Mental Health Awareness Week

beckyharvey23

May 10, 20212 min read

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. As you know, I speak openly about my Mental Health, suffering from Anxiety and Depression.

I don't wish this illness on anybody as it's a horrible illness. For me, it's been the hardest journey but the best journey, as I am enjoying more good days than bad days, don't get me wrong, I still have the odd day, and I have to work at it every day and make sure I am aware of the signs (which is not easy to recognise sometimes), I need to pace myself as if I get tired and overwhelmed it's a trigger. I have grown to like myself and the calmness in my life now. Practising SelfCare, which I never did before. Selfcare for me is:

Enjoying a hot bath with a bath bomb
Some nice Chocolate
Watching Boxsets
Reading a book either self-care for David Walliams
Being out with my camera
Resting listening to Music

This has helped me rebuild my life by putting myself first, which isn't selfish but never did. I never treated myself and took my therapist a lot of work to get me to practice this. I still have days where I suck at this, but I am getting better at this by practising every day, and I really had a bad critical brain, which is now so little I can tell it to go away.

I wouldn't have got to this stage without the help of my therapist, GP, my sister and my close support network (they know who they are). I know I had to do the hard work, but having support to do it is important, as it's really hard some days to do what you need to do to get better. For me, it was tiny steps and going at my own pace. I know everybody journeys are different, and you cannot compare with what others going through with their journey, but there is understanding, compassion and empathy.

If you are struggling with your Mental Health, please know it's okay to ask for help, and it's okay not to be okay, and there is support out there to help you.

Here are some useful numbers:

Mind Helpline: 0300 123 3393

Samaritans Helpline: 116 123

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is nature this week. Nature has helped me so much with my mental health, getting me back out there. Listening to the birds, walking, allowing me to escape my thoughts for five minutes. This, combined with my photography, has helped me enormously, as photography allows you to be present. I hope you have found something that allows you to escape or find something that will eventually help you. I would love to know what allows you to escape?

If you want to know more information about Mental Health Awareness Week - please see this link: Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Here are some of my photos relating to Nature.