"Why I Wear It"
I’m talking about my mental health and why I wear my Recognised Mental Health Popon with pride. Mental health for me has been a constant battle for the last 10 years of my life, but it was only when I turned 20 I decided I needed to do something about it. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and started therapy as well as antidepressants. I desperately needed help, I know this now. I needed to learn how to cope with the waves of extreme emotion I was frequently experiencing and how to not let it control me but rather how I could control it.
I named my “down days”, blue days and still to this day I call my days by blue or pink, (pink of course being a good day). I have had various forms of therapy to help me understand why I can sometimes feel the way I do. I have been on antidepressants and also come off them and I practice a lot of self love and anxiety relief through meditation and yoga. All of which have helped me in both different and effective ways.
During some of my darkest times I wrote a diary. Never before had I done so, but I found writing a form of release from my mind going into overdrive. So everytime I felt something, didn’t go somewhere due to the anxiety, didn’t wash for days from exhaustion or even leave my bed because of obsessive thoughts, I wrote it down. Maybe one day I will have the courage to share it… but for now, let’s get to why you’re here reading this today… I promise it’s not miserable from here (haha), simply positive and unifying.
I have partnered with Recognised for their “Why I Wear It” campaign. Recognised brings together amazing causes with beautiful products and to raise awareness, spark conversation and bring solidarity around some of the biggest issues we face today. You can choose to support causes such as mental health, modern slavery, cancer support and motherhood, and their WhyIWearIt campaign shares real life stories from people who have been affected by these causes.
Recognised’s concept is simple:
Step 1: Pick a base (choose from a bangle or necklace)
Step 2: Pick your Popon (Each Popon supports an important cause and 100% of the profits are donated to their partner charities)
I opted for the bangle with the Dove Popon to recognise and support Mental Health. It has a special meaning to me for many reasons, of course a few are listed above. I also love that a Dove is a symbol of love, peace and a messenger. I often share mental health tips on my Instagram to my audience which I know can make a difference from the responses I’ve received. Which I guess means I’m doing something right, right?
Now more than ever and maybe because I’m through the worst of it (I hope), I think it’s important to speak up and help others struggling with their mental health to not feel alone. I mean it when I say, no matter how hard it might feel to reach out to someone at your lowest, I promise doing so will make you feel a million, trillion times better about what you’re going through. Being a part of this campaign and knowing I am not the only one wearing my Dove Popon to show my understanding and share my experience with mental health means the world. Knowing there are other courageous women and men who have struggled with their mental health and are now sharing their stories with others, brings me a sense of relief. I am not crazy, I am not the only one who has felt this way or who on occasion wakes up and cries for the whole day.
Talking about mental health needs to be normalised, which is why I am honoured to be working with Recognised to do just that. WhyIWearIt is a campaign which celebrates vulnerability, honesty and weakness as the biggest forms of strength. I hope if you’re reading this and are currently facing some struggles of your own that this encourages you to do something about it and not suffer in silence. You’re not alone. I promise. One thing my therapist always told me was, “this feeling is temporary, it won’t last forever”. I hold on to that and still to this day tell myself that over and over. Every time I feel blue. Because just like every storm, it too shall pass.
Each Recognised Statement Popon® worn helps recognise others around us and brings solidarity. 100% of profits from every Popon sold are donated to Recognised’s incredible partner charities. The Mental Health Popon profits are donated to Student Minds and MQ: Transforming Mental Health.
Available to purchase from www.recognisedstore.com and www.johnlewis.com.
You can choose either a bangle or necklace in silver, rose gold or gold and add as many Popons as you wish to support.
You can use my promotional code ALEX15 for 15% off Recognised Sets.
Disclaimer: Not sponsored. I chose to write this as part of a wider campaign I am working on with Recognised.