11/05/2017
A WORD OF WARNING
The blogs in this section were written whilst I was struggling with mental health difficulties. If you are currently struggling, please consider carefully wether it will be helpful to you to read this right now. I strongly suggest that you only read the following if you’re feeling healthy and have support available incase the language triggers a turn in your mood.
Like many people, I suffer from Depression and Anxiety. I had one particularly bad episode four years ago (in hindsight, I was building up to this for some time) which meant I was unable to work, or function much at all, for several months. In the years that followed, I experienced many dips as I struggled to stabilise my moods and understand what caused them.
I have always used writing as a tool for working through my feelings, a way to drain my brain and work things out. A couple of years ago, during a dip in my recovery, I published some blogs online under the title ‘Wanna Wallow’. At the time, I was reading a lot of personal account style mental health blogs and found it comforting to know there was other people out there experiencing similar things to me. However, I was still dealing with a lot of issues around shame and never shared or told anyone about this secret blog.
I am currently at a good point in my life and feel generally strong and healthy. I still have my down days and I still have things to work on, but I feel more resilient and able to cope with the down days than ever before. After reading some material published by a friend for Mental Health Week, I found myself thinking about these old blogs and have decided to publish them here alongside the rest of my creative work.
These pieces are brutally honest personal accounts from a difficult time. My hope with making them public is that other people struggling will know they are not alone, and also know that recovery is possible – You will get better and, most importantly, you deserve to.
Find the blog posts here
Some available support (UK):
- Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
- Mind (0300 123 3393 – 9am-6pm Monday to Friday) info@mind.org.ukMind provides confidential mental health information services. With support and understanding, Mind enables people to make informed choices. The Infoline gives information on types of mental distress, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative therapies and advocacy. Mind has around 140 local Minds providing local mental health services.
- Blurt Increasing awareness and understanding of depression. They offer advice and also have a peer support network, a ‘buddy box’ scheme, a free self-care starter kit and an active Facebook group.
- Anxiety UK (08444 775 774 – 9:30-5:30, Monday to Friday) works to relieve and support those living with anxiety disorders by providing information, support and understanding via an extensive range of services, including 1:1 therapy
Josephine Hall 