When you see those black clouds starting to roll in and feel the atmosphere start to change, when you sense the black dog as it breathes down your neck, will you tough it out or do you have the strength to allow yourself to be vulnerable?
Can you find the strength to allow yourself to be vulnerable?
You can tough it out but for how long? How long until those black clouds turn into a full scale storm? How long until the black dog starts tearing at your throat as you slowly suffocate? How long until you can’t take it anymore?
Or can you find the strength to allow yourself to be vulnerable? Allow yourself to see the storm that is approaching and say, hey black dog, I know you are there!
It takes a huge amount of strength to face that truth but once you allow yourself to accept it, you can give yourself the time you need to thrash it out, scream, cry, shout, sit in silence and eventually heel as you gradually let it go.
I know how exhausting and draining this can be and even if you only on some days manage to get out of bed, that’s OK. But please stop trying to tough it out, stop hiding in the shadows, allow yourself to be vulnerable and recognise your own mental health needs and your bodies warning signs when you are getting to that point. We need to start taking our mental health seriously. Life is too precious and beautiful to allow the black dog to win, lets stand together, support each other and look out for each other and ourselves.
Kia Kaha (stay strong) my friends