Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Mental Health Awareness Week

Hi friends; now, I know this is a sewing blog, and I am not about to change that, but I really wanted to address Mental Health Awareness week.  I do talk about sewing too, so please stay with me on this tangent. This initiative aims to raise public debate, with the object to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues.


I yesterday listened to a great talk by Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor, who is famously open about his own mental health breakdown. He proposed that the more it becomes acceptable to talk about breakdowns and depression, the better our society will become at dealing with - and helping those - in distress.

So, to that end, I am outing myself and "talking" openly about my own mental health. I have suffered from depression for as long as I can remember; certainly at age 14, I was aware how it would just come over me, all-consuming. It can be crippling living with a heavy, deadening darkness crushing you.  I have tended to hide this side of myself, as to admit to it can feel like admitting to a weakness, as if I was broken in some way! Also I couldn't bear that completely irrelevant and frankly hurtful question "but what are you depressed about...?"

Depressive episodes are horrible, but with experience I have learnt that they don't last forever, and I will emerge the other side eventually!  One thing that helps me a great deal with my mental health is sewing. It lightens my mood, relieves my stress levels. It has given me a great deal of pleasure. The flow you achieve whilst making is really Zen-like, your mind clearing to focus on the detail.  Now, I am not saying this would help whilst in a dark phase, but the joy that sewing brings helps lengthen the times between the gloom, and sustains happiness.

Lots of wonderful sewing bloggers at our wonderful meet ups.
The other joy sewing has brought me is friendship and relationships; through blogging I have made virtual friends with fellow sewers in many different countries. The relationships have strengthened over time and through commenting on blogs and interaction through IG these friendships have really blossomed so that we look forward to updates on each other's days, our fabric shopping and general plans. I have also met up with fellow bloggers and IG friends at meet ups. It's so fun meeting others who have the same passion for fabric hunting and stitching. They feel like happy and inspiring friendships. Locally too I have formed relationships  through sewing. At the "Brighton Sewing Bee", organised by the vivacious and gorgeous Stacie Madden, I've met other local stitchers, shared tea and cake with friends.

Brighton Sewing Bee at St Georges Church Kemptown.

Life with depression is manageable; medication, friends, and the most supportive of husbands means that most of the time my life is good.

Well I've outed myself now and it feels liberating. Apparently 1 in 4 adults suffer with mental health problems. I hope that by being honest, I will encourage others to think about these issues. Thanks for reading.
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27 comments:

  1. Dr Susan18 May 2016 at 13:51

    What an inspiational post. You should be very proud of yourself, you have experienced the lowest of lows but you survived them which is an unbelievably massive achievement. I wouldn't wish depression on my worst enemy. Xxxx

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    1. Unknown19 May 2016 at 05:35

      Nor I, but it is so common I felt the need to talk about it and mention that most people will suffer from it at some point in there lives. The more we all know this the better services must become in dealing with it. Thanks for your kind words. Xx

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  2. Ruth - Nightingale and Dolittle18 May 2016 at 15:49

    A great post Louise. I imagine it wouldn't have been easy to write, but doing this is the very opposite of admitting to a weakness I think and you should definitely be proud of yourself. I'm really glad that sewing is a help to you - it's a great community to be a part of!

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    1. Unknown19 May 2016 at 05:36

      Surprisingly it was okay to write, the doubts set in when I pressed publish!

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  3. Anonymous18 May 2016 at 21:17

    What a great post - thanks Louise. Sewing is one of those things where you can just lose yourself for hours - so valuable to so many people for so many reasons. In fact, thinking about it, we should be able to get our fabric by prescription! ��

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  4. Anonymous18 May 2016 at 21:53

    Thanks for this important post. I have suffered with depression during stressful situations so I know how you feel. My therapy is sewing (of course), walking and praying - these all help me to cope.

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    1. Unknown19 May 2016 at 05:39

      Glad you liked it, hurrah for sewing and indeed any creative or physical activity that helps us clear our minds. And of course the very act of prayer and raising your sights too.

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  5. Catherine Daze19 May 2016 at 00:05

    Great post. It is so true that sewing is therapeutic. Wishing you all the best

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    1. Unknown19 May 2016 at 05:40

      So many of us find peace and solice in craft. Thank you for your good thoughts.

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  6. Kathryn19 May 2016 at 04:13

    This is a very courageous post Louise. I like your description of sewing as zen-like. I mean not always, sometimes it's really frustrating, but, when you do get in the flow of something it's pretty amazing! The amount of friends made through sewing is really something wonderful isn't it?!

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    1. Unknown19 May 2016 at 05:43

      Perhaps I should add a caveat- don't sew with chiffon when in a bad mood! And yes here's to great friends made through the ability to sew!

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  7. MaciNic19 May 2016 at 05:33

    Thank you for writing Louise. I am glad to count you among my virtual sewing friends.

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    1. Unknown19 May 2016 at 05:41

      And I you lovely lady, odd isn't it how far apart we are and sewing has brought us together.

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  8. MaciNic19 May 2016 at 05:33

    Thank you for writing Louise. I am glad to count you among my virtual sewing friends.

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  9. Anonymous19 May 2016 at 05:48

    Thank you for sharing Louise. I tread the same path and knowing fellow travellers who understand is some thing I really value. A great post xx

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    1. Unknown7 June 2016 at 11:26

      The sewing community are so understanding, I love how we all have time and love for each other

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  10. justsewtherapeutic19 May 2016 at 07:30

    Such a great post Louise, every word really resonated with me. I am always amazed at what a wonderful supportive community we have, just through the shared love of sewing! xx

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    1. Unknown7 June 2016 at 11:27

      Thanks Helen, really felt it was important to speak openly. Glad so many understand. Thank you xxx

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  11. Unknown20 May 2016 at 00:02

    Thank you for trusting us and sharing your story - I agree that it is important to talk about mental health and that the more people do, the better equipped we will all be to respond and support each other. Take care Jx (silverbellsandcockleshells)

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    1. Unknown7 June 2016 at 11:30

      That's exactly the thought behind the awareness week. It's such a great initiative.

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  12. Helen20 May 2016 at 14:16

    Thanks for sharing, Louise, and for being so brave. I have a close friend and a sibling who both suffer from depression, and what I find difficult is that I don't know what *is* the right thing to say (although clearly I know not to ask what it's about), and I think being more open about mental health would also help those of us floundering about hoping not to get it wrong! Xx

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    1. Unknown7 June 2016 at 11:33

      That is such a good point. I often think my husband should get a medal when I am down! A lot of the time there is nothing wrong that can be fixed by conversation but just having company and friendship works to help through the black times.

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  13. Sarah Liz20 May 2016 at 23:13

    I am not surprised you suffer depression, for some intuitive reason...takes one to know one, I suspect! Sewing is just the most marvelous distraction - it gets you focused on something, it gets you up and moving, all positive ways of tackling the dark dog when he is having a nibble. Sewing gives you something to look forward to - again, this helps to counteract the negative pull of depression. Glad to hear you have worked out ways of getting through the dark patches.

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    1. Unknown7 June 2016 at 11:35

      Thank you for such kind friendship. So happy to have met you through sewing. Xx

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  14. Caroline30 May 2016 at 09:21

    An inspired post and I think highlighting your own battles is very brave and shows extreme strength. I am very glad that you have found sewing a mediative experience and fellow bloggers, IG'ers and IRL sewing buddies are helping you enjoy the here-and-now joy of making things. I am glad to have found you via MMM last year!

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    1. Unknown7 June 2016 at 11:36

      And me you, let's hope that at some point we meet in real life too!

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