#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

Now then! As you’ll most probably know, it was #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek so I threw myself into it and read a lot of blogs dedicated to it. There are some absolutely fantastic pieces out there, it almost makes it easier to share their stories rather than bore you with mine but I write this as a coping mechanism for me so I’ll keep on sharing with y’all and like I always say; if it falls on the eyes of one person and it helps them, then that’s even better.

One blog caught my eye; it was well written, thought out, made some brilliant points, and I could relate to nearly every post and this blog was written by a 20-year old girl and there’s many more youngsters out there in the MH community too. And that’s the thing with mental illness, it really doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, when hearing their stories you can sometimes remember feeling exactly the same.

I think #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek has been fantastic at bringing mental illness to the forefront of everybody’s mind but I do think mental health awareness should be taught in schools. Some of you may be thinking that’s a bit too far and it’s easy for me to say this but if you haven’t lived through it, it’d be hard to understand. I’ll certainly be talking to Moo about it just so she knows. I may not know what music she’s listening to and I’ll be just boring old dad, but there’s one thing I’ll understand even if she thinks I won’t and that’s her mental health. But that’s because I’m living with it; it’d be nice if we could teach it at a younger age so you don’t have to have lived through it to understand it?

EDUCATION WOULD PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS TO DEAL WITH CONCERNS WHEN THEY ARISE RATHER THAN HAVING TO FIGURE IT OUT IN THE MIDST OF A PROBLEM. I HAVE A BUGBEAR ABOUT THIS. GIVEN THAT ANY ADULT WOULD SAY THAT HEALTH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE – WHY THE FUCK DO WE NOT HAVE A SCHOOL SUBJECT “HEALTH”? HOW CAN HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, BUSINESS STUDIES ETC BE SUBJECTS BUT HEALTH IS NOT?!

Have a good day everybody

Peace and love

Awwww friends MK2

Now then! As the title suggests this is about friends, not my ‘bring it in for the real thing’ friends, they are still all fantastic – that’s if they live far and a wide or in the mighty GY with me. They’ve been there for me from the start and still now, no matter what time of day or night, I know I’ll always be able to get hold of one of ’em (looking at you, Ry x).

No, this is about the mental health community on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (other social media is available).

I bring this up because some you of you may have seen Mr. Piers Morgan has made some controversial comments regarding mental health (he did, honestly, I’m not making it up. So out of character for him!).

Now, he has every right to say what he likes, as do you and I, but to me someone with such a following and he knows what he’s doing when he makes these comments, but he’s been round the block many a time when it comes to media; didn’t he stop for one second to think how his comment could affect people in very vulnerable positions?

Now, he says he talks openly in private with his children, which is brilliant and I’m sure he’s a very good dad too. But he says celebrities are using it to promote their brand – I really hope that’s not true.

One concern I do have with this current trend with mental health being all over the news; is just that – I fear that’s all it will be. A trend.

And that is why I’m writing this because if it comes to end and starts leaving the average Joe’s head, I know the mental health community on social media will be there, no matter what time of day or night to answer a call (tweet) of somebody in need. And I praise and thank you all for that.

So to all of you out there, be it man or woman, husband or wife, brother or sister, mums or dads we may not actually see each other and like/share or comment on occasional posts, I know we’re all in this together.

I’m new to this blogging lark and maybe made 20 posts on social media before starting my blog and while reading the threads of Mr. Morgan’s comments (not a good idea!) it did make me think; no, it made me feel ashamed, scared and full of self doubt. Am I doing the right thing sharing my life like this? But no, fuck them people and fuck their opinions. I’m not doing this to promote a brand, I’m not doing this for sympathy, I’m doing this because it’s a coping mechanism. It makes me feel good and I think is making me into a better person and you know what ? It might actually help somebody- ever thought of that!? So, fuck you naysayers one more time. Not asking you to read/share/comment on our posts but maybe have a bit of understanding as to why we do it.

One last little shout out to all the people out there who have opened up in private – fucking brilliant. But I’m gonna take a guess that there was a high chance of them being able to do so because they read something on social media. So I’d say it’s a good job we don’t just ‘man-up’.

Have a good day everybody

Peace and love

What a difference a day (well, a few days) makes

Now then. Regular readers (if there are any) will notice it’s 2 blogs posted today. The first one was 5 days ago and boy was it a bad day. But my editor-in-cheif has been poorly so it’s got posted today along with this one.

And this one is a lot more positive.

Yesterday I was at the wedding of the wonderful Mr & Mrs Fuller and was shitting myself with it being where I got married and my first family occasion since ‘coming out’ about my depression. As soon as I stepped in the place I walked out. I could feel ‘it’ building up and then when the photos were taken exactly where mine were I walked off again. Just brief little mindfulness walks to help me attack ‘it’. Now I was a little naughty about this and didn’t talk to anyone about it because it was a wedding and wanted people to have a good time.

But all that worry and anxiety that’s been hovering over me for the last few days was pointless (as it normally is) because this was a family occasion and there I was worried what they’ll think of me but that’s the beauty of family, we might not see each other for years and as I said last night, we might be shit at times but we’ve all got our own lives going on but when you meet up it’s instantly back to chatting and laughing like always.

I exchanged numbers with some of ya and I write this now so you don’t think it’s a drunken “yeah yeah (hic) we’ll (hic) definitely open that bar together (hic)”

I’ve felt shit for a long time and proper, proper shit for albeit a shorter time but still a long time and even after a day on the pop I woke up feeling fantastic this morning (that’s right, on Tuesday I didn’t want to be here and now my drive has gone up again! (The fucking human brain, eh).

Like I just said, my drive is so high not just the drive to help spread to word that it’s ok not to be ok, but my own personal drive for mine and Moo’s life. And for me that’s surround yourself with kind hearted, truly real people you don’t give a flip about what you tried to do but do give a flip (mum bought me a swear jar!) about you.

So this little wannabe hippy is telling all my family and friends take full advantage of me! Because how I feel right now is how I want to feel for the rest of my (hopefully long) life and I will meet up for that coffee, I will pop for that pint, I will help ya with any manual labour chores, and I’ll always be a shoulder to cry on or a ear that’ll listen. If you’ve just read this text a friend or family member meet up, have a chat, have a laugh, damn it even have a cry. It feels so fucking good (money in jar).

Have a good bank holiday weekend everybody and keep kicking arse.

peace