My Entry Into The Ladies Of Hive Contest - Edition #262

Hello everyone, and happy weekend! After a long break from hive, I'm back with lots of ideas, quality content, and, of course, sharing my thoughts with the amazing ladies of this community. I hope I'm welcome to join you again.🤗

This week’s contest referenced October as Breast Cancer and Mental Health Awareness Month, asking us to reflect on this question:

Mental Health: Only around half of people describe their mental health as good, struggling to switch off from work, etc. How do you cope in an ever-changing world?

HERE’S MY PERSONAL TAKE:

According to the World Health Organization, 12 billion productive workdays are lost every year to depression and anxiety, costing US$1 trillion. A further look into their most recent report here shows that these two mental health disorders are more common in women, with an estimated 53.1% affected.

From this, we can now understand that the state of our mental health impacts our lives in more ways than we realize, especially as women. From seeking peace at home, balancing friendships, meeting work targets, to squeezing out time for self-care; there’s only so much one woman can manage.

But often, I think about the women living with mental health conditions that go undiagnosed every year; women who have limited access to healthcare, who are forced to adapt to changing economic realities, or those who have under researched diagnosis and struggle to understand what's happening with their minds and bodies. And then I see myself in that reality. I am one of those women.

Image from unsplash

I got my period at 13, and I had no idea of the mental and emotional toll it would take on me. It started out painful, and it drained me physically, but the emotional weight was heavier. Days before my period, I would experience a heightened feeling of hopelessness, overwhelming anxiety, and extreme irritability, amongst others. For years, I endured it because the abdominal scans never showed anything. However, I started learning about my symptoms, the direct link to some underlying conditions like depression and anxiety, as well as new technologies that helped with proper diagnosis.

Then, a few months ago, I came across a tweet about women's menstrual cycle, which led me to research further. I realized my symptoms were more than PMS - Pre-mestrual Syndrome. They are currently bordering on PMDD - Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. My efforts in getting a doctor here to understand that there was more to my symptoms than just painful periods were dismissed. And then again, the recent scan showed nothing. I could link the outcome of my visits to the hospital to low research ouputs on emerging conditions affecting women and the lack of new technologies to further diagnose.

I began speaking remotely to a different doctor and a pharmacist last month. So far, their advices have been helpful in managing my symptoms(until I get a proper physical evaluation and a laparoscopy) and acknowledging that my mental health matters just as much as my physical health.

Image from unsplash

HOW I ADAPT TO AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD

1. Intentional Communication With Friends

Instead of doomscrolling like I always do, now I make a conscious effort to engage with the people who care deeply about me, and I do this through some fun and heartfelt conversations. I update them about my general well-being and ensure I also know what's going on with them mentally. This reminds me that I’m not alone, and knowing that my friends are alive and also thriving with my support keeps me going.

2. Setting Reminders For Work, Personal Tasks & Rest

Life moves really fast, and I admit that my brain isn’t perfect. So, I use my google calendar to set reminders for my work tasks and deadlines, as well as meetings. I also use it to keep up with my personal commitments like drinking water, resting, and posting on Hive. It may seem casual but doing this helps keep me organized and less anxious in a world that expects you to always show up amidst chaos.

3. Listening To My Body

It's no lie that our bodies constantly send signals to us before it breaks down. It could be in form of mood swings, fatigue or dehydration. Right now, I make it a point not to ignore these cues because listening to my body and and honoring it with care and attention directly supports my overall mental well-being.

4. Dedicating Time To My Hobbies

I believe hobbies weren't only designed for fun. They also serve as mental resets. Last month, I started painting on small papers and making some simple digital illustrations using Canva, and I can tell that my mental heath has improved. It feels like a reset had been done. The anxiety I often experienced has reduced, and when I feel I’m underperforming elsewhere, looking at my work makes me feel useful and never worthless.

5. Social Media Breaks

With the constant propaganda, bullying, and distressing news online, I’ve made a habit of going MIA on social media at least twice a year. I've realized that it reduces the noise in my head and gives me clarity on how to engage more thoughtfully, especially when speaking on sensitive topics like gender-based violence and misogyny.

I won't delude myself or anyone into thinking that these habits I've inclulcated fix everything. They don't, but they give me the space to navigate change in a fast-paced world like ours while saving some compassion for the next person.

Big thanks to @elizabethbit and @silversaver88875 for keeping this contest running since its inception and for creating a safe space where women can share their stories. It's amazing, and I can't wait to connect with more of you.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!🤗