noorihafizWe go through our lives so busy with work, assignments, friends, that we forget to take care of ourselves. Not just physically, but mentally as well.
I learned this the hard way. Allow me to share a story with you, dear readers!
I was in my third year of Uni, doing a creative writing degree and enjoying every second of my degree. Something was happening in my mind though, and it had been developing for years without me even realising. I would get panicked. My heart rate would spike, my palms would get sweaty and my chest would ache. I’d feel like I was having a heart attack.
I didn’t realise it then, but I was deep in an anxiety disorder with developing OCD and I didn’t even realise. I thought what I was feeling was normal because I had felt this way for years.
During my second semester however, my anxiety got so bad I couldn’t concentrate in lectures. I would dread walking out of the house. I would wake up anxious and the only moment of peace that I got was when I slept.
It was a difficult time. I dealt with intrusive thoughts, the obsession to constantly wash my hands, I became detached from my family and friends, and my relationships with them suffered. The worst thing I felt was regret. It took over my mind. I would be in a constant state of self hate. The stress was so much that I stopped eating.
It wasn’t until months later that I happened to come across an article discussing mental health when I realised that there was actually something wrong with me, so I spoke to professionals, therapists and previous sufferers and I educated myself in mental health.
I told my friends and family what was happening to me and that I needed help.
This was last year in March. It is a year later and I am still mending. I am engaging in a positive mentality and I am striving every day to get better.
I realised that even in this age, where there are medical breakthroughs daily, that we still fail to address the issue of mental health fully and we need to.
If you feel that you, or someone you know is engaging in unhealthy actions, please seek help.
Speak to a professional, your GP, a therapist, someone that you can verbalise your problems to fully.
It is difficult. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I am so thankful that I got the help I needed and am healing today.
Stay safe dear readers