Climbing Out of the Black Hole: My Struggle With Mental Health

Finding Light Through Dark Times: My Journey with Anxiety and Depression

Mental health issues can strike anyone at any time. Even when life seems good on the outside, inner turmoil can take hold if the right triggers are hit. This was my experience a few years ago when, despite my usual cheerful exterior, severe anxiety and later depression took over my life.  

It started when the stress of finishing my PhD thesis collided with financial struggles and a breakup. The pressure to be perfect in my work, which had always driven me, started to backfire. I became obsessed with working constantly, yet made little progress as insomnia set in. A caring friend noticed my decline and intervened, bringing me to a doctor who prescribed sleeping medication so I could rest and reset.

With a deadline extension, I got back on track and submitted my thesis. But new challenges arose months later when I had to make major revisions in a short timeframe, alongside an exciting opportunity to publish in a top journal. My toxic perfectionism hijacked me again, plunging me into relentless anxiety and despair. I turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms like overspending and mixing alcohol with sleeping pills, losing all rational thought. Suicidal thoughts even crept in, tempting me to end the pain.  

Somehow I found running, which helped control my anxiety. I later walked away from my scientific career, realising perfectionism had become a poison. After this breaking point, I slowly rebuilt my life and my sense of self-worth. I was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia, which finally explained why I'd always had to work so much harder academically than peers. 

While shadows of anxiety and depression still cross my mind sometimes, I've come through the darkness. As starting a new career in education, I strive for progress, not perfection. I'm also a mental health advocate, sharing my story to help others know they aren't alone. I have very recently become a qualified mental health first aider and i already put these new skills into practice support several people who have struggled with their mental health.  Healing is possible. If you're struggling, please reach out. Small steps each day can lead you out of the depths back into light.

Stop the scroll: Engage

Here is a draft personal opinion blog post:

As a parent, there is one thing that really irks me - seeing other parents glued to their phones instead of engaging with their children. I've taken my kids to restaurants and seen parents just staring at their screens while their children try to get their attention. I've been to beaches, playgroups, and playgrounds where parents let their kids run wild so they can scroll on their phones. 

In my opinion, nothing is more valuable than quality time with your children. Physically playing with them and being present fosters social development and strengthens your bond. Children learn by modeling behavior, so when we ignore them for our devices, we teach them poor manners and set a bad example. 

I want my children to grow into good citizens with strong interpersonal skills. That won't happen if I'm disengaged, eyes glued to a screen. Like Willy Wonka said, time is precious - don't waste the precious, fleeting moments of childhood! 

Beyond development, I worry about privacy and safety when I see parents plastering their children's lives all over social media. Childhood moments should be cherished privately, not exploited for likes. 

Obviously we all need breaks and moments to check our devices. But when out with your kids, try to be fully present. Keep the phone in your pocket. Engage with them, embrace the moment, and model good behavior. Your children will thank you for it someday.

Festive Season has begun

Last week as I was doing my regular grocery shop at Tesco, I noticed they had already started stocking their Christmas Selection Boxes. This signalled to me that the festive marketing season has now begun, with Christmas treats hitting the shelves a good 4 months before Christmas.

While we all enjoy the occasional chocolate or sweet around Christmas, seeing all these sugary foods prominently displayed made me think about how so many of the foods associated with the holidays aren't exactly healthy choices. Most Christmas treats are loaded with sugar, fat, and calories from ingredients like chocolate, sweets, biscuits, sugary alcoholic liquors, and more.  

This got me thinking that there's probably an opportunity for companies to market some more nutritious foods using festive holiday branding and packaging. We live in a time where obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases are on the rise. The NHS is also facing record waiting times.

Wouldn't it be great if we could encourage people to make slightly better food choices during the festiveseason, when overindulgence tends to be common? Promoting healthy, festive recipes and treats could potentially help people develop improved lifelong eating habits, rather than just going on fad diets every January.

Better diets lead to better physical and mental health in the long run. They also reduce people's likelihood of developing chronic illnesses down the road. As we enter another run in to the Christmas season, I think there's room for festive marketing to highlight some more nutritious options, rather than just confectionary and sugary foods. Our health and wellbeing could benefit from the shift.