Snow Day: Modern Life VS Nature

Snow day! The flurry of snowflakes dancing from the sky to the ground, glittering in the light as it covers the ground in a sheet of white. The past few years in Scotland this has been a familiar sight in January and every time it starts I see the same ritual played out on social media.

 

The first day of snow is full of excitement; families out making snowmen, animals experiencing it for the first time, everyone out taking pictures and remarking on how pretty the snow makes the world. However, if the snow continues for more than a day or two, or becomes particularly heavy, then the complaining starts; the roads are impossible to drive, public transport stops, people are cold, miserable and generally over it.

Now I’ll admit I have been one of these people on more than one occasion but last night as I walked home in the snow I surprised myself by smiling the whole way. Now, understand, I was cold, my boots were leaking, I was hungry and my shoulder was bothering me as usual. But I was smiling.

 

I enjoyed the feeling of the snow crunching under my feet. I smiled as my usual walk home was transformed by the snow, changing the scenery to something clean and pure. I stopped to take pictures as the street lights reflected on the snow and made it glitter. The streets were quiet and I could meander home listening to my music and kicking up snow.

 

Our modern hectic life requires us to rush everywhere and to have little time to ourselves but the snow forces us to slow down. It forces us to take a longer drive home, so why not enjoy it? Put your favourite music on, sing along and enjoy your own head space. There’s no point in getting angry at other drivers, the lack of gritted roads or the snow. Nature will always prevail and sometimes we have to sit back and accept it. Snow is nature’s way of bringing out the child in us again and allowing us to take the slow lane for once without feeling guilty.

So next time it snows heavy, take a deep breath, open your eyes and properly look at the world around you. It’s as beautiful and fun as the first day of snow if you let it be.

I am Jacks total lack of Concentration

Focus, Concentration; Things that so many of us don’t even think about actively doing. If something interests us we hone in on it, our surroundings melt away and our minds take the time to digest the information being received.

I notice my lack of concentration when it rears its head. It’s always a sign of my anxiety flaring up or my medication dosage has recently been changed. It affects my ability to do anything; hold a conversation, read a book, watch a show. These 2 paragraphs have already taken me far too long to write because I phase out half way through a train of thought.

I literally have to fight with my brain to make it focus, to make it work properly when I’m like this. It’s tiring, which makes it even more difficult. All I want to do right now is nap. I can feel myself slipping into a doze-like state, reality becoming fuzzy around the edges. This link perfectly explains the different issues I have because of it.

I’m writing this to try and make myself concentrate on one thing. It’s the only thing I can actively do to help myself. It’s also a reminder for those who don’t ever suffer from this; be patient when interacting with someone with depression. They may be struggling to follow the conversation or engage the way they would like to. It isn’t a slight to you or the conversation; it is purely an unfortunate side effect of the illness.

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*I love a fight club reference!

 

Cheap Healthcare is Hurting us All

The NHS has been ‘ring-fenced’ from cuts by the conservative government since 2010, yet this does not mean that the NHS is receiving sufficient funds to continue to support the populations health care needs. Finance directors have reported cutting back on staff, beds and wards in an attempt to meet budgets and still it is forecast that this year will see an overspend of more than £2 billion in England alone.

These constrictions have led to headlines reporting that the NHS is missing waiting times for crucial tests for patients or emergency tents being pitched outside to cope with the number of patients. Yet, unless you are one of these individuals you may not have noticed a reduction in your healthcare. Perhaps a pill name has changed or you have been prescribed a new inhaler but your doctor or nurse has reassured you that it is the same ingredients just under a new brand name which is cheaper than previous.

The same quality but cheaper? Well we can all understand why the NHS has chosen it then. However, several months down the line and this has been shown to be a lie. Diabetics who were given new needles for their insulin injections are reporting that the needles bend or break too easily and cause pain or bleeding. The decision to move to these new needles is a cost saving exercise for the NHS due to the constraints being put on it financially but it is to the detriment of the patients.

Another example, one which is very wide spread and I have experienced, is the move from microgynon contraceptive pill to rigevidon. I was told by my nurse that the pill is exactly the same, its just that rigevidon was cheaper but I should experience no difference with it. Boy was she wrong. Every girl I have spoken to has reported problems with this pill; from spotting, painful cramps to increased anxiety/depression and insomnia. Luckily for me, my nurse moved me back onto microgynon but not all doctors are happy to do so.
This is the very real impact of low NHS funding. Everyday medication is traded for cheaper brands that cause more issues and more likely more appointments at GPs to treat the problems cause by cheaper brands! Most people in everyday life are wary of cheaper brands yet we seem happy to accept it when it comes to our healthcare? This isn’t right and it shouldn’t go on. I encourage anyone who has recently changed brand on any pill to question why and to keep an eye on any unusual symptoms. We can’t let our healthcare be ruled by what is the cheapest brand to buy and the government needs to recognise this.

World Mental Health Day

Today is World Mental Health day  and it’s important, now more than ever, that we openly discuss mental health issues and the impact they can have on people’s lives. Roughly 1 in 4 people in the UK will, have or do suffer from a mental illness. Yet, Mental health research receives only 5.5% (£115 million) of total UK health research spending.

Mental illness is such a common problem, particularly for those aged between 18-30. The small funding that is provided for research is a drop in the water compared to the size of the problem. To add to this mental health services in the UK are overstretched, have long waiting times and, in some regions, lack specialist services meaning that even if someone asks for help they can be waiting a long time before they receive it.

These facts and figures can no longer be considered acceptable. Mental health is becoming a topic people can more openly discuss but it also needs recognised as an area that needs more funding and political attention.

We also need to allow people the opportunity to look after themselves; to take a day on the sofa without social interaction, to spoil themselves with a special purchase, to take a moment to address their mental health needs and meet them. In everyday life we are encouraged to look after our bodies, our careers, our relationships; we need to put more focus on looking after our own mental state.

Mental health needs to be taught in schools the same way that physical and sexual health is. If we can inform people of the common symptoms, feelings or problems then perhaps we can also teach people ways of coping through things such as mindfulness, meditation or ask for counselling.

Mental illness cannot continue to rise the way it has in recent years. We need to re-evaluate how we treat it, prevent it and educate ourselves on it. Today is Mental Health Day, let’s start changing things by taking the time today to address our own mental health needs and catering to them.

 

 

The importance of Context

Context is defined as:   “The situation within which something exists or happens, and that can help explain it”.

Context is something that we, as a society, seem to have forgotten about. When the latest atrocity hits our news outlets we look at it in isolation. We try and analyse why it has happened, what could have caused it but this is done without taking into account the context in which the act happened. By dismissing societal norms and ignoring outside influences (unless its extremist islam, we actively look for that)  we fail to fully understand the situation.

Everyday situations also require us to consider context. We are quick to judge or jump to conclusions about each other but often this is done without holding all of the facts. This leads us to a narrow view and understanding of the world.

Recently I have wanted to scream the word context at so many reports on the news or to peoples arguments online. The media takes issues or topics in isolation to report them but this has lead society to treat all things in this manner. Arguments or opinions should be informed with supporting facts and many of these facts are related to the incident, not neccesarily just about that one incident.

Until society, including mediaoutlets, start to discuss things in their context, we cannot hope to reach an understanding of how to stop it from happening again or how to solve the problem at hand. Knowledge leads to understanding which in turn can lead to solutions. Without all the facts, we can never resolve an problem effectively.

Out of Control

Have you ever ‘watched’ yourself saying or doing something and thinking “who is this person, that’s not my opinion!”. If you have then you know what I mean when I say that it is one of the worst experiences you can have. I watch myself spitting out hateful opinions that I know I don’t actually believe just to get a reaction from the person I am talking to and all because I have frustration and anger that I don’t know how to deal with.

This past week I have ‘watched’ myself trying to provoke arguments about sex. Normally I would say I am very liberally in my opinions towards this subject, people can do what they like as long as they aren’t hurting anyone. However, I am aware that I have deeply set insecurities that have formed during my childhood and early 20’s due to my up-bringing and my marriage. These are apparently the opinions that my brain is choosing to express at the moment.

The whole process makes me feel out of control of myself; a feeling that I have difficulty in addressing. I am slowly pushing the people that matter to me away and becoming a person that I hate. Last time I was like that I engaged in behaviour that I would never normally even consider because I hated myself and needed a way to punish myself for being a horrible person.

Acting like this also makes worry that people will hate me too; that friends will leave, my partner will leave and I’ll be left alone with nothing but my anger to comfort me.

I consider myself to be a highly strung person that needs control over all aspects of my life and I manage this need for control by going to the gym, working hard at my job and planning what I can in advance as it gives me comfort and calms my anxiety. To be out of control of myself in the way I have been scares me more than I can describe. I try and grasp back the control but often it is after I have started the argument and I don’t know how to fix the damage I’ve caused.

This is anxiety. This is what it does to me. It takes apart who I am and brings out the worst aspects of my personality which makes me feel unworthy of people so I attack them.

Choosing to come off my medication was the right choice for me because I thought I could manage these thoughts and feelings. I will manage them, I just forgot that bad days/weeks do occur and I can’t let them defeat me. To anyone else who is struggling with the same issues, you are not unworthy of people and you are never alone. We just have to remember this.

Lose yourself in a Book

Books, for me, provide an escape into another world. They are the source of my imagination, my knowledge and most of my opinions. I read on holiday, in the bath, on my lunch, with my breakfast; any chance I get really. Therefore it shocks me the level of illiteracy that still exists in our day and age.

Around 16% of the adult population in England can be described as “functionally illiterate”. This means that their literacy level is below that expected of an 11-year-old and they would struggle with unfamiliar texts or sources. This is a huge disadvantage in any walk of life. It restricts the ability to fill in official forms, apply for jobs, help children with homework or start new jobs with unfamiliar sources of text. This leads these individuals to be left in often poorly paid, low sector work with little opportunity for advancement and social mobility.

A second result of this is the inability to read some sources of information is an uneducated populace about social and political issues that affect them. Unable to engage with information in a written form restricts sources of information that an individual can use to form opinions on issues that may affect them. It also restricts their ability to fight back against any injustice against them. Literacy is a main skill in life that everyone needs; without it we are crippled from engaging in society fully.

The third impact of illiteracy is the inability to enjoy reading a book. This may seem trivial but for someone like me this is such a huge part of my identity. Many of my opinions are formed through my recreational reading as well as it nurturing what little imagination I have.  Fiction can impart ideas and concepts that are relevant to everyday life; whether it be about political, romantic or social life. The inability to enjoy a book restricts sources of opinions, making an individual’s world smaller and more at the whim of whatever television show is popular.

Charities and programmes exist to try and address this issue but with any problem the taboo around it must be addressed first. Adults need to feel comfortable to ask for the help they need and this can only be done by acknowledging that this is still a wide-spread issue making these individuals realise they are not alone nor are they stupid. Once this has been done and illiteracy levels are increased it will open a new world for some and increase social and political engagement for many.

The new age of colouring

Mental health has been in the papers, yet again, for all the wrong reasons. The recent German-Wings tradegy which has left over 150 people dead is being blamed on the co-pilots ongoing battle with depression. This coverage is leading to the idea that anyone suffering from this mental illness isn’t fit to work and undermines some recebt progress that has been made towards lifing the stigma associated with depression.

 Thankfully, despite this coverage, there has been a rise in new ways to manage stress, anxiety and depression. The most popular of which is adult colouring books.

‘Secret Garden’, a book by Johanna Basford, has sold more than 1.4m copies and hit the top of Amazon’s bestseller list this month. This is a book consisting of 96 pages of intricate floral and animal designs to be coloured in anyway the ‘artist’ desires. This is one of many of these types of books on the market. The quiet focus this involves invokes a deep relaxation allowing the mind and body to let go of stress and anxiety. Colouring requires artistic choices to be made in regards to colour and design promoting the use of our creative faculties which has been proven to help individuals manage depression.

Children are encouraged to colour as it can aid creativity and learning, why should the same thing not apply to adults? As we get older we forget to play and life becomes a series of worries and planning for the future. By going back to basics we allow our minds to wander free and to get back a sense of fun we experienced as children which in turn can help to manage these everyday stresses and any mental illnesses associated with them. These books are meant for everyone, so grab a pen and a book and get creative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2015/mar/05/colour-therapy-an-anti-stress-colouring-book-gallery

 

Anxiety strikes back

Like a really bad movie that continues to produce really bad sequels my anxiety has decided to raise its ugly head again. It’s never something that truly leaves you, very similar to watching a bad movie, but is, for me at least, usually manageable. Recently, not so much.

My work has been less than helpful. It’s the main reason I’m off if I am being entirely honest. Working in a place where reaching targets is more important than any of the staff produces a horrible atmosphere. The pressure is always on and one mistake can feel like the end of the world. There is little to no support from managers and showing weakness is like bleeding in shark-infested waters – not advisable.

How did we get here? When did reaching targets set by those above become more important than looking after each other? It breeds an ugly atmosphere where you can only look after number one. Personally I’ve grown to understand that I need a support structure at my work place in the form of friends I can talk to or even a manager who understands. Just someone I can go to and tell them I am having a bad day, get a hug, have a moan and get on with it. My position at the moment requires me to spend most of my day in a room myself. The one and only time I opened up to my existing manager I was asked if I regretted moving to the role and that perhaps  I should look to move back to the department I was in previously. Really helpful and supportive, obviously.

My work has shown itself to have no understanding of my condition whatsoever. Instead it’s expected I can go back to work once I have been back on my medication ASAP so I can get back to hitting target. Even while being off the pressure hasn’t eased off. I can’t have colleagues on face book without being asked why I was out if I’m not well.

I write this because I know I’m not alone. As much as mental health issues have been recognised as a legitimate reason to be off it comes down to the individual that is in charge of you. If they do not understand the illness then they can end up making things worse through their actions or, even worse, do not believe you when you explain you need to take more time off. Proper training should be provided to everyone in a position of power so that they can understand mental health issues and how to assist someone back to work instead of chasing them further away, a feeling I can definitely sympathise with right now. This should not be the case, we need the same support as someone who is off long term for any other reason, not pestered to come back because our illness isn’t visible. And to anyone who is going through the same or similar thing, do not let people bully you and know that you are not alone.

Mental Health Care: finally noticed by the Elite

Nick Clegg nearly caused me to fall off my chair in shock at this years Liberal Democrats party conference when he made the issues facing mental health care at the heart of his speech. Clegg pledged funds to improve mental health care in this country and acknowledged that is it a wider problem than most are willing to accept.

This was a welcome surprise acknowledgement about a real problem facing the UK. Mental health has received wider coverage this year for a multitude of reasons yet no other political party has addressed it. The fact that one has finally taken on-board that it is no longer a marginal issue but one that effects 1 in 4 of the UK population is refreshing.

Clegg stated in his speech that  he wanted to start a national debate on the issue to remove the stigma that is still often attached to it. His aim is for people to talk as openly about mental health issues as they would about physical health.

In my own personal experience, people of my generation (I’m 25) are already at this stage. I have many friends and family who have suffered from mental health problems and who are happy to talk about it, especially if they meet someone who is going through the same thing they were. There is still an element of it being ‘unmanly’ when it comes to men asking for help with their mental health and this must be addressed but on the whole I find people more accepting of mental health these days.

Where I do see stigma or judgement is within official institutions and this is where Clegg must focus his efforts. Mental health sufferers receive less in benefits than those who are physically disabled, employers do not always understand how to assist their employees back in to work and are still at times met with disbelief by doctors. This is unacceptable. Until mental health is treated the same way as someone reporting a physical pain it will continue to make the sufferer reluctant to seek help.

Mental health costs roughly £100billion a year through lost working days, benefits and treating preventable diseases. If effective treatment and support were in place, it would improve this dramatically and help the government decrease the benefit bill, a goal every party wants to achieve. The planned spending of £120 million over 2 years to cut down on waiting times for treatment is a perfect start. At the moment a referral from your GP to a specialist carries an uncertain waiting period where the issues are left untreated and, for many, unmanageable. Clegg aims to have first time psychosis sufferers seen within two weeks, depression sufferers within 6 weeks and 95% of all other cases seen within 18 weeks. To some this may still seem to long but it is a massive improvement on the current system.

These improved timescales could also mean that doctors may be more likely to refer people to therapy rather than just relying on medication, as this is not the best option for everyone. For others a combination of medication and talking therapy can help to confront the reasons behind the disease while providing the support they need to continue with everyday life until they can cope without medication.

This is an important issue that is effecting more and more people everyday so it is refreshing to see Clegg speak up and pledge support, it’s just a shame it is only one party making these kinds of speeches and not all of them .