BRUU Supports Mental Health Awareness
Hands up if you have ever suffered with your Mental Health?
In this country, 1 in 4 people experience the sometimes devastating effects of mental health disorders. Below, some of our team have bravely shared their own experiences of mental health, and what it means to them.
Part of the cruelty of this illness is it makes you believe that you are suffering alone... that you are on your own.
Over the next few days we will share some of our stories from the team at BRUU. We hope that in the courage of sharing our stories, we can encourage someone else to open up and talk in return. We have left our stories anonymous, as who we are individually is not important in this case. The important thing to know is;
You are not alone.
In Britain, it is in our culture to put the kettle on in a crisis, so that is exactly what we are asking you to do.
Make a BRUU and talk. Make a BRUU and listen.
"I used to be one of those people that thought mental health was something people used as an excuse, or for attention. I graduated from university and became a store manager at a big retail chain, I focused on nothing except making other people’s dreams happen. At the time I thought by dedicating myself to the company, I would find appreciation and go far. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The harder I tired, the more I was taken advantage of. After four years of people in my team letting me down, I was finally broken.
The stress and pressure of trying to always do the best (and often smashing records), I’d finally had enough. My confidence was low, my get up and go was gone, I felt like I’d let down all my friends and family, I didn’t attend one of my best friends’ weddings because I just felt like I was a failure and judgement would have been cast on me.
I was at the point where I would grind my teeth in my sleep with stress, which caused constant headaches – I didn’t think they would stop. I genuinely felt like the best way to end the suffering would be to end it all. I would wake up in the middle of the night with sweat pouring down my face, a bone-dry mouth from where I’d pushed my tongue to the roof of my mouth all night, I’d been clenching my jaw that hard.
At this point I realised I needed some “me time” but I still was in denial about mental health. I visited a doctor and she explained it to me in layman’s terms – when you get physically sick, you give your body rest, you give it medicine to get better. The mind is the same. It needs plenty of rest and maybe even some medicine to change your mind set in the short term. Due to the negative mindset I had, this led to overthinking and even doubting the doctor when they told me I wasn’t dying of some elaborate disease – I was sure of it, after all, what does a doctor know about my health? Turns out, quite a lot! I did opt against medication, but decided I needed to get away from the place that was making me so unhappy, and the people that were telling me I was no good, despite my successful professional record.
Eight weeks later I returned to work after some much-needed R & R. I quickly realised that the problems I was experiencing hadn’t gone away, but I was in a much better place to be able to deal with them and formulate a plan to work on my own dreams.
Nine months later I left, and I have to say, it was such a relief – I felt like I had just walked away from a toxic five year relationship and into a new one with a complete breath of fresh air. DO NOT let anyone make you think you are less valuable than you are, the chances of you being born is 1 in 400 trillion, shine like the miracle you are!"
Where to go if you need help
If you, or someone you know, is struggling, there are a number of charities here to help.
- The Samaritans are open 24 hours a day. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
- The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) offers support to men. Call 0800 58 58 58 between 17:00 and 00:00 everyday
- Papyrus helps people under 35. Call 0800 068 41 41 - Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm - or text 07786 209697
- Childline is available for children and young people under 19. Call 0800 1111 - the number will not show up on your bill
- The Silver Line helps older people. Call 0800 4 70 80 90
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