Please take a minute to read my story below, After a massive struggle with my skin issues and some support from 3 work colleagues, we have decided to attempt to take something we were doing for ourselves and help an amazing charity. If you feel you relate or even just want to donate a little to this amazing charity please do? Anything is appreciated.

My Story

I have lived for years as a closed book, I don’t like to share my issues with others, I tend to suffer in silence as I've always thought talking about it was “whinging”. ITS NOT!

I have used services similar to what Mind offer. I have had to go to a doctors and explain that I feel trapped in my worries. First time was years ago, it worked very well, I felt free for years.. Until September 2017, when I found myself back in that “dark hole”, and for no reason. My life was amazing I had a new job and I was in the middle of planning a wedding to the love of my life. There was no obvious reason for this. It took me a while to find out that sometimes, life doesn't give you a reason.

My absolute star of a therapist explained to me that, Happiness is a blessing but for people like me can cause serious stress. I've never been a confident person (people who know me will be shocked as I’m that loud, daft girl), but I’m not, I’ve never thought I’d find a great job, and certainly never thought I’d find that one person who loved me unconditionally. People who suffer with mental illness cling on to happiness, sometimes so hard that they fear it. This is me. This is what I did.

I’m lucky, I have an beautifully open Fiancé who knows my issues and helps me through them. I have a mother who’s my best friend, and close nit family life. My friends have adjusted and kept me going with there spirit.

I’ve been insecure about my body and face after being told it was not good enough for years. I was quite late in wearing make up in my youth, I can remember being told by a lady I had lovely skin and to not wear it, so I didn’t. Then I was told I was ugly, I was compared to characters on TV and got teased about my face, so I caved. Fast forwards and years of wearing make up has ruined that clear skin that I was once so proud of.

Although this might seem so meaningless, it’s added to years of insecurities.

I know I’m not the only person who has felt this way, whether it’s just feeling like they need to wear make up, or weather it’s suffering with anxiety, panic, OCD, or depression.

I have felt so low that I’ve worried about how I can live like this forever, I am very lucky! I had amazing people who I wanted to push past my troubles for, and they are what I live for. This got me from day to day, till eventually the worries got a little less often.

I honestly think I’ll never get completely over my issues, but I have people who I can talk to about them. They're my guiding lights, when things get dark.

There are a lot of people who feel they don’t have anyone, then it’s to late. I want to take my experience and do good with it.

I hope my story, although hard for me to share, has helped people realise they're not alone. If this has in any way sat with you today please donate, no donation is to small.   

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