It is not alright

RAIN , HAIL AND SHINE Friday 26/01/2018                                     ‘Mood swings’ Everyone has heard the phrase.  The dictionary explains it as ‘an abrupt and unaccountable change of mood’. You wake up in the morning happy and energetic (I wish!) but by morning tea time you’re cranky, and then at dinner you are excited.  Or one minute your laughing, the next minute your crying.  It can be confusing to those around you, but it can also be confusing for yourself. Why am I talking about this today? Because our moods and behaviours impact so much of our life, it’s important to feel free to share and discuss these things.  I have learned the hard way how my mood swings affect those I love.  For example, one day, I was in a good mood. I was relaxed, calm and happy. My treatment was working (as much as it could) and I had family helping ...

 Friday, 20 January 2018 Why can’t you understand????  Writing this blog is very difficult for me. I don’t like putting myself out there. I don’t like people seeing my weaknesses.  But at the same time, I need to help people see. To understand what depression and anxiety is.  I’m not really sure how to share myself more, my story.  I want to reach out to people suffering, and to also speak to others, to show support and raise awareness of mental illness.  At the moment, that’s hard.  I am scared to say anything about myself.  It makes me feel vulnerable.  Insecure. But that is also part of the illness I suffer from.  My mind turns against me at every stop. Turning a simple word or action into something it’s not. I worry that whoever I speak to or message will roll their eyes, or misunderstand something.  I fear people are judging me. I worry that nobody actually really cares.  Feeling misunderstood ...

Why sadness doesn't pick or choose!  Have you ever said 'why me'? I know I have..many times! It's a phrase that we learn right from when we were small children. 'Do your homework!' 'But why me, I don't want to' 'You are too sick to go to the party' 'Why me? That's not fair!' Sound familiar? What about as we get older. A friend betrays us, we get knocked back for that job, we fail an exam. It hurts. We want to cry. We want to blame somebody, or something. The problem is, asking why, doesn't ever seem to make it better. Why? Because there is no right answer to this question. Sometimes I feel like asking why is the story of my life. I've just, after many years, started to recover from my severe depression, then I end up in hospital for a few weeks with some physical issues. Then I get home, and as I heal, I get told a very horrible thing. My best friend has cancer, and it doesn't look good. My first response....

"It will be ok" Have you ever had someone comfort you when you felt bad by saying 'it will be ok' or 'it's alright'? The next question is, are there times when these statements don't really help, but just seem to make you feel worse?  What about times when you see someone else hurting but  just really don't know what to say to support them? You are not alone. There are times in all our lives when things really are not alright. Sometimes there is nothing anyone can say that will make our problems disappear.  I am hoping this blog will reach out to three types of people.  Those who are going through something hard, and are thinking "I am not alright". Those who are supporting someone going through a tough time. It's not easy to watch somebody else suffer. You need support too. Finally, those who can't even see the struggles of someone around them.  My blog aims to be honest, not hiding from th...