Another New Year, another you?...

Running For My Health

Reflections of 2017..

So another year has passed and it has come the time when we reflect on all that has passed, be it good or bad, and all that we wish for ourselves for the new year ahead.

I won't reflect on here about my 2017 as many of you who know me will already know.

I honestly cannot tell you if this annual 'New Year, New You' thing that is usually promoted all over the web and social media is a good thing or not.

 On a whole normally I just brush it off with a simple 'well it's just another new calendar' and that is has no relevance in the real world. I mean after all if the calendar had never been invented we wouldn't even know it was another alleged new year.

This year I'm using it to try and trick my mind into thinking that last year is behind me and the new year brings new things and new memories.

The problem is, often we cannot put everything behind because we are still here living day to day and some of us are living with very real problems.

Mine is my Anxiety, which sometimes catches me totally unaware and comes when I am not actually aware that I am remotely thinking or worrying about anything at all.

I will give you a recent example....

I was happily (note happily) sat watching a movie on Amazon movies called 'Goon'. It was a comedy and there was no particular hint that it was a romantic movie because quite frankly it wasn't. It was a good old laugh out loud movie. But one scene was just the two main characters lay on their bed side by side looking into each others eyes as they both mutually appreciated each others presence...

Then Boom! instant mood change on my part as my brain reminded me big time with an emotional overload of depression and Anxiety in one hit as the reminder that I was alone and didn't have this hit home.

I wasn't even concentrating on it that much but I felt lousy within myself and my mind was all over the place even though I was genuinely concentrating on the rest of the movie as it moved on to the more action based scenes. But my mind wouldn't move on, the chemicals in my brain I guess had triggered all the wrong feelings within me and I began to feel depressed, anxious and in a very dark place.

This wasn't helped by the half bottle of Prosecco I had had which I'd kept since New Year and decided I wanted to chill out with it. How wrong was I on that one.

It genuinely made me realise that as someone with mental health issues I was increasing more at risk to mood changes and I couldn't always rely on the fact that 'it will pass' as I logically know it will, but illogically cannot always see that at the time as everything turns into chaos in my head.

Luckily to a certain extent I live on my own, so my mood was my problem and no one else's as If there were people around me at that time with the various noises and chatter involved I would of probably of had to leave the room with a feeling of total failure.

Thankfully as I write this today I feel fine although only yesterday I had to cancel my attendance at my staff party as I couldn't afford the risk of social anxiety combined with alcohol and a possible repeat feeling of loneliness as I returned home on my own again to an empty flat.

Mental health is a real worry in modern times, and it is more prevalent I think than it used to be, yet it is still a hidden secret to many who try their best to hide their problems, their worries, their anxieties and usually their crippling insecurities and depression.

What can we do in 2018?..

Our health and all around us.  

What can we do is a genuine question. It varies person to person, you don't have to be someone with mental health issues worrying about each and every hour never mind each day or the next. 

You could simply be worried about your health, your job, your loved ones or the World around us.

I for one worry about several from that short list. I do my best health and fitness wise by keeping active with charity running etc as most of you will know.

 I also went Whole Food Plant Based diet wise back in March 2017 and it has reaped great rewards and I have continued to research and follow the whole healthy nutrition and our health aspect ever since with endless watching of lectures, seminars and general articles put out by those in the know who are spreading the good news and giving us updates on the latest research etc.

I promote a Whole Food Plant Based diet wherever  I can with my blogs as I know it will genuinely help others as I genuinely care about them and their health. I will never apologize for the endless posts on Facebook and video shares etc.

In recent months I have dabbled with the Vegan aspect of things as my diet is 99.9% vegan technically due to the no meat and dairy aspect of it.

A true compassion to the animals around me had been made all the easier by the fact I know it is benefit to my health as well to the lives of the animals around me.

I have however found the 'elitist' Vegan Police rather too much to deal with and have been amazed at how insensitive and uncompassionate a fair share of Vegans can be to their fellow man.

Don't get me wrong there are a lot of really nice ones around and thankfully they strike a happy balance that to me saves the very movement that is Veganism.

Openly chastising someone for buying a L'oreal product in the UK that hasn't been tested on or harmed any animals for example because the company also sells products in China, which has to be tested on animals by law in China is not acceptable.

 It may not be animal friendly, and no I don't agree with animal testing, but you have no right telling a new Vegan or at least an animal advocate or someone trying to help the animals that they are not Vegan according to your rules of how far you go with avoiding products.

The original meaning of Vegan as created by the man himself Donald Watson, was a person who does not eat meat or diary or use any animal products were practical. This is hotly contested by many.

This meaning has been added to and elaborated over the years by the same society the Vegan Society that kicked out it's founding member Donald Watson when he didn't follow their animal activism leanings.

This year Veganuary, a one month challenge to go Vegan in January has attracted over 145,000+ followers and people who will do their best to be Vegan for the month and hopefully beyond. But on social media it has become apparent that I am not the only one struggling with the approach of some Vegans in attitude to their possible new advocates to Veganism.

Thankfully the like of Veganuary itself has a whole website and charity behind it that promotes Veganism in an open and friendly way and their Facebook group has maintained a helpful and friendly attitude to all within and I am truly thankful of that.

Their willingness to offer good valued advice on food, nutrition, health, cruelty free and Vegan products is a good one and to be commended. In my mind they have saved a lot of people from falling of the Vegan wagon and going back to their old ways purely because of the way they have been spoken too.

I commend an improved diet to you all, be it Vegan, Plant based or a stepping stone along the way to improved health and fitness.

What can we do in 2018?...

Our mental health. 

What can we do about our mental health?...Well we can talk openly about it for one. Get it out there in the open with friends you feel close enough to talk to openly. 

A genuine friend will be there for you, or at least will listen to you and your troubles. Some will surprise you often with troubles of their own or family members that you didn't know they had. This is an example of how hidden mental health issues can be within society, if you didn't know they had troubles how would anyone else. 

1 in 4 is the often touted figure for how many people will suffer mental health issues within their lifetime. Think about that for a minute , look around the room you are in at family, work colleagues or friends and imagine that at least 1 in 4 have or will have problems.

Now think how many of them have openly told you they have any problems or issues? Likelihood is maybe 1 in 10 of them may of done if at all. It is always a closely guarded secret until either we break from within or someone that genuinely cares knocks to come in to our fragile World.

Likelihood is they have the troubles now or at least the beginnings of them as life's pressure take there toll on them. Do your best to be there when they need by letting them know so.

Talking about your own troubles, or at least genuine ones as far as health or mental health or even financial ones is a way of letting others know 'That it is good to talk'. The way people except those with troubles is a testament to their true self and whether they care about just themselves or all around them.

I have found that talking is best, and posting on social media although risky sometimes is a major step in telling everyone who you really are and reaching out for the help you need.

Writing blogs about your experiences is a big help, hence why I write this one for example as it helps me get to grips with my problems and lay them out before me in black and white. It tells me I am ok, I can survive this, I can talk about this and that I have got this.

So what have I done in January 2018 for my mental health? Well I have joined the R.E.D. in January for Mind challenge.

This was and is a great way to combine my physical health with my mental health by pledging to run every day in January (Some are walking or exercising).

By doing so it is getting my mind of my troubles and getting me out there for the start of the New Year and beyond.

It is getting me through the darker months of Winter and indeed the darker months of the dreaded 'Black Dog' as it does it's best to keep me housebound in a nice warm and safe environment of home. 

But getting out there is the nice safe environment, not being stuck at home.

Just like Veganuary and their Facebook page and website, R.E.D January has a superb Facebook support page and website. I have watched with great joy as people with mental issues among others have opened up with their troubles and without any kind of judgement whatsoever, have received outstanding support from within the group as well as the page admin team.

A true testament that it is good to talk about your problems. We have a wealth of experience in a field that is only truly understood by those who have crossed it in an attempt to come out the other side without been trampled.

Do everything you can within your power to improve your life through your fitness, your diet, your love for others, including the animals around us and especially your mental health and well being.

Talk the talk, walk the walk, and most of all...show the World you care, and perhaps, just perhaps the love will be returned tenfold.

God Bless you all.