Little ripples will cause waves of change

We need to talk about mental health, that much we already know. But I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess there are millions of people with stories of struggle and suffering, but also of recovery and strength hidden away inside them. 

It's these stories the world needs to hear more of so that perceptions of mental illness change, so the stigma is smashed. But how can people find the courage to speak up? Who goes first? Well, here's a thought...what if that person was you? 

I could reel off a compendium of quotes which remind me why I talk openly about my battle with anxiety and anorexia, my favourites are "You have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs" and "be the change you wish to see in the world."

It's reading about other people's recovery which first inspired me to be open about mine. I knew hearing about their fight gave me hope I could do the same. Knowing I wasn't alone battling with an eating disorder was comforting. I realised that I shouldn't be ashamed about it. It helped me find my voice, it made me realise it's Time to Talk. 

Since the day I realised this, my aim has not been to cause waves with my voice alone, but to inspire other's to find theirs, to join in and create their own ripples. To speak up. Today I felt this ripple effect.

Through my own recovery blog and tweets I met a young woman in Staffordshire being treated at the same eating disorders unit as me. When we first hugged, she was frail, broken and scared. She had no voice, she was fearful of her own mind. I could see myself two years prior right there in front of me. Since then, she's fought (hard) to find that hidden voice, the courage to be herself.  Why am I telling you about her? Well, today she's the focus of a week-long 'Exploring Eating Disorders' special on Signal 1 News. 

This is the power of the ripple in action. Through me talking openly about eating disorders, it's reassured her it's okay to do the same. This is the first time Sarah Pustkowski has been this open with her mental health problems. It's still not easy to talk about mental health, that's why we need to keep fighting and talking.

It was powerful for me as a journalist to interview her and I have no doubt that in her finding her voice and sharing it on the radio to more than 300,000 listeners, her ripple will be contributing to the wave.

Sarah and I enjoying recovery together.

What I do know is that each contributing ripple makes a difference. We can't create world-changing waves alone, nope, but if everyone who shared their experience of mental illness inspired just one other person to be brave, we'd have a tsunami on our hands. 

You go first?

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Listen to the EXPLORING EATING DISORDERS news special HERE
Get help from BEAT (the eating disorders charity) HERE

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”― Robert F. Kennedy

Talking Anorexia & Busting Myths

How are more people going to understand eating disorders? How are more people going to be able to ask for help? How are we going to keep mental health in the forefront of MP and doctors minds?

Answer: We need to keep talking about it. (or shouting about it where necessary!) 

Break the Silence of anorexia. Talk about it.

Let's be honest, they're pretty damn complex and confusing, for the sufferer and everyone else.

 But a fear of the unknown and misunderstanding of eating disorders does two things; It traps sufferers in silence, scared of being judged for their illness and it creates a stigma around what eating disorders REALLY are and who really suffers. 

The only way to tackle both head on is to start conversations, educate, expose talk and try and get our heads around the nitty gritty, often sensitive and scary issues surrounding eating disorders. 

And that's what I did today. 

You can hear my open and honest interview about my own battles with anorexia with Perry Spiller on BBC Radio Stoke for the next 7 days on the BBC iPlayer HERE  (or click the logo)

If you're struggling with an eating disorder or are worried about a family member or friend please get help and get in touch with someone:-

BEAT - The UK's eating disorder charity 

Mind Charity - The mental health charity

Team Recovery - An online support network of 'Recovery Ninjas' I co-founded

If you're a fellow 'media lovie' who'd like to SHOUT about mental health and talk about eating disorders, please, please take time to read Time to Change and BEAT's Media Guidelines.

Everyone mentioned here can also be found on Twitter.