Why I started seeing a councillor!

We all know that life isn’t plain sailing, it’s not unicorns and rainbows everyday, it’s not how life works and certainly not one that anyone has. That would be impossible. However, you do have such humans who live life in a measurable state of being and contentment. This may be because they have chosen a path like that of Buddhas who have attained a state of Nirvana, so they are fully awaken to the true nature of life’s reality. Or like countries such as Finland who have ranked (again) the happiest country in the world due to trust in their leaders, connection to nature and the great outdoors, work life balance and ‘Sisu’ - a Finnish sense of resilience and determination.

Or others become happy after life events and learning that life is precious, whilst some people are just naturally more happy because they don’t define their life has having to be perfect, but by their habits, mindset, perspective and they don’t look or need validation from others, they don’t see wealth as the means for happiness and are usually less materialistic and prefer experiences.

Yet unhappiness is on the rise worldwide and it’s concerning. Everywhere I look people seem more drained, anxious, and overwhelmed than before. And I feel it too.

And I’m not surprised. I actively avoid the news because my mindset just doesn’t have the capacity to handle it right now . It feels like every headline is designed to keep us on high alert, and that takes a toll. And even social media seems to have ramp up its sadness dial. You can only escape this stuff by staying off it, which let’s face it is super hard, myself being a business owner, your almost forced into the world of Instagram and facebook, and for many it’s an addiction, doom scrolling last thing at night and first thing in the morning. it’s easy to feel like we’re trapped in a cycle we can’t escape. We’re essentially held over an invisible barrel, participating in a rhythm that’s hard to break and it’s unfortunately not doing our mental health any good as a society.

Pockets of Bliss is my outlet.
I don’t have loads of hobbies, I love to read, and when the weather is nice (and honestly… what is with the rain lately?) I like to get out into my garden. But ultimately, POB is what keeps me in a good state of mind… most of the time.

I started POB in 2023. At that point, I had been on antidepressants for three months and was finally able to function again after four months of utter darkness. So POB really means a lot to me,  it isn’t just a business, it’s deeply personal.

Like any small business, though, every day is a gamble. You never know if you’ll make even one sale, and I often go days without any. Weirdly, most people don’t talk about that. It’s all fake it till you make it, highlight reels, quiet struggles.

From the very beginning, I promised myself I wouldn’t do that.

I decided I was going to run an honest and transparent small business. I was always going to talk openly about my mental health, the struggles, the realities, the uncomfortable bits, because mental health is the reason Pockets of Bliss exists in the first place.

And that’s why I’m talking about my counselling.

Coming into 2026, I knew I needed to finally start helping myself again. I had been doing the right things for a long time, and then I got complacent. I slowly drifted away from the habits that helped me feel okay. When January hit, I could feel myself slipping.

The low moods came back. The sadness. The crying. The moments of hiding away, sitting alone in my little 'Harry Potter' cupboard (it’s like a pantry), listening to the tumble dryer just to drown out my thoughts. Even eating started to feel like a chore.

I know my warning signs now, and because I know them, I took immediate action.

Counselling became a promise I made to myself.

I have my fourth session this week, and my counsellor is amazing. She’s also a holistic therapist, which means every session is tailored specifically to me. I’ve cried. I’ve had aha moments. I’ve had reiki. We’ve used trauma emotion cards (which, by the way, were incredible). And this week, we’re combining talking therapy and reiki together.

It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been necessary. And for the first time in a while, it feels like I’m choosing myself again.

What I would like to say, is its absolutely ok to put yourself first once in a while. The demands of life can be huge, I finally realised I have been pouring from an empty cup and Im learning in my sessions to start caring for myself, like I care for others. 

So if you’re feeling like everything is heavy, please know you’re not broken, and you’re not alone.
It might help to gently explore ways to feel a little lighter. Here are some ideas that have helped me.

🌿 Walk in nature
Honestly, a no-brainer. Fresh air, movement, and green space can do wonders for your nervous system.

🥗 Eat well
Ditch anything that doesn’t serve you. Caffeine and alcohol aren’t for me, they make my symptoms worse, so I simply don’t bother with them. Listen to what your body is telling you.

🩸 Look into deficiencies
Vitamin B12 is one that many people are low in, and deficiencies can really affect mood and energy levels. It’s worth checking.

🎨 Engage in your hobbies
Do something just for you. Whether that’s a pamper evening at home or going on a retreat, joy doesn’t have to be earned, it’s allowed.

🗣️ Talk
This one is so important. Talk to your partner, a family member, or a friend. Let someone know how you’re really feeling. You are not a burden, if anything, they’ll likely feel honoured that you trusted them.

🤍 Find a counsellor
If that’s what you need, don’t dismiss it. Your health is your wealth, and your time is valuable. You deserve support.

🧘♀️ Meditation & breathing exercises
These can be incredibly calming and beneficial for mental wellbeing. I’ll share some links below to the ones I personally like and use.

🧎 Yoga
Pop a session on YouTube and do it at home, no pressure, no expectations. And of course, if you want to go to a class, that’s great too.

If you fancy a deeper dive into the things I’ve talked about in this blog, check out the links below.

Negative News & Mental Health

📌 Constant distressing news can increase anxiety, stress, and low mood

• Harvard Health – Doomscrolling dangers: Constantly consuming distressing news can take a toll on your mental health. Doomscrolling dangers (Harvard Health Publishing)

• NIH / PubMed study: Daily exposure to negative news media during the COVID-19 pandemic was shown to have demonstrable negative effects on mental health. The impact of daily news exposure on mental health (NIH)

• Mental Health UK — Global negative news exposure: Being constantly exposed to distressing news can chip away at our mental health over time. Overwhelm from global crises and relentless bad news

• Research on media-induced anxiety: Negative news increases distress and anxiety partly due to uncertainty and constant exposure. Impact of media‑induced uncertainty on mental health

Doomscrolling Effects

📌 Doomscrolling is linked to anxiety, distress, and lower well-being

• NIH / PubMed – Doomscrolling study: Research shows social media / news overexposure is associated with depression and anxiety. Doomscrolling and stress/anxiety associations (Satici et al.)

• Mental Health Foundation UK – Doomscrolling signs: Doomscrolling can negatively affect mood - making you feel anxious, tense or drained after checking the news. Doomscrolling signs and how to spot them

• Magellan Federal summary: Recent findings suggest doomscrolling correlates with increased anxiety, psychological distress and lower well-being. Effects of Doomscrolling

• Psychology Today summary: Doomscrolling is associated with higher anxiety, depressive symptoms and disrupted sleep. Hidden mental health cost of news on social media

Social Media Use & Mental Health

📌 Research shows links between heavier social media use and worse mental health outcomes

(Note: not all research finds cause, but there are consistent associations in many studies.)

• PMC review – screen time & mental health: More frequent social media use is correlated with greater depressive and anxiety symptoms. Social media and mental health effects (Naslund et al.)

• Association with depression: A large study found a strong link between social media use and depression in young adults. Social media use linked to depression (Lin et al.)

• Systematic review — social media use and anxiety/depression: A meta-analysis found significant associations between social media use and depression, anxiety and sleep problems. Social media use, mental health, and sleep (Ahmed et al.)

• HelpGuide summary: Multiple studies have linked heavy social media use to an increased risk of anxiety, loneliness and depression. Social media and mental health overview (HelpGuide.org)

• World Health Organization — adolescent social media concerns: Problematic use is associated with lower well-being and higher anxiety. Teens, screens and mental health (WHO)

• US Surgeon General Advisory (via Hopkins Medicine): Frequent social media use is linked to mental health concerns among children and adolescents. Social media and teen mental health (Hopkins Medicine)

It’s useful and honest to note that most evidence is associational (not strictly causal) - meaning we see links but not proof that social media alone causes poor mental health:

• Edge Hill University — limited evidence for causal link: Experts say there's currently not enough evidence to say social media use alone causes anxiety or depression. Psychology experts on evidence and social media

• Johns Hopkins study — association but not causal: People who are more depressed tend to use social media more, but it didn’t show that social media use caused increases in depression over time. Social media use and depressive symptoms (Hopkins)