I'm sharing this story for a few reasons. I want to continue the Mental Health conversation. I want to raise awareness of how people hide their Mental Health difficulties. Most importantly, I want to hopefully help anybody who is feeling anything like I felt 1 year ago on the 2nd of December 2019. 

One year ago today, I was in the lowest place of my life. I had severe depression and anxiety. My Mental Health was at an all time low and after experiencing several changes in my life, I felt I was spiralling out of control with no way out. On this day in 2019, I attempted to take my own life. 

Luckily for me, I wasn't successful in my attempt. I was very poorly in hospital for a while after. Even after leaving hospital, I struggled with my mental health and I needed ongoing support from medical professionals, my family and friends. There were days I couldn't leave my bed and I just wanted to sleep because the pain I felt (emotionally) was overbearing. I was off work for several months because I could not face pretending that I was okay. My 'Get Up and Go' had gone. 

I'll be the first to tell you all, my recovery was not easy. It was an extremely long road. There are still days now where I feel low. I like to call them my hippo days where I want to stay in bed and do very little. But my gosh, am I in a completely different place now?! This time last year, people were telling me "you'll be okay", "you're strong enough to get through this", and "you will move on from this". I didn't believe them at the time. I truly felt my life was over and I had no future. Fast forward 365 days and I'm here. Healthy. Happy. Strong. 

Did you know that in 2019, 5,961 people committed suicide in England and Wales? That's a lot of lives that could have been saved. The Mental Health discussion is on the rise but it's important that we keep talking about it and looking out for our friends and family, especially during such stressful and uncertain times. 

Mental Health needs to be spoken about more and more. The conversation must continue. If this story can help at least one person reach out for some support and help them look at life differently, then I will be happy. No one should suffer in silence like I did. The world is a better place with all of us still in it. 

So. That's my story. But what am I doing now? Well in honour of my very own Mental Health day, I will be running a Bootcamp for the Brave. On Sunday the 3rd of January I will host a Bootcamp for anybody who wants to join in an outdoor exercise class. All I'm asking for is for people to donate to the charity 'Mind' to support people with Mental Health difficulties. You can donate as little or as much as you like. If you don't want to join the Bootcamp but want to donate then please do using the link! 

More details of the Bootcamp will be posted nearer to the time in terms of location and times. 

Thank you for listening to my story 

Hannah xx