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Mind The Gap

Hi! 

Welcome to my brand new blog. Recently I have been reflecting about the journey I have come on with my mental health issues, and how far I still have to go. I thought it may help me to share my story, and it may help someone else along the way.

But first... this is me!


This is me and my family. My husband and children are my whole world. They keep me sane! In my darkest moments they are what pull me through. In my moments of pure happiness, they are the cause.

My family have shared the majority of my journey, and unfortunately my mental health issues will affect them day-to-day no matter how much I try to keep it from them.




I want this blog to be a platform for mental health matters. I may, at times, go off on a tangent! However, I want to be able to share ways I have found to cope with my challenges, and explore new methods in the future. 

I have suffered with anxiety and depression since I was about 18. I didn't know what it was at the time, but it started around the time I left home and went to university. I was working, I had great friends, but I was lonely and this led to me isolating myself, and using alcohol to self-medicate.

Things came to a head in 2007 when I ended up in hospital following a drug and alcohol overdose. I remember being sat in the hospital, miles from home, and the nurse asking me if I wanted to phone anyone. I didn't. I had no-one to phone. I didn't want to become a burden to my family, and I was too embarrassed to tell any of my friends. I hit my low point that night, and it was only upon speaking to a CBT therapist the following day that I realised I had a medical problem. 

The weight lifted almost instantly. I was feeling this way for a reason, and there might be something I could do about it to feel better. 

The journey from then until now hasn't been easy. I have explored lots of routes and tried lots of things to feel 'better'. However until you know what 'better' means, it is difficult to get there. 

Fast forward to today, when I am more or less 'better'. On a day-to-day basis I feel fine. Obviously I still have the odd day or two where I feel low. However I have come to learn that the best thing for me to do is to try and get on with everything as much as possible. 

I have rambled enough for now, but I hope I have introduced you to my journey, and you know me a little bit better now!

Emily x


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