For today’s Meet the Team piece, we’re going to tie it in with World Mental Health Day, Thursday October 10th.
With the very kind permission of Nurse Advisor and Clinical Lead Nikki Argent, she wanted to share how she overcame problems with her mental health following the death of her Father and Father-in-Law within a year of each other.
Nikki is also one of our Mental Health First Aider and we hope that by sharing her story, she will encourage others to open up and talk about their own experiences to show that people are not alone in experiencing problems with their own mental health. In her own words…
“I was always the person who thought I was fine and never considered I would have any problems with my mental health, but I was wrong. It was around the time of the pandemic when we lost them both and after my dad died, I don’t think I ever properly grieved. He was a well-known man and due to the restrictions on funeral numbers due to Covid, there were many people who couldn’t come so I felt like I carried their expectations too.
“It was a year after that when I had a breakdown. It was never properly diagnosed but I got to the stage where I didn’t want to leave the house, couldn’t speak to anyone, I just felt like a shell, like any sense of enthusiasm for anything had gone.
“I knew something wasn’t right so referred myself for counselling which was the best thing I ever did. I had six to eight sessions and I was able to trace everything back to bullying as a child. It shaped my reactions to losing control, how I deal with things and counselling helped me to realise that talking to people is the answer, for me at least.
“I can now recognise in myself when I don’t feel great, if I’m feeling overwhelmed, upset or anxious and I will tell people. It helps me to unburden myself and see a way forward. I’ve developed a renewed interest in listening to other people’s stories and helping them resolve whatever it is that is burdening them, taking on the role of Mental Health First Aider for DHU. It’s not something I necessarily believed in before, but I think if you go through your own mental health struggles, you have a better understanding and empathy with how others are feeling, as well a closer connection with yourself.
“Now, whenever I feel anxious I can step back, consciously think about what it is I’m feeling anxious about and methodically go through what I can do about it and who I can talk to, to help me. It sounds simple to say it out loud, but I know how easy it to ignore and see find yourself spiral downwards. We don’t always have to lead, sometimes the brave thing is to seek help and realising that is how I take care of myself.”