Mental health awareness week 2022: 9-13th May.

I created my own little brief around loneliness using the green ribbon, symbol for mental health awareness. It turned into a hug or arms reaching out, depending on your interpretation.

Mental health is a topic close to heart since having had post-natal depression after the birth of my first daughter (now many years ago).

Too many people suffer in silence and feel lonely in their struggle which is why I feel like speaking out, to open up the conversation. And it so happens loneliness is this year’s theme.

I’ve learnt to live with mild depression/low mood on & off since 2015. However, I don’t feel like I “have” this. I’m not a huge fan of labels because of the limiting effect it has on my beliefs. Instead, I look at them like waves that come & go. For the most part I know how to float now when a wave hits me. What I’ve learnt above all is that that when the feelings wash over me, it’s because I didn’t set boundaries in time & I’ve lost touch with myself. They’ve become a barometer of my wellbeing.

If you’re struggling, I just want to say: you’re not alone, there’s nothing wrong with you, and you’re not broken. Life can be tough. Your mental health can make it even tougher. If you can, reach out.
Try & share, open up a bit…it’s usually a good place to start.

When I struggle I tend to isolate myself ~ I go on my island. It’s a lonely place to be. But I’m recognizing when I go on it & now have ways to get off it which I’ll share in the next (few?) posts. You never know it might be useful to someone.

Another graphic created to capture “the feels” of loneliness. (When you know, you know.)

I hope you find your way out of the darkness and into the light.
Even if it’s in waves.

Until next post!

Nina

***sidenote, eventhough this was published here in July22, this blog post was published in May2022 on my first blog but transferring it here as I still think it’s relevant.