So, hello.
My name is Liz Hughes and this is my mental health selfie.
I am 23 years old and I’m studying a degree in youth work and theology.
I’ve had depression on and off all of my life, I think and, over the last six months,
is when actually, I decided that I wanted that to change and I’ve been on an increasing
dose of antidepressants.
And, for the last four months, I’ve had weekly psychotherapy sessions.
I was watching an interview, quite a while ago, with David Walliams and he was talking
about his autobiography and he said that if hell exists in your mind, then I’ve been
there.
And that description of his experience of depression really resonated with me, even
as a Christian.
And I think, even though it can be really hard and you can feel empty, actually, that
description just got me.
I think antidepressants can be really seen as happy pills and you just pop them and it
will all be okay but that’s true because it requires a lot of hard work and a lot of
determination because you have to want to get better as well and not just rely on a
pill to make you better.
And I think that the side effects can be really strong and, for the first…
I guess, maybe all the way up to now.
So, definitely the first five months were really strong side effects and I didn’t
know whether to keep on them or not but I’m really glad that I did persist because I feel
like I’m levelling out of it more and I’m getting my sparkle back and more permanently.
Not just a little glimpse every now and then.
I don’t regret going on medication at all because it’s helped me so much.
Even though I still have so far to go, I really don’t regret it and I don’t see it as
being weak or anything like that.
I think my advice to people who know someone with a mental illness is to not tell them
just to cheer up because that’s really not helpful but to make them a British cup of
tea, like this one and just tell them that you are just there for them.
And just spend time with them because, for me, that really, really helped me in my recovery
and even now, that is still so vital.
And yes, I think my advice to people who are suffering from mental illness is I guess,
three things that I never realised until now, which are; one, you are not alone.
No matter how your thoughts may make you feel and how other people may make you feel or
things that people say.
You are not alone and that is why Mind, the charity is there, to tell people that they’re
not alone and to support them.
And yes, you’re not a freak.
I think there’s still that stigma against it but you’re not a freak just because you
have a mental illness, at all and you are loved.
And you’re worthy of love and belonging and that’s not just a gooey love but a deep,
sacrificial love, a love that can make you want to live, definitely.
I think Mufasa in the Lion King really sums it up well when he says, ah yes, the past
can hurt but the way I see it, you can either run from it or you can learn from it.
My name is Liz.
I have depression and anxiety.
I’m not alone.
I’m not a freak and I am loved.