And now for something a little more serious.

I don't make these kind of posts often, but I feel that this one is necessary as it might help explain why I post so erratically sometimes all the time.

This is just a little head's up - after seven years of relative normality, I'm back on anti-depressants as of three days ago. 

 

 I've been pretty low for a while now but my anxiety is at an all time high - I've had two panic attacks in as many weeks and I'm just so DONE with it kicking my arse at seemingly every opportunity.
I know many people like to keep their health issues to themselves which is totally understandable but I've always tried to be super open about mine, especially when it's a mental health issue, as unfortunately there's still a ridiculous amount of misinformation and negativity surrounding them and their treatment; something which ultimately put me off taking anything when my depression was really bad over ten years ago when I was still at school. I'd got it into my head that somehow taking meds for it was showing 'weakness' and that I was a lesser person for it which I (thankfully) eventually realised was utter bullshit.

You'd never shame someone with cancer or diabetes or a broken leg for getting treatment would you, so why is it somehow ok to do the same with mental health? I know of so many people who, like me, balked at the phrase 'mental health issue' because of the associated stigma, and it's honestly one of the worst things you could do to yourself.
My brain isn't functioning as it should, so I'm forcing it to get its act together, that's it. I am not defined by what shitty problems I have, from the aforementioned uncooperative brain to my arthritic hip or my PCOS - these are just crappy things that happen to have affected me, as they could anyone, and I refuse to let any of them be used against me. I may feel like shit most of the time, but that doesn't make me a shitty person, and I hope anyone reading this who is going through similar things feels the same way.

My hobbies have always been a huge help and a coping mechanism so I don't think this will affect things, but I did feel a little bit 'flat' the last time I was on these particular meds, so we'll just have to wait and see. I've got a few posts in progress though so I've got plenty to talk about! XD

Anyway, that's pretty much the purpose of this post, so umm, yeah, hooray for the wonders of modern medicine and for the NHS! 💓