I don't know whether it's just a me thing, but I find that starting (and keeping) a new blog can be really hard. I think especially now that literally everyone and their mum's best friend's dog all have a blog and that so many people make a career out of it etc etc, it suddenly makes it a really scary and daunting thing, especially if, like me, you have an awful tendency to cripplingly doubt everything you ever think, do or say anyway.
The other thing is, I don't know if I feel I'm ALLOWED to have a blog. As in, I'm not a 'blogger'. I'm very much imperfect and messy. My hair is never neat, I look about 8 years old, live in oversized jumpers, and am most normally found crying over a dropped sock or playing hide and seek with my dog. I like apple juice and instant coffee and muddy walks, and I get all flustered and shy with pride whenever anyone starts talking about Benedict Cumberbatch. I know there's no rule anywhere to say you have to be a certain kind of person tone a blogger, but sometimes it really can feel that way.

ANYWAY. Here we go, right? I have a new blog. Just over two weeks ago, I had the amazing experience of completing my training to become a Time To Change young champion, and meeting 84 other brave, astonishingly lovely young people fiercely dedicated to changing the face of mental health and the stigma that surrounds it. I hate cliches, they make me feel so awkward and horrible inside to say - but the atmosphere that whole weekend was completely magic. I've never EVER before been in a place where there was such an unconditional sense of kindness, safety, love and respect so quickly, and all without anyone saying a word.

One particular thing really sticks in my mind from this weekend though. On the first day, we as a group were asked in passing to raise our hands if we'd ever experienced stigma towards us because of our struggles with mental health, and without even thinking, everyone did. I think even the TTC leaders were shocked, and this is what they do for a living. And I think in that moment we all automatically became united, inseparable and fiercely respectful and protective over one another too.

That's a picture frame of how mental health stigma stands in our society at the moment. BUT, right now, I think that it's important that that happened. I think we're processing it into a positive, because here you've got 85 young people who've known each other less than two days, more connected to one another and relentlessly determined to stamp out mental health stigma than ever before. And they, being the lovely folk they are, have convinced me that I CAN have a blog, and I CAN talk about things. We aren't just a diagnosis, we have Hogwarts houses, we cry with joy over dog videos, we're ready to do something about all the shit we've been put through. It's okay to start again.
Anyone who followed me over on theoverthinkingblog.wordpress.com will know that I tried to blog periodically throughout my time at uni about the struggles of coping with a degree and the horrifically inadequate state of student welfare services, and now I'm graduated (FUCK...), it's time to do something about it. So here! Here's a blog, and here's looking at you, world. Let's fight to leave mental health stigma where it belongs.