on in your brain, there are general mental health charities that cover all spectrums and can offer you the best guidance and support - much better than this lame arse blog post. (I'll link some websites at the end of the post!)
Push your GP. (Not literally). But keep making appointments. I know I know I know, it can be so difficult even just leaving the house, but do not give up. Stamp your foot down if they do not offer anything. Bring somebody close with you to the appointment and if helpful, write things down before you go, because if you're anything like me, then 'cat got ya tongue' is a common occurrence at doctor appointments.
I know it is easier said than done, and I really am so sorry for that. Yet whilst, yes, there are many stories of people being failed by the NHS, there are people who have come out the other side from receiving the right help for them - and this is something so key. Not all therapies work for everything, which is why speaking to organisations about what is available can work wonders in both offering hope and making this fight for treatment or support worthwhile.
I did not intend this blog post going in this direction, it was initially just going to be a piss take of those bull shit mantras that can supposedly teach you to 'live laugh love' or realise that 'not every day is good day but there is good in every day.'
Pass us the sick bucket.
I could have been a lot more brutal in this post, as I have so much anger at the way people are being, or not being, treated. There is so much that needs doing, I can't help but think that perhaps we need the Fabulous Five to come over and give the NHS a glow up?
On reflection of writing this post, it has really sparked (a firework up my bum) an eagerness inside of me to offer hope and accessibility for people struggling or recovering. Or even if you don't have a mental health issue but find some things simply too overwhelming, I want to explore/scrutinise/praise actual things that can work wonders in putting that sexy AF smile on your sexy AF face on your sexy AF body, even if it is momentary.
But yes, maybe (?) keep your eyes peeled! (Yuck, please don't peel off your eye lids?!).
Copyright of Self Help cartoon: Mark Anderton - https://www.andertoons.com/
Way too many people close to me have suffered long and hard without either seeking or receiving help from professionals, and this is where the big conflict comes in. Unfortunately due to our (rather rubbish) government, who are probably equally or if not more unstable than our mental states, over the years we have seen budget cuts and lack of funding to not just the NHS but particularly to mental health treatment. Many people are either turned away or not treated properly for their mental illness. This, unsurprisingly, deters people from pushing for the proper help that they both need and deserve and can result in their mental health deteriorating. Whether it be, not having a dangerously low enough BMI to be taken seriously, or not being convincingly suicidal, too often are those struggling battling with receiving diagnoses and treatment. This is why writing this blog post is difficult; matter of fact is that mental health in the NHS needs to be taken more seriously.
Somebody very close to me, who had been struggling with severe anxiety, was sent away from the doctors and told to 'go read these books at the library.' Somebody else very close to me has been shuffled around different departments redoing the same assessment over and over again for the past year, still waiting to receive any form of help. And the other day when he was due an assessment (after waiting six months for it) was told he couldn't receive the assessment as he has moved house, meaning he has to go through the entire process again. If this was somebody with cancer, there would be an uproar.
We cannot blame the doctors within the NHS, no, they are wonderful and work tirelessly. Yet we cannot ignore the fact that so many people are being failed by this wonderful institution. If I turned up to A&E with a broken arm, would they turn me away and say 'come back when it's fallen off?' If I went to my doctors and discovered that I had cancer, would they turn me away and tell me to 'wait until it had spread further?'
Beds are full, and waiting lists are longer than a queue in Lidl at 6pm.
HOWEVER,
Whilst this is the reality, this is not to say you shouldn't reach out for help. Now, from experience, I know that sometimes you simply cannot talk about it. You cannot put into words the mush that your brain is producing. How are you meant to 'just talk about it' if you don't understand it yourself?!
I am no expert but I can say, is seek somebody close to you that you trust and whether writing down or speaking to them just say the basic things. Even if it's just 'I am not okay.' Don't let it fester underneath until it burst from the seams because, well.. that would be messy.
Once you have done this, have a little google (think of it as procrastination) of some charities or organisations. If you really don't know what is going on in your brain, there are general mental health charities that cover all spectrums and can offer you the best guidance and support - much better than this lame arse blog post. (I'll link some websites at the end of the post!)
Push your GP. (Not literally). But keep making appointments. I know I know I know, it can be so difficult even just leaving the house, but do not give up. Stamp your foot down if they do not offer anything. Bring somebody close with you to the appointment and if helpful, write things down before you go, because if you're anything like me, then 'cat got ya tongue' is a common occurrence at doctor appointments.
I know it is easier said than done, and I really am so sorry for that. Yet whilst, yes, there are many stories of people being failed by the NHS, there are people who have come out the other side from receiving the right help for them - and this is something so key. Not all therapies work for everything, which is why speaking to organisations about what is available can work wonders in both offering hope and making this fight for treatment or support worthwhile.
I did not intend this blog post going in this direction, it was initially just going to be a piss take of those bull shit mantras that can supposedly teach you to 'live laugh love' or realise that 'not every day is good day but there is good in every day.'
Pass us the sick bucket.
I could have been a lot more brutal in this post, as I have so much anger at the way people are being, or not being, treated. There is so much that needs doing, I can't help but think that perhaps we need the Fabulous Five to come over and give the NHS a glow up?
On reflection of writing this post, it has really sparked (a firework up my bum) an eagerness inside of me to offer hope and accessibility for people struggling or recovering. Or even if you don't have a mental health issue but find some things simply too overwhelming, I want to explore/scrutinise/praise actual things that can work wonders in putting that sexy AF smile on your sexy AF face on your sexy AF body, even if it is momentary.
But yes, maybe (?) keep your eyes peeled! (Yuck, please don't peel off your eye lids?!).
- If you need somebody to talk to, call the Samaritans on 116 123
- A great charity that covers all areas of mental health is Rethink: https://www.rethink.org/
- Another one is Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/
- To look for a therapist (this is where I found mine!) go to BACP: https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists
- A really good one for men struggling is CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/
- If you are struggling with an eating disorder or perhaps a loved one is, I would always recommend B-eat: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
- No Panic is a voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and OCD. They also offer a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD. https://www.nopanic.org.uk/0844 967 4848
Copyright of Self Help cartoon: Mark Anderton - https://www.andertoons.com/
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