Life with Helen Johnson

 Before we begin I want to share that this is not an easy blog to write. In fact I've written this blog two other times and stopped it from being published as I wasn't ready to share my journey. If I'm being honest the only reason I now feel able to share this story is because I'm in a better place with my mental health. I also want to share that until 2024 I never struggled with my mental health, I've experienced loss before and broken relationships and even in those seasons I didn't struggle with my mental health. The reason I want to share that is because when 2024 hit it brought new emotions that I didn't know how to handle, and that's why it's taken a year to see some sort of a recovery. Anyway, let's stop procrastinating and start sharing the journey! In December 2023 I was diagnosed with my heart condition and for the first two months I was living in fear, I wouldn't say I was depressed, I was fearful. It wasn't until late January ...

 I've recently started counselling to look after my mental well being as I await heart surgery. I recently had my first session, it was really helpful and a lot of what my counselor said I believe is relevant for most people. I don't want to share specifics of what was discussed, but I do want to share some of the tips she gave me and how we can implement them into our lives. Looking after our own well being is crucial, it allows us to have capacity to help and love others and helps us navigate our own lives more effectively.  Tip #1 - Listen to your body A lot of the time we carry stress and anxiety without realising, and it can be quietly impacting our quality of life. Our body's often reflect what is happening under the surface, this could be tiredness, irritability, stomach issues, headaches etc. We need to be aware of these visual signs that something internal isn't healthy and needs extra attention. Throughout our days we need to take moments to pay attention to h...