Coming out of Covid

It has been a while since I wrote on here and as are coming out of covid all be it to a very new “normal”. I thought I would write a bit about how I have been the last few months since last writing here. Many of us have had a pretty shit year in one way or another, from job loses, to isolation working from home to the other end and working through. I have no issues writing about mental health and my fights and battles with it.

Through all this last lockdown I have been working, in the first one I was working form home so as much as I do like my own company I had no social interaction other than my daughter on weekends. This time I have been in an office and this has brought its own issues and more than a few anxiety issues. During the first lockdown we had surprisingly good weather for the time of year so I was getting out for walks, swimming in the Usk. I firmly believe that being in nature has a positive impact on mental health. This time we have been in winter and as is becoming the norm not a particularly cold winter but rather wet. We have had more frosts in April than through winter. The strangeness of the Great British weather.

Hobbies

I have taken up a new hobby as we are coming out of covid, and all though people say that my photography, cooking and writing is artistic I have never thought of my self as artistic. I have started painting and in some of the pieces I have done they have been very dark which at times has portrayed my mood. Other pieces have been very bright and upbeat. You can see some of my art at ArtbyIan.

The art and mannequins that I have been creating are taking over my home though I have sold a few to friends, and as you can see above I have created a website to highlight my art work.

Conversations

During the last few months I have had quite a few conversations with friends regarding mental health and it is good that more people are willing to talk and open up. Sadly there is still a stigma surrounding men’s mental health and it only gets talked about during world mental health day or week. I know from personal experience the difference it can make from bottling up your feelings and emotions and to actually talking about them. Yes it can be hard to talk to those close to you I fully understand that. It can also be hard to open up to a stranger. As we are coming out of covid I strongly believe that mental health issues have and will be a massive increase on resources from the NHS, mental health charities be them MIND or forces charities.

I have continued to post on social media my struggles and my victories. Writing and sharing them has been a method of getting things out of my head. Friends have talked of their struggles in the last year and how they have overcome them. Sadly I have at times resorted back to self medication and drank way to much, eaten junk and neglected my self care. My meditation and mindfulness has at times lapsed, my exercise has been non existent. So the drink, diet and lack of self care has taken its toll and the scales recently said one at a time you fat bastard, but eh its covid weight so doesn’t matter is not a good excuse and does not wash lol.

Moving On

So where do we go from here as we are coming out of covid. Personally I need to make some lifestyle changes. Drinking has to be cut down even though the pubs are now open again, I need to get back to my cooking making meals from scratch and avoiding the junk. My mindfulness and mediation needs to be mad a regular practice as it definitely helps my mental health. I will continue to talk to those that have been there for me through all of my struggles, it’s good to talk and yes sometimes I do shut myself down and respond in single words and short sentences. I can promise each of you that I have no intentions of doing anything daft, yes I still have those days and thoughts but I manage them now. I truly give gratitude to each of you for being there.

Mental health we all have it the same as we have physical health, if you brake a bone you seek professional advice, if you feel your minds broken then seek professional advice regarding that.

Don’t bottle up your feelings and emotions, let them out and talk. Please do not ever suffer in silence, I have on times not taken my own advice but I am and always will be here for anyone that wishes to talk, I don’t judge I would be a bit of a hypocrite to do so.

Take care everyone I will be back soon.

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