How many times have you said, “Ugh, I need a mental health day”? How many times have you felt just so over it, so overwhelmed, or just plain worn out mentally? If you’ve read my back story about my Adrenal Fatigue, you’ll know I’ve had my fair share of feeling like this. I have a feeling I’m not alone. However, unlike me (now), I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a lot of parents out there that just don’t know why they feel burnt out, unhappy, anxious or depressed.
Need a mental health day?
{Image by Amy Wilbanks Photography}
Up until the last year I had no history of mental illness or mental health issues. I’m still not even that well informed nor do I have much experience or knowledge of those who experience difficulties with mental health.
What I do know is that things like anxiety and depression can affect anyone. I have always been a confident, healthy, happy and fit person.
Yet, after having two children under two, followed by a difficult year of stress and me not really looking after myself, my mental health started to falter. I began experiencing feelings of depression and hopelessness. All because of the physical changes, insufficiency, and imbalance occurring within my body. All because of the effects of stress.
In Australia October is Mental Health month. After the amazing success achieved by bloggers getting behind the RUOK?Day initiative, we have again been encouraged to share our voice and extend the reach of Mental Health Month.
Fellow bloggers Denyse Whelan and Ames from Tutu Ames have started a blog hop, throughout the month of October, to help bloggers spread the word. Bloggers will be adding their stories to the links at the end of this post. If any of these stories resonate with you or if you think you know someone who would benefit from reading them, please help us all spread the word. Share on Facebook, tweet about them on Twitter, email them to your friends.
You may ask why exactly I am contributing and what do I have to share? Well, I believe my story might be sounding pretty familiar to a lot of people.
When most people think of mental health they may think of things like schizophrenia or bipolar. They may think of ‘shrinks’ and medications. They may think, well that doesn’t really apply to me, I’m just feeling a bit depressed.
This, this feeling of dismissal, of potential inaction, is what I want to address. It seemed all to easy for me to go from happy mother of a toddler and a baby (no post natal depression either), to someone who felt a shell of her former self just one year later.
{Take Care}
I’d like to take this opportunity to remind yourself to take care of yourself. If you’re feeling ‘not quite right’, take that mental health day. Take it and use as it as an opportunity to ask yourself a few questions. Use it and talk to someone, a friend, a relative. Use it and see a medical professional. Even if you just go to the beach on your own, go for a run, sit in the sun, whatever you need to do to just chill out and think about how you’re feeling.
Don’t do what I did and do nothing until everything seemed to start collapsing around me. In fact I’m so passionate about this, so convinced I can make a difference, I am going to make {Take Care} a regular feature of my blog.
Every Monday I’m going to ask you to {Take Care} and make some time in the week to do something for yourself. Just so we can overcome that tendency to put our families first, and make sure we are looking after our mental and physical wellbeing.
So this week it is to take a mental health day, or if you’re pushed at least a couple of hours ;).
Could you use a mental health day? What could you do to help you keep in touch with how you are feeling at the moment?
Laney
I just try to find a few minutes to myself to take a deep breath and take a minute to check in with myself. It might be a minute to have a cup of tea … and do nothing but have it. To watch the sun rise or set. To cuddle a child or pet. To breathe. To be in the moment.
Maid In Australia’s last post..Does Mumma need a boyfriend?
Thanks for visiting again :) Sometime all I get are a couple of minutes alone and I’m usually so frazzled I can’t get much out of them. Sounds to me you’ve got it sussed. Now if I could only find someone to finish a spa, massage and pedicure in a few minutes – sigh.
Know the feeling of almost overwhelmed.. and I got diagnosed with PND (which turned out to be less PND and more situational depression) and then separated from hubby for 9 of the first 18months of my daughter’s life… not fun. But if you feel not right.. trust it and talk to someone.. anyone! infact.. everyone… don’t stop at one.. I told a number of people before someone finally had a light bulb moment and I got some help! Unfortunately our society isn’t good enough at helping people yet but we’re on the way there! And there’s some people .. the ones you least expect that will wrap you up and give you the hug or whatever you need!
And I think I’m due for a mental health evening.. been craving a spa and an hour to myself to turn off my brain.. I might just do that tonite!
Oh, and you should use the “Slippery when wet” sign for take care like at:http://www.stockpodium.com/en/image-photo-8503313/Slippery-When-Wet-road-sign-against-a-blue-sky-background/
I should also add that Hubby and I are back together and our little family reunited for over 2 years now! The story can have a happy ending when you say “I’m not ok!”
I’m really glad your story has a happy ending. I’m sorry you’ve experienced depression and so pleased you kept looking for the help you needed. Hope you enjoyed having a spa! Also, I have been toying with the idea of using road signs, and love your Slippery when wet suggestion ;)
Totally agree with mental health days. I’m all for them. Even children need them some times to break the circuit I think. Really like the point you made that yes many people when thinking of mental illness think of one end of the spectrum. Take care :)
Purple_cath’s last post..Mental Health Week: 9th October~15th October
Yes, I think you’re spot on with children needing them too. My two are totally wired and overwrought at the moment. Makes it difficult for all of us.
I stayed in bed till lunch time yesterday, lovely hubby made me breakfast in bed and went out and got fish and chips for lunch. After lunch I had a nap until 4pm. Bliss, utter bliss. So very needed as well, I had no idea how tired I was until I stopped moving.
Marita’s last post..A Sunday Selections Rear View
That sounds wonderful Marita. It is usually the case that we crash when we stop. I’m glad your hubby gave you a soft landing and looked after you ;)
I 100% believe in mental health days which is why I had my “bad day plan” when i was too unwell to even know how to go about giving myself that break. Like Cath I also believe in mental health days for kids. When they were adjusting to school in the first 2 years a wise friend told me they might need them and we have usually had 1-2 per year per child.
Tomorrow I am taking the morning for myself to go to the gym, then meet with my own life coach and think about “me”.
Deb @ Home life simplified’s last post..On gratitude – focusing on making a positive shift
A “bad day plan” sound like a very wise contingency Deb. Have a wonderful ‘me’ day tomorrow, I think it is great you have a life coach.
Thanks hon – I am meeting with her to 1) help me during this transition time from SAHM and 2) to see if I want to go for formal coaching training or keep developing my own thing…
Did you ever see my post about the bad day plan - http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/do-you-have-a-bad-day-plan/ It was a really great tool for me when the kids were younger (now I can just say – hey guys feel free to watch a DVD I am going to chill out in my room for a bit OR let’s get fish and chips for dinner if i am having a bad day and they understand me)
Deb @ Home life simplified’s last post..Meal Planning Printables and Crafts Round Up
Just read you post on the bad day plan. Really great stuff Deb. You should definitely follow the coaching route, you give such great advice.
Yes please!! I’ll have a mental health day :) This is such a great topic and much needed. Will have to make the time to link up too.
Caz’s last post..WAHM CHRISTMAS SHOPPING CAMPAIGN: Green Dandelion Clothing
Hi Laney,
Thanks so much for linking up to Mental Health Blog Hop for October.
This post is written for & about me on Monday 10 Oct … The very day I posted about WMHDay. I over-Cared, I over-did, I over – you name it.
I was depleted by a day filled with grandkids, driving long way to see my dad. So knowing how the physical felt,,I took time out, had a shower & some simple food to eat & took hours to get what my body needed to keep going.
Excellent work Laney.
Thanks Denyse
Denyse Whelan’s last post..My Happy Place.
I’m glad you were able to take some time out and recollect. You’re doing a great thing. I need to catch up with the blog hop – will do that now!