The exhaustion. That face that I know too well and goes well beyond physical fatigue. It’s the one where I feel like I have nothing else to give. When despair sets in, when I need to create some space to let hopelessness, depression, frustration, disappointment out. I smile a lot, most of them are genuine, the reach the corners of my eyes. Sometimes I hide behind my positive nature, glass half full statements peppering my day, my heart pounding, my limbs trembling as I feel increasingly overwhelmed with something in my life that isn’t feeling right but I’m scared to talk about.
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Yes, me, the person who talks so much about the things that scare me, my mental health, my physical health, still finds times and moments when I can’t talk about it, I don’t feel safe enough to and I feel hopeless.
Over the years, I recognise it now. My cravings for chicken wings and ice cream are a telltale sign something is about to get hard to handle. Tea. Crochet. Certain pieces of music, the climbing wall, not just any wall, only @thecastleclimbingcentre Will do. Wanting to hold Simba. Feeling like I can’t leave the house. Feeling like I can’t get out of bed.
Yesterday was #worldsmentalhealthday - whether you live with a formally diagnosed condition or general life just gets a bit too much., find your warning signs, find the simplest thing that can ground you. Know that you are loved and that there are lots of organisations like @samaritanscharity are there to help.
#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #itsoktonotbeok #itsokaynottobeokay #exhaustion #depression #frustrated #upset #hopeless #despair #glasshalffull #selfcare #selfcarematters #howareyou #howareyoutoday #overwhelmed #scared #groundingtechniques #groundingmyself #despair #aproblemsharedisaproblemhalved #timetotalk #tealover #paraclimber #climbergirl
Thanks @sunnylux 📸
I am really honoured to say I’ve been included in this years Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List! This is for my climbing and my work on trying to speak about the things that we as a society are pretty awful at speaking about. For trying to support those stigmatised by society for who they are and my work in the charity field as an Ambassador for Limbpower and Ehlers Danlos Support Uk, Patron for Grit & Rick and co-Founder of Paraclimbing London.
As with any award I have received, this wouldn’t happen without the collective support I get from my family, friends, colleagues, followers, my Paralondon co-founder @spannaclimbs and our team. And finally @thecastleclimbingcentre who sponsor me and support me massively so I can be the climber I can choose to be. So to all of you, thank you. Bring on the future, I’m looking forward to it 💪
A huge congratulations to all the others that made it on the list too!
@thecastleclimbingcentre @ehlersdanlosuk @limbpower @gritandrock @paraclimbinglondon @creatingbrighterfutures
#powerlist2019 #powerlist100 #shawtrust #shawtrustpowerlist #paraclimber #climbergirl #award #bigday #happynews #disabilityadvocate #rolemodel #changemakers #bethechange #bethechangeyouwanttosee #publicspeaker #amputeegirl #luckyfin #fitmuslimah #ehlersdanlossyndrome #cancersurvivor #inflammatoryboweldisease #ibd #pcos #notalldisabilitiesarevisible #invisibledisability #chronicillness #chronicfatigue #chronicpain
“When my friend said ‘Let’s get you on a wall,’ I said, ‘You must be insane.’ I was 23, I’d had cancer and was recovering from treatment. I was born with my right arm missing below the elbow, and my left arm was massively impacted post cancer treatment. I couldn’t get my hand above my head, but I had nothing to lose so tried climbing." - @anoushehusain via Telegraph UK.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In her film, 'If I Can', Anoushe, now an accomplished paraclimber, takes her climbing outdoors.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am pinching myself to know our film is touring the UK! You can get tickets to watch it from @shewentwild.co ! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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••• #shewentwild #sheadventures #womenoutdoors #adventurewomen #womenwhotravel #womenwhohike #womenwhocreate #livewild #keepitwild #livetoexplore #radgirlslife #outdoorbella thanks @petecadman @l.a_white @gemlaurensmith @spannaclimbs @danielswissyjames for the support to get me outside 😁 thanks @ben_grubb 📸 @thecastleclimbingcentre #climbergirl #outofmycomfortzone #keepclimbing #focus
