My rough-llercoaster in the past 6 months
I know it’s been difficult times for a lot of people, the new lockdown is on, new restrictions coming for Christmas and we just don’t know where this all is heading to (well, at least the vaccine seem to be here!) but, the one thing that continues to be a hot topic and a concern for many is mental health and how we’re all coping with our own struggles.
Anyway, I’m not going to moan about COVID and bore you with that so I’m going straight to the points I’d like to share with you on this post.
Here’s my timeline for the past 6 months…
I got laid off in July due to the current landscape with COVID 💔
Right after that my gf’s mum was diagnosed with cancer…💔
An exciting trip to Spain to visit my family in July turned into a not so pleasant trip, I had to be taken to A&E due to gallstones and had an operation which kept me in the hospital for 8 days (no visits allowed due to covid restrictions)…💔
A handful of close family friends passed away in the past 6 months which affected my family emotionally...💔
Two family members died in the past 2 months all cancer related…💔
- At this stage I was like… Damn!! What is going on?? 😭 -
Three months ago I had to ask for donations to pay for a surgery my mum needed urgently and it was until around a month ago when she could finally get it done (a massive thanks to all the people who supported me)…❤️
Two month ago my old dog got a bacteria infection and had to be taken to the vet where he stayed for 3 days. We soon discovered the ligaments from his back legs are very damaged (surgery at this stage isn’t an option)…💔
Five weeks ago I had surgery on my shoulder which kept me out of everything for two weeks while recovering… it was planned so this is a happy news ❤️
The 4 of November my GF’s mum couldn’t withstand the cancer and passed away…💔
All this while I still have to…
Provide for my family in Spain every month (long story short my parents were forced to move from Venezuela loosing everything they worked for their entire lives)
Look for a new job, do interview preparation, do the interviews the best I can and get turned down
Support my girlfriend and her family through this tough time
Support myself (somehow…)
Do some freelance work
Continue to deal with the current situation and the new lockdown
I’m not looking for you to feel sorry for me nor do I want you to compare yourself to me, my intention with this post as a mental health advocate is to continue opening up the conversation around mental health.
I decided to share my most recent struggles publicly so if you are having a shit day, week or month you can take a step back, have a point of reflection and know that you are not alone, there are hundreds of thousand of people out there going through difficult times as well…
The most important actions you can take right now, and this is what I have genuinely done:
TALK to someone (or a few people) and don’t feel ashamed sharing your struggles and vulnerabilities
REACH OUT for professional help, they are qualified to help you (I’m writing a post with a great list of places that could help you. Watch the space)
DON’T THINK that the world ends there, there is definitely a bright side
JOIN GROUPS where they openly support one another and share their stories (I’m writing a post on this with a few groups I’ve found)
DON’T battle your feelings, understand them and get to properly know yourself (STOP the autopilot mode!)
And lastly, once and for all learn how to be kind with yourself
Now more than ever in my life I can say that my resilience is high - actually so very high that I find myself becoming a more compassionate person, more understanding, more tactful, more loving. A person who really cares about others wellbeing whether you are my family, friend, colleague, client or a stranger. I can put myself in your shoes and understand you.
So let’s keep the conversation all year round, because mental health shouldn’t be a once-a-year topic… #mentalhealthweek 👈 You know what I’m talking about here, right? 🤨
I don’t know whether this looks bad or not for any recruiter, company I’m currently applying for or interviewing with… but this is a topic that I’m taking very seriously and I know that sharing who I really am and what I’ve gone through can help lots of people out there to take their first step towards seeking help and get better.
Please don’t be afraid of sharing your thoughts, the more we contribute the more others can benefit from.
Love, Anto.