It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is TAKE ACTION. So, here’s me doing exactly that. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with clinical anxiety. I haven’t shared that with many people. Clinical anxiety isn’t just having worrying thoughts or getting a bit nervous, it’s a long-term, chronic health condition where your nervous system is constantly trapped in fight-or-flight. It rewires how you process the world. Honestly, this week has been total fucking hell. On top of everything, my dad is in hospital at the moment, which has just added a massive, heavy weight to the pile of worries I’m already carrying. Because of it all, I’ve felt like a complete failure in every single aspect of my life. Like I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, and like I’m letting everyone down. The frustrating part is, I have been trying to take action. I’ve been doing the yoga, the workouts, the dog walks, the audiobooks. I use the 5 Ways to Wellbeing and try to tick off at least 3 every day. But sometimes, absolutely nothing will cut through the absolute bullshit of anxiety. So today, my action is just being brutally honest. Anxiety thrives in the dark, so I’m putting it out there in the hope that it helps someone else open up, too. If you’re struggling, you don’t have to pretend you’ve got it all together.
If you need a starting point, these amazing organisations have been a massive help to me:
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@tonicmusicuk (Tonic Music for Mental Health)
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@bapam_charity (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine)
Take action today. Whether that’s reaching out to a mate, being honest with yourself, or just honouring exactly where you’re at right now. And please try to remember Amy, your thoughts are not your reality 🖤
