Mental Health in the workplace.

Today I will be writing an article that is more of a story than an article... Having walked a hard road with my own mental health, I feel its my moral obligation to SHOUT, you are not alone, you are not weak, you are not a failure. You are lost and you can find your way back.

There have been many times I have stepped up from my desk and wanted to resign, many times I have felt frustrated, overworked, inundated and the likes however I would return to my desk and carry on with the day. One day it became much worse, I lost complete interest and work became something that consumed me but not in a good way at all, just deadline after deadline, not getting on top of things, canceling meetings because I wasn't prepared, note actioning, not prioritizing certain important requirements. It became an every day struggle to get myself to work. Work became this ugly place I had to go to, to pay bills. It became a very dark place in my head until it caught up with me, having to be hospitalized for depression, anxiety amongst other things. I wish to this day that I had known the signs, the signs that I was heading down a path of self sabotage.

Some of the incidents that I look back on now were such simple things I could have done that would have made a massive difference. I am not a doctor by any means however I am a person that could have raised my hand sooner.

Lets face it, we spend more time at work than we do at home, we deserve to make it a happy environment for ourselves and those around us.

1) THE MOMENT you feel defeated or deflated is the exact moment that you need to tap into that feeling, explore it and understand what is stressing you, what you need to be doing that you are not. I found that actually taking my lunch was hugely beneficial, leave the phone for an hour or even 30 mins to just take a walk, listen to music, nap - do what you need to do to eliminate that feeling, sitting with it becomes tomorrows problem. A fresh mind finds an answer much easier.

2) KNOW YOUR LIMITS, setting boundaries in the work place is very important, know what you can handle and what you cant, raise your hand when you feel your cup is empty, take a breather when needed. The longer you accept things you dont understand or cant cope with, the longer it festers making everyday tasks you can get to even more challenging.

3) WORDS OF AFFRIMATION, when I was hospitalized for depression, I was shocked at how many people battled with their every day job because they actually deep down, didn't believe that they could do the job. It may sound silly but standing in front of a mirror and speaking positive into your day has huge benefits, I can say that I firmly believe this to be true as it has worked so well for me in the last months. " I CAN do present this pitch " " I am good enough for my role " " I am worth my salary and more " " I can meet this deadline " Try this and watch your life begin to change, try not complaining for one day and experience the difference.

4) Joining the 5am Club. Yes this means you will need to go to bed earlier and not binge watch Netflix, though its a great way to distract you from the day, its even better waking up at 5am and planning your day. Ticking off a todo list has really helped me get on top of things. That quiet time in the morning when everyone is still asleep, is the best time to have a cuppa tea alone and plan your day. Planning your day in advance gives you so much more control over your day. Dont allow the day to take you - take the day by the horns and make each hour count so you can enjoy that glass of wine after a successful day.

5) TAKE YOUR PILLS, if you have left your stress unattended and ended up like me. Take your pills, they work wonders. If one needs to rely on a pill a day to keep the depression away, do it - its a small sacrifice to pay for a better you. There is no shame in raising your hand to receive a bit of help. The person asking for help is usually the stronger one as they have accepted that no one is perfect, everyone suffers from some sort of Anxiety, OCD, depression or mental condition. The sooner we accept that mental awareness is a real topic, the happier and more fulfilled we will be in our life.

6) DONT TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY, Remember we are not in control of how people receive and interpret what we say and do. Each person is walking their own path, usually when we are presented with conflict, often it is the other persons stress talking or reflecting on you, you know who is going through a tough time? Everyone! Lets just focus on being kind to each other and ourselves.

No one said life is easy, they did say its worth it though. When life takes you and you feel that everything is a challenge, take the steps. SPEAK UP! Everyone is allowed a bad day, just dont allow for 2 bad days, you are stronger and wiser than you think!

Put yourself to the test, take your mental health seriously!