Beginnings

This is my first blog and as it is mental health week, I thought what a good time to start. I’ve been very reflective over the last few weeks and thought I’d share some insights.

When I was 12, I was told by a ‘friend’ “oh you are so sensitive!” From that day and for approximately 23 years, I carried that name tag around my neck like it was a burden. The comment bothered me. It etched into my soul and it was a horrible, negative feeling. The comment was meant to be derrogitive and I took it that way. Throughout the process of becoming a counsellor I have had many opportunities to explore my past. This word “sensitive” kept coming back to me. Still in a negative way. Yes, I am sensitive. I cry in movies. I cry at the doctors. I cry when something is bothering me and I cant control it.

By self reflection and having my own counselling, I have accepted that yes I am sensitive. I am a teacher, a parent and a counsellor. It hit me like a brick in the wall. Who would want a teacher who wasn’t sensitive to the childrens and parents needs? Who would open up to a counsellor who wasn’t sensitive to their feelings and needs? Finally, could I be a great mum if I wasn’t sensitive?

Counselling has taught me many lessons. The main one is to accept who you are. I accept who I am and more importantly I like who I am. Yes someone defined me in a certain way many years ago but I turned the negative connotation into a positive one.

In a conversation I had this week, we were discussing the word selfish. To many people this word has a negative feeling attached to it. However, isn’t it ok to be selfish? When we are on a plane and the air stewards are taking us through the safety procedures, they always say if the oxygen masks come down, fit your own mask first and then others. If you don’t look after yourself first, how can you look after other people?

Does this mean always put yourself first? I feel that if by putting others first it is detrimental to you and your health then yes. Put yourself first.

What does this come down to?

Self care. Knowing when to rest. When to talk to someone. When to ask for help. When to say no. When to look after you.

So at the end of my blog I am going to put my feet up and watch corrie.

Take care x