How are you? Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

How are you feeling?  The pandemic and endless lockdowns have really added to our feelings of isolation and affected our mood, even if you have never suffered with depression in the past.  Our mental. health is exactly the same as our physical health and it needs to be nurtured and cared for too. 

Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social well-being and it affects how we think, feel and act.  It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. 

We all have times when we feel down, upset, stressed.  Mostly those feelings disappear but sometimes they develop into a more serious worry and we need a bit of help.  We are all different, some people bounce back, others feel weighed down for longer and withdraw from daily life and feel unable to communicate.

You should never be ashamed if you are finding it difficult to cope, to talk and ask for help.  I am no stranger to my own mental health worries.  From suffering from a phobia to the more recent anxiety associated with peri menopause.  I have written about it on my blog and I will share these posts at the bottom of this post.

Today I felt a bit fed up so I made myself get out for a walk (despite the dark sky)! Outfit details below.

This week it is Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK and the focus for 2021 is NATURE, we are being encouraged to get outside and enjoy the nature that can be found all around us.

I love walking but don't make the effort as much as I should, I get put off by rain, mud or cold, but when I do get out for a walk I feel so much better for it.  I am very lucky to have the woods right on my doorstep and during the lockdown in 2020 I made a concerted effort to get out and escape the busy (family working from home) house.

Early in 2020 I had a bit of a relapse with my depression, a few things had come along to test my resilience but I made no secret of the fact I was struggling and I shared my efforts to get myself better.  I walked and talked on my insta-stories and I wrote about it on my blog and social media posts.  I asked for help.

Don't shut yourself away if you are finding life difficult.  Find someone to talk to.  Be kind to yourself and those you love.  There is always someone who will understand and loves you enough to take care of you even if you don't feel like talking - please try!

Here are a few signs that you might be having some difficulties with your mental health, do any of these sound familiar?
​

• Eating or sleeping, too much or too little.
• Less energy or enthusiasm for daily life.
• Pulling way from people you love and who love you.
• Pulling away from your usual activities and daily tasks.
• Feeling helpless or hopeless.
• Arguing with family and friends.
• Having such severe moods that it is causing problems in your relationships.
• Feeling numb, like nothing much matters.

You can find out more about this year's campaign on the Mental Health Foundation website.  

And if you aren't able to talk to a friend or loved one then please do seek professional help, the Mental Health Foundation has some good resources on their Getting Help page.

And don't forget it could be related to hormones!  Don't let your GP just give you anti- depressants without asking the right questions about menopause.  Read my menopause post - linked below.

Get out in nature and you will feel better!

When I am feeling low I like to do one or more of the following ....

• Meet up with a friend or talk to a loved one on the phone.
• Escape for a day!
• Sit in my garden.
• Get out for a walk by myself to clear my head.
• Spend a day in London.
• Make sure I am eating well and nurturing my body.
• Book a break away somewhere, I love the seaside!
• Grab an inspirational quote!
• Write, blog and take photos ... get creative.

I am still working on my mental health, but I know I am happiest when I am busy, when I am helping others, when I am around those I love and when I accept who I am and stop trying to be something I am not.

And you can always email me if you need a bit of a chat or just to vent about something!

Watch - Davina McCall - Sex, Myths and the Menopause, Channel 4 - Wednesday at 9 pm.

Love from
Michelle xx

My outfit ... my LOVE sweatshirt is from Whistles, they have lots of similar ones, in different colours here, my leggings are the All Day Gym Leggings from Sweaty Betty and they are so comfortable and soft!  I buy the 7/8 length for my petite frame (short legs)! (affiliate links).


Other posts you might find useful:

My personal struggle with emetophobia and how to overcome phobias and anxiety
​In a world where you can be anything, be kind
​10 tips for managing menopause

Katy enjoying our walk today, we are very lucky to have the woods on our doorstep.

---

I link up with:

Is This Mutton
#WowOnWednesday 

​Mummabstylish
#Chic&Stylish

​Nancy's Fashion Style
​Fancy Friday

​What is a link-up?
It is a way to connect with other bloggers and share content and hopefully for me to be found by others and for my followers to discover new blogs!

---

Pin it for later!