My Mutterings about Mental Health

For anyone that doesn't like to read long blog posts then I suggest this is not a blog post for you. As the blog name suggests I'm a girl who likes to ramble and keeping things brief is not my forte.

So I thought I'd start a new blog to store away all my really random rambles. To start this blog off I thought I'd choose a topic which is particularly close to my heart right now - Mental Health.

I want to write an honest account but it is worth noting that I am simply writing from my own thoughts and views and whatever I say on this blog should not be taken as fact and I urge anyone who would like to learn more about mental health from a medical viewpoint to consider researching this online via the website: https://www.mind.org.uk/ or http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth/Pages/Mentalhealthhome.aspx both of which have been really useful to me when I was desperately searching for answers. 

Top 5 things I'd like people to know about 

Mental Health:

1. Everyone experiences it differently.

Sure you may know a friend or neighbour who has suffered with a mental health condition but just because Sue who lives at number 8, or Paul your childhood friend suffered with Anxiety or Depression does not mean the way they experienced it is the way that all people experience it.

2. Mental Health should be talked about and treated in the same way as physical health - STOP the stigma!

Believe it or not, it may be 2017 but the way we handle Mental Health is still shocking! Now of course things have improved as people are becoming more aware of it. But that's it. People are aware it exists but NOT how to deal with it or talk to people about it. For instance, you wouldn't tell someone with Diabetes "Do you really need to be taking that medication?" or someone whose leg is in a cast "are you sure it's broken? Have you tried to just get on with it and not use those crutches?" etc.

so the same goes for mental health related issues. Someone may need to be taking Antidepressants to allow them to function like their former self, or they might need to take Anti-Anxiety drugs to prevent them from having a full blown panic attack in a supermarket so they can live their life in an as normal way as possible. Alternatively, someone may be suffering but has chosen not to take medication but to pursue alternative methods of help like reflexology or talking therapy.Someone may even do a bit of both, talking therapy and medication. There is no right or wrong in this. So please, don't ever question whether someone should or shouldn't be taking medication or be seeking therapy, it is an individual and a GP's decision to make only.

But please be respectful in the same way you would be if someone falls and cut their knee where one person may request a plaster and the other not, both decisions are okay as the individual has made their choice. Okay poor example but you know what I'm trying to get at here...I hope!

3. Mental Illness is NOT a choice

Saying something like "are you sure you have {Insert Mental Health Condition here}? You might just be having a bad day/week/month..." or the killer one "Just be happy, look on the bright side, it could be worse..." or "Maybe you just need to get out more" Is not helpful. Of course people are saying this without ill intention but if someone has been brave enough to open up to you about their mental illness 9 times out of 10 they have most likely not just self-diagnosed (although I'm aware some people might do this) but more than likely they have already seeked medical attention and received a diagnosis AND have already tried to just "be happy" or not to panic or stress over something. So saying these things don't help! Do you really think people choose to live with constant fear and worry or persistent low mood? and if it was as simple as not feeling any of these things that they would have done this by now?

4. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

The way we speak to people is ever so important and the simple question of "How are you?" and actually listening to the response can mean a lot to people - trust me on this! Take the time out of your day to just see how people are and don't ever assume you know what someone is going through. On the outside they may appear happy and content but you never know the inner demons they may be fighting on a day to day basis. So just be kind to each other, let people know you are there for them if they want to talk but only when and if they are ready to or want to that is.

5. You can have good days and bad days.
You may be thinking well this is a bit of a no-brainer. But for those suffering with mental health problems if someone sees you smiling again or out and about they can often think oh she's not depressed at anymore...well that's not true. Just like everyone else even those who are unwell will go through good days and bad days and what might look like someone having a good day could actually be far from this as often is the case this is when people are fighting the hardest. People try to act well in the hope they can trick themselves into being happy again but as soon as they are alone and away from people all that false pretence that has built up and all the energy used into pretending to be better than they feel is released. People don't always show you their true selves.