Your Stories

I first realised I was struggling with my mental health in 2020. I was isolating myself from other people and I started getting panic attacks. In April 2023, something happened...

Trigger warning: this piece discusses themes of death. Grief is such a small word for what it is. Too small for one of the most excruciatingly painful things to go...

Trigger warning: this piece discusses themes of anorexia. For almost as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with my mental health. Shame and stigma stopped me from asking for...

Talking to someone is the first step in healing and helping yourself.

I know everything seems really dark and hard at the moment, but I promise you, wholeheartedly, that it gets better.

It's equally important to take a moment to look back and appreciate how far we've come. 

I want to say that there is hope and the hope is actually talking about it.

I'm going to look into helping my panic attacks; through talking therapy, breathing exercises and relaxation.

I wish everyone saw their potential and knew how special they are and they deserve to be here. It will take time. 

Although it all feels too heavy right now it won’t be like this forever.

No matter how impossible it may seem, you will get through it eventually. Don’t give up.

Woven between all its shadows, life is bursting with simple wonder.

Knowing that my thoughts are like stories – they are there to guide and protect me – and I get to choose what I listen to.

Ask your friends if they're ok. Tell them you love them. Make it weird if you have to.

If you fail, it doesn’t matter. It won’t change who you are as a person.

Please know and believe that there truly are better things on the other side of it.

Going through this sucks, but you can get better and there is hope if you’re still breathing.

Healing isn’t about fixing everything at once – it’s about making small, consistent choices to move forward.

Recovery is one of the greatest things you can choose in life.

You don’t have to wait for the perfect time, make now the right time.

Explore, re-learn, and learn new things. Is there some joy in your life that has taken a backseat over time that you would like to find again?

I wish I could go back. Back to what it was before it all happened. 

There are so many people cheering you on; even if you don't know them.

Once I took that first step, everything was so much lighter. 

Over the last eight years, the main thing I have learnt was to give things a go.

The scariest, but best, thing I have done, was tell someone what's going on. 

Remember to breathe, it's okay to grieve.

I'm learning to become more proud of myself because I've achieved so much more than I thought I ever could have. 

It will be beyond worth it when you achieve the goals - both big and small. 

Healing for me isn't about replacement' it's about growth. 

I began to understand that I am both the dark and the light - both parts of me are equally beautiful. 

You will have your good days and your bad days as we all do. But do not fear how deep your emotions are. 

Naming it doesn't make the circus disappear, but it does give me a bit more control over the show. 

Look back on how fiercely you have fought and acknowledge how much strength you possess. 

There will be bad days, but the good will far outweigh them. 

Together as an assistance dog team we have broken the cycle. 

Life's storms are inevitable, but how we choose to navigate them is where our power lies. 

Each day is a step forward in my journey towards better mental health. 

This is your reminder that it is okay to take a step back and recharge. 

Keep using that voice of yours to get the help you need!

In essence, this journey is about recognising the webs of trauma and choosing to weave something new.

Imagine that every time you don't give in to the ED's thoughts, you're punching the ED in the face.

I want you create a list - a list of reasons to live. 

But here I am. I've seen that the sun still rose the next day. 

Comparing ourselves to others won't change anything, and it definitely won't do anyone any good. 

I wasn't going to give the Wicked Witch of Fear the satisfaction; I was on the yellow brick road, and I wasn't going back. 

The first, and most important step, is asking for help. 

Write or create off of the prompt 'I am' and see what comes up for you.