Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Mind is a charity close to my heart as I have suffered with mental health problems for a very long time, still struggle to this day and I wanted to raise money for a local branch. Mind is a charity that is needed now more than ever due to the coronavirus pandemic and it’s contribution to worsening mental health in people.

I’ve struggled with depression & anxiety for over 10 years and was diagnosed with traits of BPD at the end of 2018 after I hit an incredibly low point. DBT therapy saved me in 2019. I felt embarrassed and ashamed, but eventually accepted the fact it wasn’t my fault & I just needed to treat it like you would with a physical illness. I also had social anxiety to deal with and would sometimes enter the gym & walk straight back out again because of it!

Alongside this, I’ve developed physical symptoms in the form of IBS & body pains due to stress. But I don’t want to let this stop me and I have to find the internal motivation to push myself every single day. I’ve made being active a big part of my life now, so I thought it was about time I put this to use and raised money for an important cause that means a lot to me. 

I’m lucky to feel like I have pretty much recovered from BPD but unmanaged trauma and anxiety is something I’ve always struggled with, made worse and amplified during the COVID pandemic. Currently, I suffer with very challenging health anxiety that became much worse during the pandemic and dampens my ability to live a normal life at the moment as I’m constantly ruminating. After recovering so well last year and then feeling like I’ve gone backwards since the pandemic, I know that a lot of others like me will be in the same boat, which makes me feel truly sad and empathetic. I dread to think that there are so many people out there without strong support systems who are having to struggle alone. I don’t want any of those people to suffer in silence and I’m eager to fundraise for mind so that individuals can continue to access the help they need.

There are probably more people than you think out there with invisible illnesses so please donate what you can and don’t let them face things alone! 
 
The mental health sector is definitely underfunded and donating to mental health charities such as mind is crucially important so that people can talk & have access to the help they need.

Please donate even just a little amount to help those in need-small steps can make a big difference. My canine partner in crime will be enjoying all the walking alongside me and walking with him helps me even on my darkest days. Thank you for reading. 
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Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.