The Life Changing Book.. Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Oh hey guys!

So today's post is something non beauty related but super important and something I've been wanting to share for a little over a week, so here goes....

First of all, this is a topic very close to my heart and my aim is to not only introduce you to a must read within the field of depression and anxiety but also share my story in a hope of helping others. It is important that I make it perfectly clear that I am not diagnosed with depression or anxiety as I have not allowed myself to go to the relevant stages after seeing a GP, for me it is a case of someone needing to see someone more than me.

Depressive symptoms have felt like a part of my life since the time I tried to end it all around 14 years old, I never assumed or even had any idea of what was going on at the time except for the need to just end it. I think that although much has changed in the sharing and education of depression there is still a huge stigma around it with most deeming it something to be taken lightly. There are always highs with lows within depressive thoughts and feelings and it is a constant battle that you feel you are fighting alone. You can be in a room full of people and feel like the loneliest one there, you get paranoid and feel numb and yet no matter how hard you try and get someone to understand it seems to fall on deaf ears.  A lot of people don’t understand the choking feeling that comes from being in a state of depression, most people only understand anything physical like a broken bone they can only believe what they see.

One of the best things that I discovered late last year was that I wasn’t alone (within my family) and my amazing cousin too was suffering from depression (and anxiety). Trust me when I say I don’t mean that its good that she is suffering as this isn’t the case, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone it’s the most paralysing feeling. My cousin has been an amazing source of support for me and even suggested Matt Hiag’s Reason’s To Stay Alive which changed my life forever. In all shout out to the best cousin ever, I LOVE YOU EM!

Now on to the life changing book, is I was to describe it in a sentence I would say it is a total page turner of relatable events and feelings that will have you reading it in days. Hiag taps into his own experiences to almost give us a lesson that what we feel isn’t shameful and there is a future no matter what we feel in our dark times. It is important to realise that there are in fact 1 in 4 people that will experience some kind of mental health issues within their lifetime, you are not alone in these feelings that you have, you are NEVER alone.

This book doesn’t set out to define anxiety and depression, but Matt Haig has a way of articulating his own experience that will resonate deeply. The only true way to describe this book for me is: when life is squishing you down into the depths of darkness and you need someone to tell you everything is okay and that there is a light coming soon? This book is that.

I don’t know if my mini review even does this book enough justice but I encourage everyone to read it because even if you don’t personally suffer from depression or anxiety there will be someone in your life that will. If I could convince my mum to read this book I would but she doesn’t read books and she won’t change for me. As I’ve mentioned my parents aren’t understanding of what I might possibly have, they are old fashioned in only believing what is physically in front of them. Just because my mum won’t read it doesn't mean you shouldn’t even get your parents to read it, that is the beauty of the book it is an amazing insight for anyone on the lows of depression and anxiety. As it says on the cover (a quote from Joanna Lumley) ‘A small masterpiece that might even save lives.’

So to all my awesome readers I am here for you, if you need someone to talk to or you just feel alone I’m here. I know how crippling loneliness can feel and to add a condition on top of that really tests someone. You are not alone, I am here, if not me then pick up Matt Haig and trust me when I say there is a light at the end of the tunnel.