I started changing things, though, and I feel a lot better now. I don’t look at my phone for the first hour when I wake up, because social media is depressing when you’re constantly comparing yourself to people. I also exercise regularly and eat a lot better. I listen to this guy called Jim Kwik who tells you foods to eat to help your brain, because at the end of the day, your brain is the thing that’s controlling everything. I also don’t drink as much as I used to because if I drink, the next day I feel on edge again.
It’s important to talk about it, too. When you hear other people have this same thing, you feel instantly better because you’re like, ‘I’m not on my own.’ So people sharing their stories and just having an outlet to talk about it is so important.
Therapy has really helped me. But it’s hard, because if you wanna get therapy, then you have to wait ages on the NHS – which isn’t their fault – or you have to pay for it. And you’re caught in a catch 22, like, ‘What if I don’t have the money to pay for it? But I need someone to talk to now?’ Much more needs to be done.