Its going to be a pleasure to perform on the ABCs live show Friday Night Crack Up tonight, marking World Mental Health Day 2014. Its also a personal pleasure. A handful of people who know me well, know thats not been the easiest two or so years for me. I dont talk about it much, but all week Ive heard how we should. So here we are. I know you would very rarely see it on the outside but I know very well the oscillating brain-scribble that is anxiety and the creeping void that is depression. And the combination of the two. I know the slow journey into it and I (mostly) know the slow journey out again. I know what it means to be terrified of losing it in the most unexpected of places and sometimes the expected ones too. I know the constant brain chatter of needing to get somewhere safe, the slight panic of not being fully in control, the effort required on a bad day to do the simplest thing like replying to an email. (Apologies for all those occasional slow emails, haha). And sometimes the effort required to do something important. Like walk out the front door. The day that I truly struggled with that last one was the day I mentally put my foot down and told myself I wouldnt let this happen to ME. Its a rich experience. I know myself much better. I know how to say hi to my old friend anxiety and step into the flow as it gently slips back into its box. I know how to build good things into my life to have plans and aspirations that are alive and well. I know I have a bright future. Im doing really, really well now so no sympathy votes please! This is just a conversation starter! My advice, if I may offer it: - Get help. Get a GP who understands and a psychologist who you click with. A psychologist is merely a personal trainer for your brain. - Treat your mental health with the same importance and lack of stigma as your physical health. - Be kind to others. You dont know what they are going through. - Take time to reflect. Reconcile your expectations with reality. No one needs to live with the disconnect of the two. Treat it as a treasured period to get to know yourself better. - Talk it through with someone who gets it. - Be gentle on yourself! Maybe see you via the TV tonight. And know its a special moment for me.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 00:49:05 +0000
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