Honest thoughts on Global Mental Health Day 2024

Cards on the table, this has been a hell of a year. As an industry, it’s been another exciting one and we have seen great progress. Personally, it has been an uphill battle.

I have been wanting to write this article for several months now. I was further incentivised to do so after attending the 3rd Female Energy ? webinar with Victoria Mant and Becky Bradnam-Falder last week. We were joined by Georgia Boston and Pam Kern MS, LCSW and spoke about mental health, well-being, burnout, and stress in the workplace. It was illuminating, honest, safe, and felt like a warm hug from across the computer screen. My heartfelt thanks go to Vicky, Becky, and everyone on the call. Today is World Mental Health Day, and the theme is ‘Mental Health at Work’. So, I figured that if I wanted to share a little bit about me and my story, today would be the day to bite the bullet.

In March of this year, I took an extended leave of absence.

I had spent months speaking to so many women who were struggling in this industry and who were facing discrimination and challenges every day in the workplace. I was trying to give my all to an industry that genuinely means so much to me. I was passionate but exhausted. So desperate to help but so unwilling to help myself. Trying so hard and feeling like I failed at every corner. I wasn’t taking the time to do the things I’m really good at. And what happened? It doesn’t take a doctor to figure it out. Not only did I burn out, but I also became someone that I didn't recognise, and worse, someone that I didn't like. Everyday life felt like an out of body experience looking down at the body of the woman I once was but not feeling in any way connected to her. I'm not proud of her.

I'm also not proud of the fact that I should have seen it coming. I have openly struggled with my mental health for going on 14 years now. I know the signs. I've been an advocate. I've never shied away from talking about it. I take sertraline every day - I have done for years - to let a little bit of extra light in to help me battle occasional bouts of depression and constant crippling anxiety.

Let me be clear, taking medication is not a sign of weakness. It doesn’t change who I am, it allows me to be who I am. There is no shame in the medication game, should you wish to play.

When I say that I struggle in that way it does tend to shock some people. It's not the image that I generally put out into the world. But you see, I have come to realise that there are two very different sides of me. On the one hand, I am bubbly, open, friendly, and probably too chatty at times. I love being around people and I thrive networking and building relationships. I'm a musical theater, country singing, stage loving, attention seeker. All of that is 100% true.

On the other hand, I will replay every conversation I have ever had over and over. I have an overwhelming need for perfection which can lead to an incredible fear of failure. I'm often convinced that people don't like me. Important decisions come easily but ask me what I want for lunch, and I will probably go without because that is just too much pressure. I feel tired all the time.

So, there you have it. This is me.

I am not special, and these feelings are not rare. Sharing is cathartic, sure, but I'm really just putting it out there so that you know you're not alone. I will always be someone who has to keep on top of her mental wellness, and I’ve experienced burnout. I’m glad to say that I'm coming out the other side. If you are struggling, know that it will get better. In the meantime, just give me a call. ?

I still don’t know how I managed to miss the signs in myself this time, but I do know that having insanely high standards for myself in my career likely didn’t help. We're living in an incredibly fast-paced world. We're stuck on our phones all the time and we're never truly out of the office. The energy industry is full of some of the most committed, enthusiastic, passionate people, but let's be honest, we're seeing burnout all the time.

·?????? It is estimated that 15% of UK workers have an existing mental health condition.

·?????? In 2022, mental health was the fifth most common reason given for sickness absence.

·?????? Mental health is now the most common cause of work limiting conditions among those aged 44 and younger.

·?????? Over the past decade the number of workers aged 16 to 34 who have reported that their mental health limits the type or amount of work they can do has more than quadrupled.

(mentalhealth.org.uk)

For an industry that's so dedicated to sustainability, we absolutely must acknowledge that going 100mph 24/7 is inherently unsustainable. We cannot work to the best of our ability if we don’t look after ourselves.

For me, taking time off was 100% the right thing to do. I have a long list of the steps I took and the things I did to get myself back on track and I will share these another time. For today, I think honest sharing is enough. ?

#worldmentalhealthday #mentalhealthatwork