Tag: anxiety

Oh, I Just Manifested It!
I first came across the art of manifestation when I started listening to more podcasts and reading more ‘self-help’ books. However, there was one novel in particular that really pushed me over the edge when it comes to believing in myself and the universe, and that was ‘How to be a Badass’ by Jen Sincero. Let me tell you, I definitely learned how to be a bit more badass-y after finishing this book. Jen talks about letting the universe know what it is you want by speaking it into existence.

If you want to manifest your dreams into reality, you can’t just want it to happen, you have to believe it’s going to happen. Let me give you an example…

I went for an interview a few months ago for a job that I knew was exactly what I’d been looking for as a step in the right direction for my future career. I’d had no experience in the industry before, and I had only worked one other office job previously, which was my business administration apprenticeship. But I walked into that interview knowing I had the skills and personality that they were looking for to fill the role. I walked out of that first interview feeling good, giving no energy to worrying about the outcome.

A little while after, I was invited back for a second interview along with two other candidates. Now, this second interview is what really made me realise ‘this is my job’. I had never had such a good feeling from an interview before, and there was no way I wasn’t going to be working for this company within the next few weeks. But instead of walking out and thinking ‘wow, I really hope I get that job, I’ll be so disappointed if I don’t get it, I think I did enough to impress them’, I changed my thinking into ‘I can’t wait to start this new job, I’m so excited for this new opportunity, that interview went perfectly’. Even if when my mum would say that she hoped I would get it, I responded with the belief that, actually, it was already mine.

I’ve been working here for over a month now.

I gave no energy to worrying about the possibility of it not happening, because in my mind that wasn’t a possibility. I made sure not to use any negative language that the universe could have taken to mean something else. When putting something out for the universe to hear, you need to be concise. For example, instead of manifesting ‘By this time next year my bank account will not be empty’, use a phrase more like ‘By this time next year my bank account will be full and healthy/will have X amount of money in it’. See, the universe will hear the word ‘empty’ and may misunderstand what it is you are wanting. Try not to give out mixed signals.

So, how do you create your own manifesto? Picture where you want to be in the future. This could be in a years’ time or even 10 years from now, it’s up to you. The more specific you are the better. Let’s say you’re wanting to move out; Where are you living? Are you in a house or a flat? Are you renting or paying a mortgage? Do you live alone? With a partner? Roommates? Do you live close to work? Do you have a garden? Is there a pet running around inside? Are you friendly with your neighbours? What colour are the f**king walls?

Write it all down and read it back often. Be excited that this is what you are working towards. This is your future that you are looking forward to.

To give you some ideas, here’s a brief manifesto of my own:
- By the end of next year (2021) I will have a distinction in my digital marketing course, have completed my apprenticeship and be working in a higher position marketing job, earning X amount of money per annum.
- By the end of next year, I will be getting an average of 100 views per blog post on Currently Clueless. Thanks to my experience gained from my apprentice job, my WordPress skills will have vastly improved; I will apply these skills not only to my own site but for future job roles.
- By the time I am 24 years old, I will be preparing to move out and purchase my own property to live in by myself.
You get the idea. You might think I’m crazy or unrealistic, and that’s just fine. It’s not for everybody and trust me I know how hard it is to get into this sort of positive mindset. But just think, how’s the universe supposed to give you what you want if you don’t tell it? Speak up – the only risk is being heard.
March 13, 2020
Finding Your Brave

In case you were not aware, this week has been dubbed Children’s Mental Health Week by the charity known as Place2Be, a UK organization who have been working with students, families and staff to provide young people with support through one-to-one and group counselling in schools. The campaign’s website states that ‘around three children in every primary school class has a mental health problem, and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement’.

The statistics don’t shock me in the slightest, as I remember having my own struggles with my mental wellbeing as early as around 9 years old. From a young age I suffered with issues surrounding body image. There were times that I really believed that I was insane because of some of the thoughts I had – I hated myself and I wasn’t even a teenager yet. I can’t imagine how many children now go through this same struggle to an even higher extent with social media being so prominent in our lives (sorry to sound your grandma, but you know it’s true).

We had no education in mental health. No one told me that my mind could get sick. I’m relieved that we are finally getting to a place where we can normalise talking about the struggles we may be facing mentally, encouraging children to feel more comfortable to speak up when they need help.

No child should feel like they must suffer in silence; keeping it to themselves will only ever lead to having to fix the damage that was done in their childhood when they are adults. No one wants to be paying £70 an hour to sit in a therapists office to figure out that the reason they have self-esteem issues because when they were 5 people would always refer to their best friend Jenny as the pretty one and them as the funny one.

Best to resolve those issues when they arise, rather than repressing them until you have that inevitable mental breakdown in your 20s, don’t you think?

The theme that was chosen for this week is ‘Find your Brave’ – it’s all about encouraging young people (I mean let’s face it, us adults need some help in this area too) to feel comfortable in their own skin, own who they are and be confident with it.

But being brave does not mean having to cope with everything alone. Being brave means asking for help, talking about how you are feeling and the parts of life that are getting to you. Up until recently, the thought of having to really admit what was going on in my brain to others made me feel physically nauseous. But, at nearly 20 years old, I am so proud of myself for being at a point where I have normalised having these conversations and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m not okay.

Talking about mental health with my friends and family now comes as easily to me as talking about what I’m having for lunch. I wouldn’t be embarrassed of having a cold, so why should I be embarrassed to be in state of anxiety or depression?

I just hope that children today come to understand this a lot quicker than I did. But guess what? They won’t learn how to be brave and talk about their struggles unless we give them the support to do so. They won’t know that it’s okay unless we tell them that it is. Let the boys cry, tell the girls it’s okay to be angry if that’s what they feel!

As adults, we all have a responsibility to make sure kids feel safe. Emotions can get confusing and scary for grown-ups, let alone for children. If you’re overwhelmed by whatever’s going on at home, how must your kid feel? Ask them, and then ask them again in a few days, and then check up again in a week.

It’s not just about starting the conversation; it’s about keeping it going.

If you want to find out more about Children’s Mental Health Week and how you can get involved, visit the website https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/about-the-week/ for more information.

February 6, 2020
Unexpected Change and Letting Go

No one is a big fan of change. I hear this all the time, but is it really true? I mean, we’re all trying to change things in our lives all the time. Maybe you’re trying to make a change to your weight, your financial status or your career path. These changes are the good ones, the ones we’re not afraid of, because they’re the ones we’re in control of (for the most part anyway). It’s the unwanted or unexpected changes that we really fear. That might be a break-up, falling out with a good friend or being made redundant from a job that you felt comfortable and happy in. Sometimes we’re so scared to accept change that we spend all of our precious energy trying to make it stop. We desperately try to cling on to the present, even if we know deep down that it’s doing more harm than good. Just because something once brought some form of positivity into your life, doesn’t mean that it will always be what’s best for you; it’s a hard pill to swallow. Letting go can be the most difficult thing, no matter how necessary it is to do so.

The first step is to allow yourself to come to terms with the fact that things aren’t what they once were. Stop kidding yourself. Open your eyes and take a look around. Is your relationship/friendship with that person bringing you both happiness the same way that it used to? Is this job still providing you with valuable experience, or is it holding you back from making your next move? Is your current environment lifting you up or pulling you down? Answer those all important questions, admit to yourself that things aren’t working anymore, and you can now begin to make those much needed improvements to those areas of your life. You can’t put out a fire by pretending it isn’t there. It’s just going to get bigger. Then you’ll have the audacity to wonder how you burned to death or died of smoke inhalation. You know in the back of your mind what’s good for you, so instead of trying to drown those feelings out, listen to them. Otherwise you’re just going to drag things out for longer, which can make it a lot harder on yourself and others. You can’t stop the inevitable from happening, so make it a bit easier on yourself.

If there is another person involved, address the problem with them and see if you can talk through it together. That might be a boss, partner, friend or family member. If the other person is being difficult or turning things into a confrontation, don’t engage in it any further. Things are already bringing you negativity, you don’t need any more of it. Them deciding to react that way also further confirms the truth that it’s time to walk away. Never be afraid to voice how you’re feeling, even if you think you might come across as silly or paranoid, or even ungrateful. You can’t help how you feel and there’s always a real reason behind those feelings. Don’t let anyone make you feel like those feelings are invalid. They’re not.

You have to bite the bullet. Get it over and done with. Stop beating around the bush, or making excuses, or telling yourself ‘what if’. It’s like pouring alcohol onto a fresh wound – you know it’ll help but you’re still reluctant to do it and while it does sting like a bitch, it’s over before you know it and now you can heal. So, would you rather let things get worse before they get better? Or let yourself get an infection and end up having to chop off a limb? I know which path I’d rather take.

After the letting go part is out of the way, don’t sit and think to yourself that your life is never going to recover from whatever it is you’ve had to say goodbye to. Be proactive in your ‘healing’. Start to get to know yourself all over again. Who are you without that person or aspect in your life? Figure out your needs and wants – they may have changed since the last time you really checked in on yourself. Date yourself. Find out what makes you happy, calm, motivated, even what makes you sad. Pay attention to all of this and use your findings to start manifesting what you want in your future. Do you want to make new friends? Great, then start thinking about where you’ll meet these friends, what type of people you want to start surrounding yourself with and why you want to be around them. Do you want start a new project or side hustle? Okay, make a game plan, gather resources, do your research and start creating new and healthy habits that are going to help you reach your goals. You’ve been given an opportunity here to grow, so make the most of it.

Don’t hold on to the negativity. I know it’s easier said than done and it can even bring you some form of comfort, but trust me it’s not going to do you any good. Do you really want a bunch of grudges and regrets cluttering up your mind? We want to make space for a more positive mindset; you don’t have the capacity for both. Forgive yourself and others. Wish people well. The Universe can misinterpret what you’re putting out, and if what you’re putting out is all these bad thoughts and feelings about yourself or others, it’s not going to give you what you really want. You’re just going to get more crap.

Change in our lives, whether it’s in the people, places or jobs we have, is never going to go away. Try and learn to accept it, maybe even welcome it. It can seem daunting, saddening or scary at the time, but everything really does happen for a reason and it will always work itself out. You’ll be left wondering why on earth you were acting like it was the end of the bloody world, when if it hadn’t of been for letting go of that part of your life, you would never have grown to be where you are now. So trust me when I say you can let go of whatevers not right in your life anymore, because you’re going to be just fine without it. All you need is youself; your wonderful, badass self.

November 13, 2019
Girl, Stop Apologising.

So I’ve kind of always been one to grovel. In most of the heated situations that have occurred throughout my young adult life between myself and a friend, I usually jump at the opportunity to apologise so that I can make things all right and rosy again. Although having the ability to say sorry is a valuable one, it is possible to apologise too often. I will often find myself saying sorry for reasons I am unsure of, sometimes even when the circumstances are far from tense or argumentative. I do it so much that people tell me off for it; my response is, of course, to apologise for apologising too much. I think what I have done is I have gradually started to use the word ‘sorry’ as a way to gain validation and confirmation from others that I am acting how I am supposed to in order to be a good and valuable friend.

You may think that this is a completely idiotic and destructive way to navigate my way through life and relationships. You’re probably right. A close friend of mine could quite literally stab me in the back, and whilst gushing with blood my only concern would be to apologise for clearly upsetting them to the point of murderous rage, and ask what I could possibly do to fix things, because surely I must have done something dreadful for them to lash out at me in such a despicable way? No matter how much damage that other person may have done to me, I’ll do what I think I need to do to keep a quiet and drama-free life.

I know that this issue of mine closely relates to my absolutely crippling fear of losing the people I’m close to, as I have never been great with dealing with changes to my personal life. This excludes family members, as I feel that they’re less likely to stop talking to me for reasons such as forgetting to like their latest picture on Instagram or having to cancel on their dogs birthday party at the last minute. Those are exaggerated examples of why a friend could be upset with me, but you get the idea. Family are in it till death do us part – unless I go on a cold-blooded murder spree that puts Ted Bundy to shame. Then I could understand if they didn’t fancy going out to lunch with me anymore.

Basically, what I have begun to learn is this whole ‘apologising for the quickest way out’ thing really is not the best way to go about dealing with situations. Not only do I end up apologising for just being myself and most likely not doing anything wrong, but I end up with all this built up uneasiness inside of me. I have all this hurt and upset that others have (probably unintentionally) caused that I have pushed down deep inside me, because I fear that talking to them about it would lead to them turning on me. When, in reality, the worst they’re gonna do is express that they were unaware that they had hurt me, and then apologise for doing so.

A lot of people, maybe even you reading this, are the complete opposite to me. Many of us find it difficult to find it in us to apologise for something and take accountability for our actions. It may be hard to see that you have anything to apologise for. We’re all so proud and reluctant to admit when we’re in the wrong, that we will go to the greatest of lengths to avoid having to suck it up and face the truth. But saying sorry (when necessary) isn’t something to avoid. It isn’t something to run from. It doesn’t make you weak, or pathetic, or vulnerable. It makes you a good person, and proves that you are mature enough to take responsibility for yourself.

So in conclusion, it’s all about balance. Say sorry when you need to, but only if you actually need to. Take responsibility for your actions, but also understand that you shouldn’t feel the need to apologise for being yourself. That is, unless being yourself means being a serial killer or just a general asshole. Then I suggest reevaluating some things. Maybe try therapy?

I hope you enjoyed this post for whatever reason. I’m totally NOT sorry for how long winded and rant-like it turned out.

Okay, maybe I’m a little bit sorry.

Thanks for reading!

October 17, 2019
Why do we need friends?

Friendship is one of the most important things in the world to me. In my opinion, it’s more important to have strong friendships than it is to have a romantic relationship with someone. Maybe that’s just me. But I’ve recently been thinking, why do we go about creating these bonds with seemingly random people who we are neither related to nor do we wish to reproduce with them?

Well, it turns out that us humans aren’t the only animals on the planet who do this. Being around our friends releases all those sweet, sweet chemicals in our brain such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin – this is the same for other animal species as well as just us humans. What happens in our brains when we interact with other humans can actually extend our life expectancy and lower the risk of heart disease. The release of these chemicals also causes us to behave in a certain way, motivating us to do the things that are good for us, relieving our stress and making us want to be friendlier more often. In short, friends make us less of an arse – both to ourselves and others.

Like with most things, I guess it started with evolution. We needed that bond with other members of the pack who weren’t our relatives because we needed that support from others when it came to confrontation, hunting etc. This translates into our modern day selves, as we often use our friends as a support system, although this is now more so for emotional needs rather than protection or to back you up in a fight; I guess it depends on what kind of nights out you have.

Our friends, along with family and others we invite into our lives (and some who we might prefer to stay out), make us who we are. They help us to learn valuable skills and life lessons all throughout our early childhood stages into adulthood. They help us to understand who we are as individuals, aiding us in defining our priorities in life. They make us laugh when we need it most, but also in the most inappropriate situations. They sometimes make us cry, but this teaches forgiveness and we learn how to move on and strengthen the bond. They’re someone to reach out to for help, and in turn we learn how to be there for someone other than ourselves. They are people we can trust to be a part of us. They give us a reality check when needed. They give us somewhere to go when everywhere else seems too much.

Without friendship, we would suffer both mentally and physically. We would be lonely. Friends give us safety and happiness and companionship. I hope that everyone reading this has at least one good friend in their life, because you don’t just deserve it – you need it.

August 21, 2019
Physical Effects of Mental Illness

You might think that spreading awareness on mental health in today’s world is overdone.

Aren’t we at a point now where everyone is suitably conscious of the issues surrounding mental health?

It’s true, we’ve come a long way when it comes to acknowledging our mental health struggles and working out how we can help those who are suffering from mental illness, but we still have quite a way to go. There is still this damaging stigma around mental health, despite the fact it is something we all possess, just the same as we all have our physical health. The problem is that the two are still looked at as separate, but this is not the case. Mind and body can both have a drastic effect on each other. When one is unwell, the other feels it too. So buckle up, because we’re about to get factual.

We can spot issues with mental health by looking for physical symptoms. These symptoms can include changes in a person’s sex drive, increase or loss of appetite, significant tiredness, low energy or problems falling asleep. Poor mental health can even lead to a weakened immune system, making it difficult for your body to fight off infections. Of course, the medication that is prescribed to treat mental illnesses can often have its own effect on our physical state. Symptoms as a result of taking medication can consist of lethargy, dehydration, nausea and flu-like symptoms.

Multiple studies have made a connection between depression and diabetes, with one showing that people who have both conditions seem to display more severe symptoms than those who only have diabetes. Another revealed that an individual with both depression and diabetes is 85% more likely to have a heart attack, proving to us the importance of finding those most at risk to better monitor their cardiovascular health. More research is needed to fully understand how the two conditions are linked, but this is just one example of the harmful influence mental illness can have on our bodies.

Anxiety is something that can have several different effects on our bodies. Physical symptoms include: fast breathing/hyperventilation, sweating, chest pain, shaking and a rapid heart rate. Anxiety affects our excretory and digestive systems, which can lead to nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite. It is suspected that there is a link between anxiety disorders and IBS. Since anxiety often causes rapid and shallow breathing, it can make asthma symptoms worse.

The King’s College London carried out a study (the biggest of its kind) in which they analysed data from over 3 million people living with severe mental illness. The research results showed that those with a mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression put them at a 53% higher risk of having a cardiovascular disease opposed to those who did not suffer from a mental illness; the risk of dying from the disease was 85% higher than individuals of a similar age in the general population.

Of course, this all works the other way around as well, as poor physical health can have a negative impact on us mentally and emotionally. Those living with chronic illnesses such as Cancer, Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and HIV/AIDS have a higher risk of depression, as well as illness-related anxiety and stress. Psoriasis (a condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales that can be itchy or sore) is an auto-immune condition commonly triggered by stress and can greatly impact the emotional wellbeing of those who suffer from it. About 1 in 3 people with Psoriasis experience feelings of embarrassment about their condition, one third experience anxiety and depression and 1 in 10 admit to contemplating suicide. But get this – a recent report from the British Association of Dermatologists brought to attention that only 4% of Dermatology Units have access to a counsellor.

We need to start recognizing that good mental health and physical health come as a package deal. I know that sometimes it can be hard to get out of bed in the mornings, and sometimes eating icing straight out of the tub seems like it will fix all your problems, but we all know how shit we feel afterwards (not saying you can’t treat yourself in moderation). In order to feel as good as you can, you need to take care of yourself in every way possible. This means taking part in regular physical activity – research shows that exercise releases those feel-good chemicals called endorphins into the brain. Having a good, balanced diet and staying hydrated is crucial in managing the way that we feel, as it can influence the development, management and prevention of numerous mental health conditions. Get a good night’s sleep – I don’t think to expand on how stressed and anxious us humans can get when we’re tired. Try and develop healthy habits, and steer clear of the bad ones. The habit of smoking not only has a negative impact on our physical health, but our mental health is also affected. Although the nicotine in cigarettes temporarily increases the levels of dopamine in our brains (the chemical which influences positive feelings), it switches off the brain’s natural mechanism for making the chemical. This makes us crave more nicotine to repeat this positive sensation again and again, resulting in addiction. So, maybe rethink picking up that cigarette packet. Those with depression are twice as likely to smoke than others, and people who suffer from schizophrenia are three times more likely.

All of us, especially those working in healthcare settings, should be taking all factors of health into account when looking out for ourselves and others. If a patient is being treated for a physical injury or illness, their mental wellbeing should never be overlooked, and vice-versa.

Mental illness is sickness of the brain.

The brain is a part of our body.

It all needs taking care of, so let’s start doing that.

June 25, 2019
Social Media: The Good, The Bad and The Unfiltered.

I recently finished reading a book written by one of my favourite authors, Matt Haig. The book, titled ‘Notes on a Nervous Planet’, focuses on living life in the modern, digital world, and how we as humans are coping (or rather, trying to cope) with the changes that our endless advances within technology and society are making to our lives. Matt touches greatly on his own past experiences with mental health issues, and how the online world contributed to his struggles. The book got me thinking – and I mean really thinking – about the time that I take away from my own life to be more present in my life online. The hours I spend scrolling through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, the time I spend with my friends trying to get that not-so-candid shot with the perfect lighting and the sleep I lose editing and uploading that picture, waiting in anticipation for the likes to start pouring in.

Now, social media is not by any means the root of all evil. In fact, it can actually bring some Good into people’s lives. For instance, I know that plenty of people have met lifelong friends and even partners through the use of social media apps such as Instagram and Twitter, and dating apps and sites like Tinder. Yes, you should always be careful with people you meet online, and must never share out personal information such as your home address or bank details. That being said, not all internet meet ups end in people’s organs being sold on the black market after being brutally murdered. As well as giving us the chance to meet new people, social media allows us to stay in touch with everyone in our lives at all times, even if they are on the other side of the world. We can follow and engage easily with those who motivate and inspire us, use it as a platform to grow our brands and businesses, or even just to scroll through our Twitter feeds when we’re in need of a good laugh. Social media provides a kind of escapism. We can so easily forget about the world around us, and delve into the digital universe filled with tweets and memes and filters and likes and…

The Bad stuff. Now, dare I say this outweighs the good? I guess that’s for us as individuals to decide for ourselves. I think each one of us has our own limit when it comes to all things social, and that includes digital. The thing with social media is that it isn’t really true to it’s name. We interact with people online all the time, yes, but with this has come less and less real life communication. Why travel to someones house to spend time with them when you can pick up your phone and Snapchat them right there and then? Something I personally find very difficult and anxiety inducing with messaging someone is that it inhibits me from being able to read their facial expressions, listen to their tone of voice or analyse their body language. This often results in me convincing myself that a friend is angry or upset with me, when in reality I have just read their message completely wrong and overthought every tiny detail. It all just leads to one big misunderstanding. Social media gives us the ability to talk to whoever whenever we please, post whatever we desire and to share each detail of our lives with the world. Not only is this an unhealthy habit that the majority of us have had at some point in our lives, (I mean c’mon, did you really need to send that tweet about how bad your date went last night, informing perhaps hundreds of people who probably do not care?), but it is starting to take away from the limited time we have to enjoy real life memories and experiences. But if you didn’t post it on the ‘gram, did it really happen?

That brings me to the Unfiltered. Ah, the internet. A wondrous place made even better with the use of photoshop and VSCO. We’re all guilty of spending hours of our lives scrolling through pictures of celebrities and influencers sporting skimpy swimwear, showing off their socially acceptable beach bods whilst enjoying a dream vacation paid for by their most recent brand deal. We’ve all said, or at least thought to ourselves, ‘I wish that was me’. You’ve probably even thought that after seeing ‘regular’ people’s posts. Maybe that girl you knew from school is always posting about having the most perfect boyfriend, or that guy from work is constantly uploading post-workout pictures to his story, making you feel like a bum for opting to eat a pizza rather than hit the gym. What we seem to fail to remember is that everyone chooses the best bits of their life to post online. That girl from school has a great boyfriend, but she’s currently watching her parents go through a difficult divorce. That guy from work has got the six-pack you’ve always wanted, but he’s recently been diagnosed with clinical depression. We can’t always control our lives, but we can control how they appear to others online. We can filter them. Edit them. Maybe make our stomachs a little flatter and our smiles a little wider.

I am not saying by any means that if you want to post a vacation bikini picture, you should not do so. In fact, that’s the opposite of the point I am trying to get across. Post what you want to post, whether that’s a sunny photo of you on the Caribbean cruise you went on or a Twitter thread featuring each individual house plant you own. Your social media accounts are your own little corner of the internet for you to enjoy, so don’t feel the pressure or need prove to everyone that your life is as perfect and Instagram-able as the Kardashian’s. Because let’s face it, even Kylie Jenner has her off-days.

I know it’s hard, it’s something I am still working on myself, but life was not intended to be lived through a screen. So try to remember every now and then to put down the phone, look away from the computer and put the tablet away. Go for a walk, get coffee with a friend or spend time with your family. We’ve only got a limited amount of time on this Earth; that tweet can wait.

Thanks for reading!

– S x

June 11, 2019
Ten Things Making Me Happy Right Now
I guess it’s easier to think about all the bad things in life and what isn’t going the way you want it to. I think that it’s human nature for us to automatically focus on the not so positive things in life – even though we know that the more we think about them the more down we’re going to be. Lately, I’ve been trying to be more positive when it comes to every day life, trying to think about all the good things and what’s going right for me at the moment. So, I’m going to share with you a brief list of ten things that are making me happy right now.
1. Friends
2. Dogs (mine and other peoples)
3. Writing (whether it’s blogging or in my own private notebooks)
4. The weather (despite being a bit too hot in bed at night and in the office, and the dreaded hay-fever, I do actually enjoy the sunshine)
5. Food (gotta love it)
6. Family (especially my Mum, she’s not just an amazing Mum but a great laugh)
7. Work (although it exhausts me and I do my fair share of complaining, I’d be bored and lost without a full time job)
8. My new short hair
9. Books
10. Busy (but fun) weekends
So, there you go. Sorry for the short post, but I hope this list encourages anyone reading this to think about ten things that are making them happy right now. Even if you can’t think of ten, even having that one thing that brings positivity into your life is so important, and you should focus on that as much as you can. Thanks for reading!

– S x
June 27, 2018
My Top Five Tips for Improving an ‘Off Day’
We all have those days when we don’t feel like ourselves, some maybe more than others. On these days you may feel down, unmotivated, tired or you might not even understand exactly what it is that you are feeling. Your mind and body probably both tell you to stay in bed, to just call the whole day off. Except this is only going to make you feel worse – trust me. What you need to remember is that it’s okay to have days like this; we all need to take some time to recharge and refresh before we get back into the swing of things. Taking a break from the busy wonder that is the outside world is something we all deserve from time to time. From having experienced my fair share of ‘off days’, I have accumulated a number of things that I know make me feel better personally, so I thought I’d share some of them with you. Please, feel free to take away from this list whatever you think would work for you to get you feeling better on your ‘off days’ too.
1. Make yourself feel clean. Whether you go for a five minute shower, an hour long bath or you go through your whole skincare routine, just get yourself feeling clean and fresh. Get out of your slept-in PJ’s and put on something newly washed. Having a shower or bath will also help you to feel more awake. Making your bed and clearing any clutter in your room can also make you feel cleaner and put your mind at ease.
2. Make yourself feel as comfortable as possible. No one wants to wear a pair of skin tight jeans when they’re not feeling 100x (unless of course you genuinely think skinny jeans are a comfy item of clothing). Throw on something easy, light and comfortable like your favourite pair of joggers and a baggy t-shirt. If you feel better having your hair out of your face, tie it up. If wearing makeup makes you feel more like yourself, put on your makeup if you know it’ll make you feel that little bit better.
3. Get moving. You don’t have to do a full blown hour long intensive workout at the gym (unless you feel up for it). Simply going for a run, jog or walk can do wonders. Getting some fresh air and exercise will help you clear your mind and lift your spirits. If you really don’t want to do anything too overwhelming, doing some stretches on your bedroom/living room floor can work too!
4. Eat well. Take time to make yourself a breakfast that you enjoy but normally don’t have time to or simply can’t be bothered to make. Try to keep what you consume relatively healthy, as junk foods can make you feel even worse, especially on an ‘off day’. But still, don’t be afraid to treat yourself. You could even take yourself to get your favourite coffee if you’re feeling up for going out.
5. Do something you enjoy. Read a book, watch your favourite TV show/movie, write, draw, paint, hang out with family and friends – anything. Even if you have to force yourself to start doing it, just believe me when I say that when you start your mood will instantly begin to improve and you’ll forget all about that ‘off day’ feeling.
If you really feel as though something is wrong, or you just need to get some things off of your mind, then don’t hesitate to talk to someone about it. Everyone understands what it feels like to feel like everything has just gotten on top of you and you can’t keep up. Always make time to take care of yourself. You are the most important person in your life. Thank you as always for reading!

– S x
June 19, 2018
What Depression Really Feels Like

I’ve suffered from both depression and anxiety throughout the majority of my teen years. There have been times when both have completely consumed me, times when I feel one more strongly than the other, and times when I may not notice them much at all, but they’ll always be lingering. I’ve been on medication for my mental health for a few months now, and have seen multiple counsellors over the years – facts that I am not ashamed of sharing with others. My struggles with mental health are not something I am ashamed of and feel I should cover up. Talking about these issues is so important, especially when trying to overcome them.

However, some people out there simply are not able to empathise with or fully understand those who suffer from mental health issues, as they lucky enough to not have experienced first hand what it’s really like to suffer through a mental illness. So, in order to encourage people to talk about and understand mental health, I’m going to tell you, from my experience, what depression really feels like.

1. Depression feels like drowning. Imagine drowning, but never being able to die. You can’t breathe, you can feel the strain on your lungs as you try and fight against the strong current of the water. You can never quite make it to the surface. You’re just dying for that huge relief of filling your lungs with fresh oxygen. But you just can’t quite make it, and you’re stuck in this trapped, panicked and terrifying state for what feels like forever.

2. Depression feels like guilt. The overwhelming sense of guilt you get for being depressed is almost unbearable at times. What have I got to be depressed for, right? I’ve got a great family, amazing friends, a steady job, a roof over my head, food in my fridge. I could have it so much worse. How can I be so down all the time? Here’s how – anyone can have depression. It’s an illness, not a choice.

3. Depression is a ball and chain. It keeps me in bed for hours some days. It stops me from going out and having fun and spending time with the people I love. Even if I manage to get up and out, it’s still there, lingering in the back of my mind. You just have to learn to live with it, to cooperate with it. Show that depression who’s boss.

4. Depression feels like nothing. I might laugh at that funny video on Facebook and I might be loud and outgoing when I’m with my friends. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still there, inside my head. There are days that I feel nothing. I don’t wanna cry, or laugh. I don’t feel like doing the things I love. It numbs me. And I think that’s one of the scariest feelings of them all, not feeling anything at all.

I hope this helped some of you understand what it’s like to suffer from this very common mental health issue. For those of you who do suffer from depression, anxiety or any other illness, please know that you’re not on you’re own. You can live with it, it gets so much better. Talk to your parents, your friends, a doctor or a helpline because you should never have to go through it on your own. If you believe someone you know may be suffering in silence, let them know that you are there for them. Lastly, be kind to everyone; always.

– S x

June 14, 2018