My next blog post is going to be far more heartfelt & perhaps make me a little vulnerable in this judgmental world of social media.. ( well in this judgmental world ).

Yip that’s me smiling as I usually am…

However after seeing how many people have taken their lives recently, unable to deal with modern day stress, depression and anxiety – I think it is so important to share our own stories, in the hopes that we can maybe help these people.

Stop them from trying to find peace whilst leaving behind shattered loved ones.

Make them see that there is hope, that one can “control” these “conditions” that there are so many people quietly suffering from, day in and day out.

That we should no longer see anxiety or depression as taboo – they are not.

Mostly I will write this blog to try in my own little way to say “Hey I am here, I know how you feel, call me, write to me… I will try and help”

I guess I will write about my journey.

I am lucky enough to only suffer with chronic anxiety.

Lucky being the operative word as it is a crippling thing.

However I am always laughing and joking, I am outgoing and friendly, and if I had depression I think those things would also be taken from me… how sad for those who suffer from both.

Those who know my family history will understand why I got anxiety at 5 years old, just a little thing terrified of death and those around her dying … these fears are more pronounced today than ever, and as with chronic anxiety they have attached themselves to other fears, yip irrational ones but fears nonetheless.

My Faith in God gets me through my anxiety attacks and somehow I wish I could just place that extra faith in him to get me through the daily, constant anxiety (day by day… second by second… I won’t give up and neither will He).

I think that for an anxiety sufferer to try and explain to someone without anxiety just what our thoughts are … is impossible.

So, as someone most people see as a happy girl, blessed with everything of the best in life (I am thankfully) perhaps you will understand when someone who is not happy, who is sad and scared behaves in these ways, as I do, you will think back to my smile and outgoing nature and remember anxiety and depression CAN AFFECT ANYONE…

We will:

Seem unreliable as we feel fine and agree to do something social and when the day comes we can’t. We are paralyzed with fear and instead of telling you we will ignore you… it’s less scary.

Not answer phone calls or texts … this small task can seem insurmountable when you are simply trying to breathe, control your “heart attack” and can barely get out a sentence.

Retreat further and further into ourselves … we feel like we are not good enough for most people and things as we are so sensitive that one ‘joke’ could mean we think that nobody likes us and we are unwelcome… it’s easier to not hear any criticism or jokes

There are so many more points I will add in my blog.

I have been lucky enough to conquer and deal with my anxiety well most days, and so again I write this with the sincerity of perhaps helping someone who needs to chat to someone who knows how they feel.

So DM me please anytime, I will be up worrying about something most of the night : )

And at the same time, trying to explain to friends and family and acquaintances why someone with these “conditions” behaves as they do…. they are scared or sad and paralyzed by these things ..

Blog to follow tomorrow

All my love
Jojo