MYTHICAL CREATURES

So I promised I would talk a little bit more about my experiences with mental illness and after reading the comments on my last post about being given the cold shoulder, I started thinking about the common myths surrounding depression and anxiety. The things people with mental illness and just normal people, believe to be true. Plus this leaf printed playsuit from H&M makes me feel like a mythical woodland creature, prancing between the trees ( I didn't actual do that I promise). I have to include a little bit of fashion of course...you're complements on my dress sense sustain me better than chips, well marginally.

Playsuit, H&M - Similar Here.
Biker Jacket, Matalan - Similar Here.
Shoes, Primark - In Stores Now.
Skinny Belt, New Look - In Stores Now.

So to the myths..

• You're the only person to feel this way - Sorry, but your just not that special. You may feel like the only person in the world, but there are probably several people on your street experiencing something freakishly similar. Depression is so crazy common that it doesn't even make you stand out these days - if you want to be different why not wear a hat, no wait everyone does that now too...sorry!

• You're making yourself ill - You're not doing it to youself, it is something that happens too you, thanks to a silly chemical imbalance in the brain. You can't help it, but you can learn to manage and deal with it, with medication and therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy worked wonders for me. So the next time some chick tells you to cheer up and stop making yourself ill, punch her square in the boob; if it's a guy, I think you know where that punch should go.

• You're a failure - Probably one of the worst things you can tell yourself, mostly because it is totally not true. If anyone makes you feel like you are a failure for being depressed or anxious then cut them from your life as they are toxic and a total jerk. You are having a hard time for sure, but your achievements, no matter how small, mean so much more as you have had to work so hard to get there.

• Medication will turn you into a zombie - What a load of bloody nonsense, medication will not turn you into a numb, emotionless android. They will simply moderate your brain chemistry and help to take the edge off your depression and anxiety, allowing you to really deal with the problem at hand. As somone on two types of medication I can confirm that I have never walked jerkily around the streets looking for human brains to devour. It may take a few tries to get the medication right, but they can really help once a good match is found. 

• You're a burdon on everyone - I will talk about guilt more in a future post, but it is so common for people with mental illness (or any other long term illness) to feel like they are a burdon to those around them. I have felt that way so often, especially when so many of my 'friends' couldn't be bothered to include me. Plus I would be lying if I said my family and Ryan hadn't made sacrafices for me, but I know they did so because they cared for me and wanted to help however they could. One day I hope to pay them back.

This guy has been my rock, I started really living when I met him.

Now more pretty pictures, because look at how 'normal' life can be even with mental illness, I can sit on big stones and stand next to trees with no real difficulty...

Remember, you are never alone when there is ice cream, ooh and cake, ooh and those little cracker things are salt and vinegar flavours :) If anyone wants to talk about their struggles and experiences, just send me an email.

Oh and can you give me some tips for taking pictures outside?

Gems x