Hi All – Hope everyone is enjoying the current spell of sunny weather!!
I thought in line with it being Mental Health week, I would take my first tentative steps into creating a blog!!
It has been 5 years last month since I experienced a traumatic bleed on the brain (sub arachnoid haemorrhage) which resulted in 3 neurosurgery operations, catching Covid whilst in hospital and now being left with life long brain condition Hydrocephalus – I still have to have brain scans every year at the moment to monitor any changes. This year I certainly reflected and thought more about my experience and how far I have come.
As you can imagine, this has changed my outlook on life and in someways my world has become smaller – but for the better!! My mental health has been affected in both negative and positive ways.
With it being Mental Health week this week, I just wanted to share my experience of being part of the Luton Council team, and how the support and kindness of my colleagues has been a constant throughout my time since starting in November 2019 and hoping long may it continue!!
- Working at Home – I have never felt like I am on my own whilst working at home, as I am in contact with my DDAT colleagues and wider contacts within the Luton Council Team. I always make sure that I ask people how they are when on calls – you never know you could be the only person they speak to that day/week etc. It only takes 3 seconds to ask how are you!! I have struck up some great new friendships with colleagues whilst working on the IT/DDAT projects. If I do have to come into the office, I do still sometimes find this a struggle and go through all sorts of scenarios in my head re parking, the drive in, being safe whilst walking to office – however I made it to the office yesterday, with no panic/worries for the first time in a long time. So, for me this is a huge win!!!
- Working Flexibly/Part Time – I am lucky to be able to work part time, which gives me the time for my own well being, health, for my family and friends. I do sometimes still have to remind myself, that if I do have a day where I do or achieve nothing, that its ok!! Working flexibly means that I am able to arrange calls/meetings or just completing my work in a way that is controllable for me. And this means that I do get the best of both worlds in terms of work/life balance which is so beneficial to my mental health.
- Shared Experience – Try to remember that you are probably not the only person feeling a certain way or having certain worries/stresses – I know this is easier said than done sometimes!! Even this week one of my colleagues/friend from the Adult Ed team has messaged myself and other mums who are going through the joy/pain of GCSE’s, but just that one email showed support and made me not feel so alone in dealing with an anxious/grumpy/emotional 16 year old teen!!
My final thought on my first and maybe last blog for everyone – Be Kind to Yourself!!
Links below for Mental Health Support sites:
Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-week/
NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/