Mental Health Awareness Month

May 20, 2023

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and has been each May since 1949. As we live through a cost of living crisis, it has never been more important than now to recognise that mental health is an essential component to ones overall health and wellbeing, and that mental illnesses are common and treatable.

Mental health can include our emotional, psychological and social well being, it can affect how we think, feel and act. Mental health covers a wide range of issues and illnesses, including anxiety, eating disorders, stress, depression and panic attacks ( I've personally experienced all of those throughout my years of suffering with mental health ) it's definitely important to know that people cope with mental health challenges in different ways!! But we can help by making everyone more aware of mental health so those experiencing or going through mental health feel less alone, and can help them find the right help for them.

There are some warning signs of mental illness but diagnosing it isn't that straight forward. Each condition has its own set of symptoms which often overlap. Common signs and or symptoms can include:-

! Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than a few weeks.

! Trying to harm or end your life or making plans to do so.

! Out of control or risk taking behaviour that can cause severe self harm or harm to others.

! Overwhelming *** for no reason, can happen sometimes with a racing heart and or difficulty breathing which can be identified as a panic attack.

! Significant weight loss or gain

! Excessive use of alcohol or ***

! Drastic changes in mood, behaviour and or personality also sleeping problems.

! Intense worry or ***s that get in the way of your daily activities.

But......there are some ways you can work on improving your own mental health, they don't have to be time consuming or cost ***, just finding something you like doing for yourself i.e a hobby, this can have a huge impact on how you feel.

• Make sure you have time in the day to practice self care and always have some me time.

• Spend time with your friends and or family to connect with them or even work colleagues.

• Walking can help clear the mind and can boost not just your mental health it can help with your own health in general.

• Incorporate relaxation into your day, try some deep breathing exercises.

• Keep a journal to write down your feelings and thoughts for the day. Maybe right down three things that you have achieved and or are grateful for.

• Have a balanced diet and exercise more which hence walking can be good for you.

• Biggest one is if you're ever feeling low, anxious or sad, don't be afraid or ashamed to talk to someone.

Self care is very important in our daily lives, I do at least one thing for me every day and these can include....

• Take a long bath, soak in some bath salts, have candles going and just chill for a little bit.

• Listen to your favourite music, podcast, audio book, even pick up a book, kindle or tablet to read.

• Make a nice herbal tea and or treat yourself to a hot chocolate.

• Breath work is always a good one as I mentioned before, meditation and or breathing exercises.

Mental health can affect everybody young and old and anyone can experience good or poor mental well being. Please don't be afraid to reach out to anyone for help or just to talk. There are many organisations out there that can help with mental health, I can't list the links here but you can always message me if you'd like them.

Remember raising mental health awareness will have a positive impact on us all, there is still so much stigma around it and we shouldn't feel like we can't speak up or reach out for help. How are some ways you can help........

• Share recourses and information about mental health on your social media or in your community

• Become more aware of the signs and learn how to support those who may need the help.

• Attend mental health events.

• Form a support group in your community.

• Fundraising for mental health organisations.

I hope this has helped just one person as I wouldn't be here today without the help of my family and friends who stopped me just in time of taking my own life and got me the help I was so desperately seeking 😔 I am happy now and yes I have bad days as anyone else does but I manage them with self care and my friends and family who I can talk to. Please go see a doctor if you think you need to, they are there to help and please don't think they'll shut the door in your face or laugh at you. Thank you for reading this and please let's raise more awareness for mental health.

May 20, 2023

Amazing and info and so helpful- thank you!

May 20, 2023

3 minutes ago, DDom7 said:

Amazing and info and so helpful- thank you!

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Thank you 🙏

May 20, 2023

Awesome topic sis 👯‍♀️ and such an important one to raise awareness on.

Also excellent information you have provided which I hope helps many.

I encourage everyone to read this.

Thank you for writing and sharing with us all. ❤️❤️❤️

May 20, 2023

3 minutes ago, PixieDust said:

Awesome topic sis 👯‍♀️ and such an important one to raise awareness on.

Also excellent information you have provided which I hope helps many.

I encourage everyone to read this.

Thank you for writing and sharing with us all. ❤️❤️❤️

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Thank you sis 🙏👯‍♀️ this was very the***utic to write this and I did actually cry when finished.

May 20, 2023

Outstanding lil-monster 💜. Very much appreciate you bringing awareness to the community. Knowledge is power and you have the power. I appreciate you 😘

May 20, 2023

Thankyou for posting. I was about to post something as I have ADHD. It's even more difficult to find the way to your people when you have struggled to understand the rest of your life 😊

May 20, 2023

Thanks for this I have bpd but there is hope due to me starting therapy x

May 20, 2023

Some days I struggle and battle with my inner demons and other days we cuddle. Such is the way living with a Axis II Personality Disorder comorbid with borderline pathological tendencies prone to sporadic depression and rage.

May 20, 2023

1 hour ago, doubletrouble129 said:

Outstanding lil-monster 💜. Very much appreciate you bringing awareness to the community. Knowledge is power and you have the power. I appreciate you 😘

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Aw thank you very much 😊 that's very kind to say

May 20, 2023

1 hour ago, PerryDom said:

Thankyou for posting. I was about to post something as I have ADHD. It's even more difficult to find the way to your people when you have struggled to understand the rest of your life 😊

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I can't imagine what you must go through with ADHD on a daily basis.

May 20, 2023

1 hour ago, littlemiss37 said:

Thanks for this I have bpd but there is hope due to me starting therapy x

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You're welcome 🤗 I have a friend with BPD so I understand what you must go through it's good you're taking the steps to get help

May 20, 2023

1 hour ago, JerseyDmat said:

Some days I struggle and battle with my inner demons and other days we cuddle. Such is the way living with a Axis II Personality Disorder comorbid with borderline pathological tendencies prone to sporadic depression and rage.

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Wow! I honestly can't imagine what you must go through every day......my demons and traumas plague me some days and it can very hard to get out of that mind set but do you seek any help at all?

May 20, 2023

Thanks for this me and mental health are old friends, I lost my mom to cancer a few years ago then less than a year later my gran, my aunt who has always been on my side who was like a second mother to me passed away 2 years ago of cancer to then a year later my dad brother died of cancer, my dad suffers from Parkinson’s, as bein the oldest child I have looked after everyone n took care of things thanks to my aunt for always bein there with advice n love, my wife suffers from mental health problems so I helped and looked after her, after my aunt passed away I lost my support structure n my mental health declined, my wife has left me no reasons why just that she dosnt love me, but have told others different n nasty stories about me, my mental health is a complete mess, but I’m still here still standing and tryin to move on with my life, I just want to say to people to be kind as u never know what demons ppl are fighting and one cruel word or one simple hello can mean a lot to ppl, I should know xx

May 20, 2023

44 minutes ago, lil-monster said:

Wow! I honestly can't imagine what you must go through every day......my demons and traumas plague me some days and it can very hard to get out of that mind set but do you seek any help at all?

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It has taken me a lifetime to learn to love and accept myself for who I am and most importantly to realize there is no such thing as Normal. Once you get there it’s about managing this journey through life to become as successful as possible and make your challenges work for you. BDSM is my outlet and my balance. I seek out partners who help me channel my inner rage into pleasure. Of all the therapy I have tried it is what works best for me. For what it’s worth my advice is to embrace your inner demon and find what works for you in a safe and accepting environment. Do not accept pity or fall into the fake concept of not being normal. It is the “Normal “ people who scare me the most as they tend to lie, cheat, steal and hurt others the most.

May 20, 2023

❤️ thank you for sharing.

May 20, 2023

@lil-monster ty so much for sharing.

Mental health is a evil.thing that people have to deal with. You never known when it's going to happen. I spent about 6 months a few years back suffering with extremely bad mental health. I only left my bed to go to the bathroom. My x partner would bring me food. I spoke to them about going to the Dr. But he said it was a waste of time. ( I fount out a few things about him. That's why he's my x. He was controlling but not in kink) I snapped an got myself to the Dr's. I managed with the help of my Dr to get as better as I could.

I'm OK as long as I take my medication. My master is an amazing partner an so understanding.

I also have a great network of family an freinds. Witch is a great help.

I find listening to music helps an audio books.

If anyone wants a link to a website were you can listen to free audio books drop me a pm

May 20, 2023

Amazing display or mental health recognition awareness.

May 20, 2023

8 hours ago, sci-fimarvelgeek4 said:

Thanks for this me and mental health are old friends, I lost my mom to cancer a few years ago then less than a year later my gran, my aunt who has always been on my side who was like a second mother to me passed away 2 years ago of cancer to then a year later my dad brother died of cancer, my dad suffers from Parkinson’s, as bein the oldest child I have looked after everyone n took care of things thanks to my aunt for always bein there with advice n love, my wife suffers from mental health problems so I helped and looked after her, after my aunt passed away I lost my support structure n my mental health declined, my wife has left me no reasons why just that she dosnt love me, but have told others different n nasty stories about me, my mental health is a complete mess, but I’m still here still standing and tryin to move on with my life, I just want to say to people to be kind as u never know what demons ppl are fighting and one cruel word or one simple hello can mean a lot to ppl, I should know xx

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Wow I can't imagine what you've been through 😭 but something similar happened to me in 2019 I lost 4 family members and a best friend by the start of 2020 I was fed up of funerals I can tell you.......and I agree you never know what people are going through on a daily basis so yes it doesn't hurt to be kind

May 20, 2023

3 hours ago, rbxfnx said:

❤️ thank you for sharing.

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Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment

May 20, 2023

2 hours ago, Charms said:

@lil-monster ty so much for sharing.

Mental health is a evil.thing that people have to deal with. You never known when it's going to happen. I spent about 6 months a few years back suffering with extremely bad mental health. I only left my bed to go to the bathroom. My x partner would bring me food. I spoke to them about going to the Dr. But he said it was a waste of time. ( I fount out a few things about him. That's why he's my x. He was controlling but not in kink) I snapped an got myself to the Dr's. I managed with the help of my Dr to get as better as I could.

I'm OK as long as I take my medication. My master is an amazing partner an so understanding.

I also have a great network of family an freinds. Witch is a great help.

I find listening to music helps an audio books.

If anyone wants a link to a website were you can listen to free audio books drop me a pm

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Thank you for sharing your experience @Charms I had a controlling ex too who would *** me 💔 he targeted my mental health and would use mental *** against me everyday like call me names and pretty much gaslight me.

I'm happy you've got help and got to the drs honestly they are the best people to help for sure as they did me too

May 21, 2023

@lil-monster Excellent post ❤️ Informative and supportive for many who have both experienced or are experiencing such difficulties in their life and well being or continue to do so. The narrative…Bee kind 🐝

May 21, 2023

5 hours ago, lil-monster said:

Thank you for sharing your experience @Charms I had a controlling ex too who would *** me 💔 he targeted my mental health and would use mental *** against me everyday like call me names and pretty much gaslight me.

I'm happy you've got help and got to the drs honestly they are the best people to help for sure as they did me too

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I am so sorry you had to deal I a controlling x. Just like. Your x mine used mine against me. In the end I just snaped at myself an got myself to the Dr's. The Dr's were great.

My x husband when we broke up would saying was I was fat disabled an ugly an no one would want me. Not only did I find an amazing group of freinds. On here who were my cheerleaders but I started dating my master who I'd know since i was 15.

May 21, 2023

9 hours ago, IamDaddyMatt said:

Amazing display or mental health recognition awareness.

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Thank you 🙏

May 21, 2023

6 hours ago, naughtynat said:

@lil-monster Excellent post ❤️ Informative and supportive for many who have both experienced or are experiencing such difficulties in their life and well being or continue to do so. The narrative…Bee kind 🐝

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Thank you so much 🙏 and I hope one person will read this and recognize their symptoms and get help I agree always be kind because you never know what that person is going through at that time.