Walking on Custard

Anxiety. 

I know so many people who struggle with this, and over the past few weeks, I’ve heard a number of people speak out about it, sharing their journey and ways they have started to overcome it.

Recently, a guy called Neil Hugh's TED Talk came out, and in this he shared how he relates his anxiety to walking on custard! (Intriguing, right?!)

He spoke about how to live life less anxiously by recognising and changing our unhelpful mental habits. One thing that stood out for me was how we need to get to know ourselves more, and pay attention to the thoughts we have. A habit we tend to have with anxiety, is letting our thoughts spiral. I know I’ve done this a numerous amount of times – I’d make a comment, and straight away notice how ‘stupid’ it was. This would slowly spiral to the conclusion that the people who heard my ‘ridiculous’ comment now hated me, when in reality, they most likely didn't think anything of it. Neil explains that when we recognise our first thought, we can choose our reaction to it, and therefore we don’t have to let it spiral.

Neil really wants to encourage others to open up and speak out about anxiety and mental health.

Here’s Neil’s TED talk, it’s definitely worth a watch!

A new plan for anxious feelings: escape the custard!
Neil Hugh's TED Talk

ALUMINA

Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 8 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. You don’t need an adult to refer you or sign you up, and no-one will see or hear you during the sessions – you’ll just join in via the chatbox. We want to help you to find your next steps towards recovery, wherever you are on your journey.

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