Category: physical health

I get knocked down…

Ellen ThomasLeave a comment

I tried to get back up again. (with the help of paramedics, gas and air, a CT scan, 4 days inpatient treatment for a liver injury and torn muscles, morphine, codeine, naproxen, a massage mat, GPs, a month off work, cheese and coleslaw sandwiches, Ribena, my mum and dad, my partner, my friends, a back brace, my boss, reduced hours, a pillow, non-alcoholic beer, alcoholic beer, Heartstopper… I mean I could go on, I’ve missed a lot of things).

So… I got run over just over 10 weeks ago. Initially my mental health was completely unaffected, I mean, physically I was completely broken. But with the help of the above, I was able to begin to piece myself back together. A couple of weeks in, however, the realisation that pain is going to stick with me for a while, started to get to me. I felt like I had made no progress despite being able to now walk up the stairs, get to the toilet in less than 15 minutes and make myself a cuppa. I had been staying with my parents, who were unbelievable and I was treated like the qween I am for a little while.

I had to come home eventually though, back to adulting. The reality that I was going to be in pain for the foreseeable and started to grow, just then. I know that worldwide, people go about their days in pain all the bloody time, but I instantly felt hard done by.

Now I know that at some time in our lives we will all experience pain—physical and/or emotional discomfort caused by illness, injury, or an upsetting event. And I know that worldwide, people again, go about their days in pain all the bloody time. Though most of us would rather avoid it, pain, apparently does serve an actual purpose that is good and seen as “protective.” For example, when you experience pain your brain signals you to stop doing whatever is causing the pain, preventing further harm to your body.

Pain, however, is not meant to last for a long time.

I had started to get a bit angry at the fact that someone had caused me pain and seemingly didn’t have to suffer the consequences. Billy, just then, thought that it might be a good idea to poke his head up, let me know that life wasn’t fair, and that I should feel mostly shit about that. Thanks babes.

I had to come to terms with the fact that crossing roads will make me feel a bit uneasy and that crossing the road before the green man appears (even if its dead) is a massive no-go.

It’s got easier though, and I’m alright now. But I think that has had a massive impact on the last couple of months, and the reason I have been a bit absent from Ellen on the Edge. I needed to heal.

That’s okay though… sometimes you need a break… sometimes you need to get knocked down, but you will always get back up again. If you’ve been knocked down lately… sing that song for me, sing it loud!

Hang in there.

Ellen on the Edge xx

Take A Day

Ellen ThomasLeave a comment

Why are we constantly and consistently doing what we think we should do, doing what other people do? Sometimes it is necessary to do what people tell you to do, but that’s a work thing.

Why are we living our lives through other people? Eating 5 fruit and veg a day because we need to be healthy, getting out for exercise everyday although we are knackered and need to rest. I am the biggest culprit in this, I feel guilty for doing nothing, even when I need to do nothing. A lot of the time, I let Billy tell me what I need to do, which isn’t always a bad thing, sometimes it is.

It can be all too easy to convince ourselves that poor mental health isn’t a good enough reason to take time out, to rest. If you’re physically able to do shit, why not do it?

But remember that our mental health is just as important to our overall well-being as our physical health. Just like any bout of illness or bodily distress, our minds needs time to rest and recover.

I know that a lot of companies are advocates for mental health/wellbeing days, and actively encourage people to take them. My organisation isn’t one of these specifically, but I am lucky to have the confidence in taking a day if I need it. I am, and continue to be passionate about this, and would always encourage companies to adopt this policy. A day where you are not feeling well, mentally, should be no different to a day where you are physically unwell. These days should not necessarily be for that. But should be encouraging people to “take a day” – to rest, to do something that makes you feel happy. I do understand that a small number of people could, in the eyes of organisations be “misused” – however I would disagree with this. Who are we to say how someone is using this day.

I will always take a day if I am not feeling right, if I am feeling unwell. Believe me when I say that you are going to be unproductive at work if you aren’t feeling right, and it may result in you needing to take even more time off.

This also however, stands for taking a day outside of your work life, you should feel confident in cancelling plans if you don’t feel up to it. Don’t apologise to your friends for letting them down, you aren’t, you are taking care of yourself. Just be honest. Don’t worry.

I am lucky in that I haven’t had to take a day in a while, however, I know I will in the future. I have no worries about this, it’s how I cope and manage, and knowing that I am actively doing something about how I am feeling, stops me from falling off the edge sometimes.

So my advice to you? Babes, just take a day, there are so many days ahead… having one isn’t going to cause an issue.

Hang in there.

Ellen on the Edge xx