Find Your Light Switch

I’ve been reading an increasing number of posts where people are bravely sharing their stories of living with mental health through this period. They are bravely sharing because there is still a stigma around mental health.

I attended an inspirational (not a word I use often) talk by one of my colleagues pre-lockdown about the roller coaster of recovering from her ‘Broken Head’. This was one of a series of talks as part of the Barclays internal wellbeing programme. I found the description of her Broken Head very apt. Anecdotes such as “You wouldn’t go to work with a broken leg why are you trying with a broken head” really resonate!

One of the common coming from all suffers of depression and anxiety is the darkness of the mind prison that they get stuck in. This is commonly known as the Black Dog. Attributed to Winston Churchill, "Black Dog" was his name for his own depression. A metaphor that can be applied to all elements of depression & anxiety. when the black dog starts to growl, bark and bare its teeth it can be terrifying but the dog can be tamed and the darkness can be illuminated.

The culture when I was growing up was that boys/men don’t cry unless they’re ‘babies’ or ‘gay’. This conditioning has led to generations needing to unprogram before they can start to accept help. I think society has shifted it's perspective from the 80s/90s but we don't yet treat a broken head with as much care, attention & respect as a broken leg or a cancer. There is nothing wrong with someone saying: I am an Anxiety sufferer! We haven't reached the tipping point yet but hopefully we are edging closer and closer!

I think mental health/wellbeing training is even more essential after this period than ever before. My kids have been taught mindfulness at primary school. I never was but at work this is starting to become more mainstream. I have until the end of the month to complete my optional 'Mental Health Awareness' training for example. We have a Wellness programme at work designed to help our colleagues 'Be Well' on a number of issues including finances, work/life balance & mental health. I have seen many people now identifying as 'Mental Health First Aiders'. This is the sign of mainstream acknowledgment and support.

I would recommend everyone reads Matt Haig’s amazing book Reasons to Stay Alive. He walks through his very personal journey turning away from the darkness of suicide to the ups and downs of recovery and what worked for him and what didn't. Importantly he writes how it feels to suffer from anxiety. He describes perfectly how it feels to have an anxiety attack. He calls out the warning signs that you might be about to suffer an attack or indeed that you might be an anxiety sufferer.

In an earlier book Matt "came out" as an anxiety sufferer and that in many ways the positive responses encouraged him to write the book. He wrote that he realised he'd been worrying over nothing. Rather than make him feel like a weirdo, being open had made him realise how many people suffer similar experiences at some time or other. Just as none of us are 100% physically healthy no one is 100% mentally healthy. We are all on a scale."

A mental health check/tune-up should be part of everyday healthcare. We accept the need to have an annual physical or dental check-up. Why not add another element of health. There is a growth in meditation and yoga among people that previously would have laughed it off! Being able to do this in the safety of your home has allowed people to see the positive impact and benefits! There are a number of #HealthTech firms focusing on this area and great apps such as Headspace, Moodpath, Daylio and Wysa exist to provide support and relief for those of us suffering.

Wysa allows access to therapists & councillors online and through the app which can help you to placate the black dog and illuminate the Darkness. One thing I have learnt is talking about your mental health helps to take control of it. Whether that's through a councillor, therapist, friends or families. Talk to someone! If you can pay for therapy (or get it through your medical cover) go for it! Our wonderful NHS can help but may take longer to get individual help. Or you can reach out to many of the charities that exist such as MIND. Or your friends, family, boss, etc. They will be able to help you find your light switch, extinguish the darkness and tame the black dog.