WHO I DONATED TO IN MAY
Hey you. How are you?
I heard once that us British are renowned for asking how one another are, but not actually caring to hear the truthful answer.
Now, I don’t know if that is true, but I do know that sometimes when people ask me how I am, I lie.
“I’m good thanks you?”, “Doing well cheers, how about you?”
I don’t think I am the only one that does this.
The reality is, we might not be feeling good. We might actually feel really crappy, but we don’t Iike to admit that to others. To ourselves even!
Other times, we might be feeling so over the moon happy, buuut . . . we don’t want to share that either, so as not to make the other person feel bad.
Or, maybe, we just don’t know the answer, because do we ever take regular time out of our busy lives to just stop and think, how am I really?
The 18th - 24th May 2020, was Mental Health awareness Week in the UK, and so choosing a Mental Health charity to donate to this month was the perfect choice to make.
I’ve started to hear more and more about the Mental Health Charity, Mind in the past few years. Especially since having ambassadors such as Frankie Bridge and Fearne Cotton. Admittedly though, I’ve never really taken the time to research who they are, or what they do.
Maybe, that means I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve obviously never felt like I needed to seek help from someone like Mind. However, I know that I’ve had times where I’ve struggled with my happiness more than others, and my anxiety levels rollercoaster most of the time. So, maybe Mind should have been somewhere I looked to, as a source of information and support.
Perhaps though, when we are going through a difficult time, we wouldn’t even think to look to a charity like Mind for help. Unless someone shoved it in your face and said “Look here. This amazing organisation can help you change your life.”
So, this is me, shoving it in your face. (Pardon the innuendo)
The truth is, we all have mental health, and it’s something we should look after just as much, if not more, than our physical health. Even if it’s not something you’ve struggled with personally, I’m sure we all know someone who has. So, the more we can talk about our mental health, and the wonderful organisations such as Mind, the better.
Call Mind Infoline on: 0300 123 3393
Email Mind: info@mind.org.uk
Text Mind: 86463
Post: Mind Infoline, PO Box 75225, London, E15 9FS
Info line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm (except for bank holidays)
If you need to speak with someone outside of these times, this link will provide you with additional crisis helplines and listening services.
I know, reaching out for help can be really bloody scary, but I promise you, you are not alone. There is so many sources of confidential, non-judgmental support out there, that can truly help you. Call some of these helplines, speak with your doctor, confide in a trusted friend, or heck, email me if you’d like to. You honestly don’t have to face how you are feeling on your own.
Organisations like Mind rely on donations to ensure that nobody has to face Mental Health difficulties alone. If you would like to donate to them too, you can do so at the link below.
7 Tips from me for loving yourself
*Please note, that these tips are the opinion and experiences of Finding Hannah only. Finding Hannah is not a trained medical professional, and in a crisis, help should be sought immediately by calling Samaritans on 116 123
Eat Healthy and Nutritious foods
I know it seems obvious, and we’ve heard this a million times, but what we eat really does affect how we feel. I remember times when I have felt in such a flight or fight mode, I was convinced I needed to make some sort of huge life U-turn. Eating healthy allowed me to feel more relaxed and approach life’s challenges from a more calm perspective. Mind have a Food and Mood section on their website, with helpful tips and advice on staying hydrated, eating regularly and what to eat to boost our mood.
Be Active
Ditto bullet point 1. We hear it all the time. But that’s because it is SO true. Joe Wicks is an absolute fave of mine and he constantly stresses the gift that exercise offers our minds. Even former Monks like Jay Shetty are recognising the connection between our bodies and our brains. Movement is so important, however small the amount.
Breathe
Again, probably obvious, but it actually took me a long time to realise that I could calm my nerves by slowing my breathing and taking long deep breaths. Apps like Calm, and headspace are perfect to help you get more connected to your breathing. My personal favourite method is to Meditate, and I’ve been using Jay Shetty’s live mediations to guide me.
Tidy Up
Okay, so this one may come as a bit of a shock, especially to those people who know me well, and know that I am such a messy person, but hear me out. When I feel really anxious, or so overwhelmed that I feel that I can’t perform simple tasks, I know that tidying up will help me, for two reasons:
First, because the mess is probably a factor in why we feel so anxious in the first place. Tidying up can help us calm and make space in our minds. (Too many tabs open on our brain computer)
Second, that small sense of achievement can be all it takes to break down those overwhelming feelings, and re-ignite that motivation and belief in ourselves that we can achieve.
Listen
You know those amazing adventures you keep day-dreaming about, or those emotions you keep feeling, like envy or regret? Listen to them. I know it’s hard and probably quite painful (trust me, I’ve been there, many times), but listening to yourself and getting to know who you are is so important. In fact, I’d argue it’s where the magic lies. Talk to a counsellor / coach or a trusted friend about how you’re feeling. Avoiding these things doesn’t work, they may disappear for a short while, but they will pop up again somewhere down the line.
Take Action
Now that you have listened to what it is you want, take action. If there’s something exciting you really want to do, like going on an adventure, learning a new language or skill, reading more, eating at a Michelin star restaurant or starting a blog, you must do it. I spent far too long thinking about all the things I wanted to do, and not making them happen. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the magic lies in discovering what it is you want, and taking action.
Set Boundaries
I think what I mean is, stop saying yes to things you don’t really want to do. You are allowed to say no. I hear-by give you permission. It is not selfish to go after what you want, and to say no to the things that don’t align to that. I mean, yes, sometimes we have to do things that we don’t want to do to support others, but this shouldn’t become your life. Choosing others needs over your own, is breaking promises to yourself, and trust me, this will only end in tears. This one is a new one for me too, and it’s going to take me a while before I’m any good at it, but you know, practice makes perfect. Start small, go from there, you’ve got this.
What about you? Have you got any self-care tips that have worked? Let me know in the comments!
Be kind, and follow your dreams