Mental Health Awareness Week, kindness and blogging in the Community...

3 minute read time.

 The words Mental health awareness week, kindness and blogging on the Community. Written in red over a picture of some green wood in the shape of a heart

It’s Mental Health Awareness this week in the UK and the theme this year is ‘being kind’.

Today we’re exploring different ways of using shared experience in the Community to help protect your mental health, plus as a kindness to other members.

"I still take comfort in the many kind words of wisdom given on this forum."
 Peanut123, Bereaved spouse forum

"Thank you so much for taking the time to reply,  your kindness and for sharing your personal experiences. Your words read like sunshine on the page." 
Kralc, Ovarian cancer group

We regularly see the benefit of members sharing their perspective, as it can be not only feel helpful to put your thoughts on paper, but it can be such a kindness to others. Finding someone to talk to, who has been through similar experiences can mean so much when you feel scared or alone.

"Thank you so much for your kind words, after posting I began to have second thoughts as it sounded so much like me, me, me... but i'm glad I got it down."

McleodWomb (uterus) cancer forum

When member Hartley26 was diagnosed, they posted here in the cervical cancer group for support, but could also see how sharing their story could also be helpful for others.

"I'm hoping this group will help me get through this tough time, as I want to stay strong for my family."

"Let's keep the support going for each other."

Starting a blog helped Hartley26 share her experience through diagnosis and treatment plan decisions, to sitting in the hospital awaiting admission for surgery.

"It has really helped writing my feelings down and I would hope that my blog will help others in the future."

 "I find that writing down helps me massively to get my thoughts out and into words that makes sense to me and to others. My brain works a lot quicker that my mouth and sometimes the words come out wrong, but writing it down allows me, my partner to make sense of what is going on in my head.

I have found the blog to be a useful tool to do this.

Life is tough, can be lonely for some people,.... others can feel claustrophobic by their families, ... if it helps just one person to feel supported then I did a good job."

You can read through Hartley26’s blog here and I am sure you will join me in wishing them a good recovery following their surgery today.

A silver laptop with a notepad next to it with a pen down the middle of the pages.

Meet 'Vijster and Colin'...

However you choose to blog, it can be helpful to share, both for your own mental health, but also as a kindness to others.  Member vijster has a very distinctive tone in their blog, using humour to help get through some of the toughest times. Vijster has re-named her diagnosis ‘Colin’ and you can read the amazing blog ‘Colin & Me’ here.

Member JoDec also started a blog in the Community a few years ago:

"I think a blog will help me face fears, accept what's to come and plan for what maybe! It will record my thoughts, jumbled as they are, my fears, as they arise and my plans in an effort to regain control of my mind, body and life."

JoDec still returns to update the story (click here for the full blog), looking back at that time.

"How wasy it has been to forget how my life was impacted by all of this, turned upside down and rattled till everything fell out and smashed."

"It took a long time and a lot of fighting to find all the pieces and put everything back together, to achieve some kind of normality."

I hope that blogging has been helpful in that process, JoDec, and thank you to you and all our members who share their perspective in the Community. Not only can have a positive effect on your mental health, it such a kind way of supporting people going through similar experiences.

Do you use diaries or blogging through your cancer experience? Please do comment below, or email us at community@macmillan.org.uk to let us know how this has helped you or others.

Anonymous