World Mental Health Day
THE DIPS
Bonjour and Good day to you,
How have you been? I hope you've been well.
Did you know that today is WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY? That's right the 10th of October is the global day of Mental Health Awareness, and I do love this day. If you know me or my blog you will know that it is on this day 2 years ago (10/10/2015) I told the world about my mental health, in the form of a Blog Post 'The Anxiety and Depression Diaries'.Since then I have had many ups and downs but have always continued to raise awareness for those who struggle with Mental Health and help educate those who don't understand it. Whilst I have a degree in Psychology I have no further academic achievements within this field and can hardly be called a doctor, therapist or expert, what I do have is years of personal experience, embarrassing stories and a few tips to share.
Today I'm going to talk to you about something I only discovered last year: The Dips.
If like me you are a foodie, your mind will have immediately wondered into the condiments and dipping bread, crisps, carrot sticks etc. (It's ok if you're now craving crisps and dips or any other food and condiment, feel free to pause here, fetch a snack and return... all good? great, let's continue.)
If like me you are a foodie, your mind will have immediately wondered into the condiments and dipping bread, crisps, carrot sticks etc. (It's ok if you're now craving crisps and dips or any other food and condiment, feel free to pause here, fetch a snack and return... all good? great, let's continue.)
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| Giphy |
Those who have suffered/are suffering from any form of mental illness will know what I mean, however many may not. If you have not experienced this yet (you may have without knowing) please brace yourself as it can be brutal but I promise it will pass. (pinkie swear?)
There are different types of dips (yes still within mental health, stop thinking of food, mmmm food) most of which have the common side effects of experiencing thoughts and feelings that you thought you had conquered, to the point where, you will contemplate whether all your hard work and effort to 'get better' is really working/worth it. It is working and it is worth it! Please don't let the dip fool you.
.The Trauma Dip:
A Dip can be brought on by something that happens to you or a family member, this event will shake you and scare you. It could be based on something that has nothing to do with you or loved ones. The recent terror attacks affected me a little too much and triggered a dip within my recovery. I had to stop watching the news and remind myself of all the good that's happening in the world and spread some kindness around, all whilst battling those 'is it really worth it' feeling that started to creep back in. This can also be long-term trauma if something happened on a particular date or even a season/smell/texture/colour, anything associated with a trauma could set off a dip.
.The Grief Dip:
People grieve in different ways, we all already know this and for some, it is easier than others and some find it easier to hide than others. Those of us with a mental illness can find it very, very difficult indeed, the sense of losing someone or something can make us feel more isolated and/or abandoned (even though we may have so much support around us). Grief or any form of loss can often cause a lot of distress, if you are going through a moment of grief or know someone who is struggling please seek help, either with a doctor, primary care liaison team or therapist.
.The Happy Dip:
The Happy Dip occurs on occasions you are expected to be happy; Birthdays, Christmas, Weddings, (other joly religious holidays or get-togethers). Anywhere or time there is an expectation to be happy and celebrate is a lot of pressure for someone with a form of mental illness. This can be made worse if surrounded by people who are not aware or not supportive of someone's mental health. Please be aware and understanding that not everyone will want to be made a fuss of or be surrounded by people who are expecting a full smile and rediculous enthusiam.
.The Time of the Month Dip:
This may be a shock to some but women are not the only ones to get the time of the month Dips, men can also experience these too. This will usually happen to women before, during or after their period. ( e.g. for me: even if a dip doesn't occur; my anxiety goes into overdrive a few days before and my emotions are heightened a few days after) This will occur a few days in the month for men; when they feel a little more stressed, or groggy or just fed up with themselves or a situation. This dip will pass quicker than the others and usually occurs due to a change in hormone levels.
.The Spontaneous Dip:
This Dip is the worst dip, it is the worst because it happens when you least expect it, there is no apparent marker or external factor that can be pinpointed as the cause. Without having a clear trigger, this dip can often be the hardest to get out of. It can usually last the longest and lead onto the next ...
.The Double Dip:
The Dip within a Dip is a dangerous time, so caught up in the thoughts, feeling and stress of any of the Dips above, the snowball effect occurs and you find yourself on a lower ledge than you were before. I would personally describe this as the lowest of the low, it will more often occur if the initial Dip isn't recognised or if help isn't sought out. This is the level in which you feel you really have failed as a human, the place where self-harm and suicidal thoughts occur. It is hard to get out of here, but it is not impossible! Help is always there if you ask for it, and people will support you if and when you need it.
I have been through many dips over the past 6 years, they are the reason I never really sorted everything out properly. I had no clue what was actually happening until last year when my nurse practitioner sat me down and explained that Dips occur within mental health recovery. Anyone recovering and dealing with mental health will have low points, these low points are where they will re-evaluate themselves, their situation and put pressure on themselves, question themselves and wonder why they are not 'normal' yet. I was informed that it is not a straight tangent or perfect correlation between the amount of effort you put in and your recovery, it is a hilly terrain (maybe even mountainous for some) and it's ok not be 100%, fighting all the time is tiring, it's ok to doubt yourself but this doesn't mean you're drowning again, you're still swimming, you're still recovering, this is just part of the process.
After understanding that Dips occur I have now managed to find triggers to my Dips, managed to get out of Dips quicker and even stop myself from having them all together. I have been able to help other people I know on their roads to recovery and helped them to understand what Dips are, in turn enabling them to stay on their path and evaluate their situation in a better light and clearer perspective.
I'm sharing this information and decided to write this Blog Post in the hope that it may help someone, whether it be someone suffering and/or fighting their daily battle or a friend/family member who needs and/or wants to understand this situation a bit better. Mental Health recovery is a rocky road, especially if you have no idea what to expect and Dips can almost disguise themselves as comforting and familiar to those recovering, but it is worth fighting through it. Dips do not last forever and you are worth so much more than how they make you feel.
"When the 'I' Becomes 'We' Mental 'Illness' becomes Mental 'Wellness'."_ Shannon L. Alder.
If you have experienced your own dip and/or have any tips or advice on how to get out of dips please comment down below or get in touch via the contact page.
Thanks so much for reading
xo
Helpful Links:
....Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
Infoline: 03000 123 3393
....NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth/Pages/Mentalhealthhome.aspx
Call: 111 for urgent needs
....Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you
Helpline: 116 123 (UK & ROI)
I have been through many dips over the past 6 years, they are the reason I never really sorted everything out properly. I had no clue what was actually happening until last year when my nurse practitioner sat me down and explained that Dips occur within mental health recovery. Anyone recovering and dealing with mental health will have low points, these low points are where they will re-evaluate themselves, their situation and put pressure on themselves, question themselves and wonder why they are not 'normal' yet. I was informed that it is not a straight tangent or perfect correlation between the amount of effort you put in and your recovery, it is a hilly terrain (maybe even mountainous for some) and it's ok not be 100%, fighting all the time is tiring, it's ok to doubt yourself but this doesn't mean you're drowning again, you're still swimming, you're still recovering, this is just part of the process.
After understanding that Dips occur I have now managed to find triggers to my Dips, managed to get out of Dips quicker and even stop myself from having them all together. I have been able to help other people I know on their roads to recovery and helped them to understand what Dips are, in turn enabling them to stay on their path and evaluate their situation in a better light and clearer perspective.
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| Wear Green or Yellow To show your support and help raise Mental Health Awareness, Thank you |
"When the 'I' Becomes 'We' Mental 'Illness' becomes Mental 'Wellness'."_ Shannon L. Alder.
If you have experienced your own dip and/or have any tips or advice on how to get out of dips please comment down below or get in touch via the contact page.
Thanks so much for reading
xo
Helpful Links:
....Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
Infoline: 03000 123 3393
....NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth/Pages/Mentalhealthhome.aspx
Call: 111 for urgent needs
....Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you
Helpline: 116 123 (UK & ROI)
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