About You

  If I could turn back time, I wish my mother reassured me and comforted me insisting that what I was feeling was valid regardless of my age. Depression and anxiety can affect all ages regardless of creed, religion, or colour. I wished that she was able to understand that symptoms of depression and anxiety can overlap, life experience can create these symptoms and that you can’t just pray mental health conditions away. I tried countless times to talk to my mother about it, but she told me repeatedly to just ‘pray about it’. I took her advice, but it did not help me. I guess that was the best advice she could offer and that may have been taught to her. For those who have a loved one who may be struggling with their mental health, reassure them that you are there to support them. Providing an individual who may be struggling with their mental health with a support system can have a positive impact on their wellbeing. Be cautious when you talk to them and don’t force them to talk to y...

After a busy, stressful day at the office, you always feel like what you need is take-out food or to throw something into the microwave. However, if you cook at home, you could not only end up with a healthier meal but also less stress. An   article on the Wall Street Journal   talks about how clinics are using cooking therapy to treat mental health issues. If you do not have a mental health issue, you can use cooking therapy to relieve stress. Instead of seeing cooking as a chore, you can view it as a fun activity that can help you stay stress-free. Counselors intimate that the cooking courses soothe stress, reduce negative thinking and build confidence. When you cook, you focus on following recipes and have no time for negative thoughts. The Love for Food Is Sincere Most people love food. Food is one of the things that connect people. When people meet somewhere, they always meet over drinks or food. If you love food, the best way to follow your passion is to get into the kit...

  Growing up in my household was a bit of a struggle. Around the age of 12, I was bullied quite severely, which in turn had an impact on my mental health. I began to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. I was always a reserved, quiet person but I built up the courage to talk to my mum about how I was feeling. I went into the kitchen to talk about being bullied and how it made me feel. I was expecting some understanding and comfort but that is not what I received. To this day, I remember exactly what she said to me, "You're too young to be depressed. What do you have to be depressed about?” The response made me feel like my feelings did not matter as I was ‘young’ and had not experienced life yet. At times, I believe that I was not taken seriously due to my age. I was young, so perhaps my mum believed what I was feeling at the time was temporary. I felt sad for some time as I hoped that I could at least talk to my mum and get some encouragement. The topic wasn’t discu...

  At times I did wonder if my experiences were different to other people’s, but I just didn’t have the right words to articulate what was going on. The lack of accurate language meant years of misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment pathways. I was first seen by a mental health team in early 2012, a month after my 16th birthday. However despite regular contact with various mental health teams it still took seven years until someone realised and acknowledged what I was experiencing. They saw that the symptoms didn’t match the words I was using. They took time to find out what was happening and finally gave me some words that fit my experiences. This not only meant that I gained insight but also meant that I could explain what was happening better. We will forever be grateful to those members of the crisis team that took the time to listen and hear. That validation and acceptance is important for anyone struggling with their mental health. After this, I began to acknowledge the other me...

  Although progress has been made, with lived experiences from black and ethnic minority individuals being documented and shared, I believe it’d be even more impactful to see more representation becoming the norm, and seeing an emphasis on LBGTQ+ and faith mental health within black and ethnic communities also documented and shared. Mental health stigma and discrimination is now being called out in all its subtleties, from highlighting the fact that ‘OCD’ is not a verb, or that a person with a mental health condition like bipolar isn’t an inherently dangerous individual. Society as a whole is learning to understand that people with mental health conditions are all around us, working, socialising, and leading full lives, because they aren’t defined by their diagnosis, and therefore shouldn’t be demonised by it either. A greater emphasis on mental health in black and ethnic minority communities is still needed.

  2020 is the first year I have really spoken this openly about my SAD, as previously I was afraid to mention having my mental health affected by the seasons changing, that others just think it would be an excuse for being grumpy, or in ‘one of those moods’. To finally stop all the self-stigmatising, to stop all of the behaviour that must look really odd to my work colleagues and friends, like making a strange excuse to rush outside for some precious vitamin D in a freezing wind with a winter sun. Seasonal affective disorder is real, and can be a serious issue. January tends to be the worst time of year for me, as it gets colder, it’s still dark a lot of the time which is reflected within my mood. It isn’t only the feeling low in mood, it’s having a short fuse, sleeping problems, it’s the feeling of ‘do I really have to face the day again?’ on some mornings, opening the curtains to dark grey skies and heavy rain with an instant inner sigh. It’s the lacking in motivation, the knowin...