I Wrote a Book! (Yes, Really!)
And what an experience is was. I put in a forum in facebook about 2 weeks ago, that I had wrote a book about my own mental health struggles, and I went on to say, Im no author or claim to be a writer but if my book helps just one person then Im winning. A lady replied to me, and said "You wrote a book, that means you are an author, doesn't matter if its self-published or not, own it, its yours to be proud of" that stuck with me and also made me smile.
So I am owning it, I wrote a book and Im the author to this book; one that Im proud of and one that has now been bought from others who may just feel like they need something to relate to, to feel less alone on their mental health journey or to see if I'm actually any good 😂
So anyway heres the couple of pages from my book. I thought it will serve as a starter to see if you would like to read it or not, without having to purchase it.
Breaking Free from Depression and Anxiety:
Reclaiming Your Life
Sian Atkins
Struggling with Depression? I Was Too, But Here’s How I Got My Life Back
Life can feel overwhelming when you’re struggling with depression. The constant cloud of sadness, the lack of energy, and the feeling that things will never get better are all too familiar. If you’ve ever woken up dreading the day ahead, feeling like you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle, you’re not alone. I know exactly how it feels. Less than two years ago, I was in the same place. I was overwhelmed with the weight of depression, unsure how to get out of it. It wasn’t just a few bad days, it felt like months of battling my emotions. I couldn’t focus. I wasn’t motivated. And most of all, I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that I wasn’t good enough or that things wouldn’t improve.
When I think back to those days, it almost felt like my depression and anxiety came out of nowhere. It hit me full force, knocking me down, quite literally. But after reflecting on everything that had happened over the past few years, I realise it wasn’t entirely a surprise. There had been many stressors piling up, slowly building up pressure, and it was bound to catch up with me sooner or later.
“Baby steps are super important in this journey, and even when it feels like progress is slow, every little effort counts.”
It all started with vertigo in May 2023. At first, I thought it was just a physical symptom, but as I’ve learned more about health anxiety, I now understand that it was the first sign of my mental health slipping. Along with the vertigo came persistent stomach pains, countless trips to the hospital, and tests that didn’t show anything physically wrong. It turns out, my body was reacting to the stress and anxiety I had been suppressing for years. During this time, I had lost a stone in weight, my body ached, and my energy was non-existent. I was in pain, physically and emotionally. I couldn’t even look in the mirror without crying. I felt exhausted, lost, and completely disconnected from who I used to be. My mental health was deteriorating so much that panic attacks would have me up in the middle of the night, shaking and crying, desperately trying to calm myself down.
Before my "devil" (as I call him) arrived, I thought I was doing okay. I was working part-time as a carer, home-schooling my daughter, going to the gym regularly, and eating well. On the outside, it seemed like I was managing life just fine. But on the inside, I was falling apart, and I didn’t even know it.
"Although I was smiling in this photo, I was actually in a really dark place. I can see the sadness behind my smile, but to the outside world, everything appeared fine."
If you would like to continuing reading or know someone who could really do with reading this then you can follow these links.
Im also excited to tell you that £0.99 of From every book or ebook I sell will be donated to Mind via Work for Good
And remember: "You are never truly alone. There is always someone who cares, even on the days it feels like the world is silent." 💛Take care, and be kind to yourself.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.