Anxiety

How am I, really? | Mental health awareness

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Mental health

I recently read a post over on my good friend Lou’s blog about mental health and it got me thinking; how am I, really? I don’t really see many people “in real life” day-to-day, so it’s not often that I ask out loud. I do try to ask this online though; some days I’ll greet a group chat with the question, “How is everyone today?”. Some days they will share, some they won’t. But it makes me feel better to know that I’ve taken the time to ask, and given that prompt to share the load if needed. Read more

Yes – I’ve found the summer holidays hard

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Yes I've found the summer holidays hard

Most parents I know seem to look forward to the summer holidays; weeks of fun, plans, and days out with their little ones. Spending quality time, making precious memories. But, I’m not most parents. I’m one of those that dreads the summer holidays.

After working hard on my mental health over the last few months and writing our summer bucket list, I have to admit that for the first time in as long as I can remember, I was actually looking forward to the holidays. Spending quality time with the boys, and making and documenting some new memories. Read more

Battling anxiety in baby steps

- Stacey 3 Comments
Battling anxiety in baby steps

If you’ve been reading the blog recently you may have seen me talking about how anxiety has been kicking my arse a lot. I’ve been managing my mental health with fluoxetine for quite a few years now and I’ve always managed to get back into the swing of things quite quickly; not so much with this latest flare up though. It’s not the worst I’ve ever had, but it certainly does feel like the longest.

Just when I feel like I’m crawling up that hill to get back to the top again, I come tumbling back down. A bit like The Grand Old Duke of York I suppose. I’m told it will pass, and the thing is, I know it will. But right at that moment in time, it certainly doesn’t feel like it. It just feels like the tiny black hole that once was – as let’s face it, if you’re a sufferer like me it’s always there, even if in its smallest form – is getting bigger and bigger. Read more

The face of anxiety

- Stacey 10 Comments
Crying, tears

It’s been a while. A while since I’ve discussed mental health over here. Anything over here, in fact. Because just recently, I haven’t been great. I’ve been in a rough place, and barely opened my laptop. It’s really important to talk about this stuff though and not suffer in silence. If I can encourage even one person reading this to talk; to talk to anyone, then my purpose has been served. Here’s me, serving up a plate of anxiety with a side order of depression. Read more

The emotions of starting school | School anxiety

- Stacey 4 Comments

Today is the last day of Jacob’s first full week since starting school. On his first week he started later and finished early so he only did a few hours a day. He was tired then so I knew this week was really going to affect him with regards to mood and tiredness. Needless to say, he has been sleeping for almost 12 hours a night. Previously he was lucky to get nine!

He was excited yet a little bit dubious going into his class on his first day; since then he has been absolutely fine and ran in every morning, almost without even saying goodbye! He’s been coming home at the end of the day telling us about what he’s been doing, who he’s been playing with, what he’s had for his lunch. I thought he had settled in really well. Read more