World Mental Health Day was at the weekend and people were sharing their journeys, their tips, their encouragement and their support.
It is so important to talk about our mental health. Looking after our mental wellbeing is just as crucial as looking after our physical health. They exist in tandem - if one falls down, the other suffers too.
When I was in my early 20s I suffered so badly with anxiety and panic attacks. I remember the first time it happened. I was alone in my house in Belfast. I didn't understand what was happening but I felt like I was about to die.
My heart was racing and pounding, my palms were sweaty, I felt sick, I was breathless, I was dizzy, I felt I was going to pass out, that something really terrible was about to happen.
Those horrible incidents played out again and again with varying degrees of severity for a couple of years. As a young reporter I'd feel the panic rise in my stomach at work and I'd have to go into the bathroom or sit in my car until it passed over me, come back as if nothing had happened and carry on. I told no one about it.
Those were days when mental health wasn't addressed properly. No one talked about it, it was totally taboo. I didn't even know it was a mental health issue.
I just thought that there was something terribly wrong with me and convinced myself that no one could help. I thought I was stuck with this horrible thing forever.
There were days when I was having three panic attacks. There is nothing worse than your body seemingly turning on you and having to fight a constant battle inside. And fight it alone because no one could possibly understand. It was utterly exhausting.
Then I started hitting back against it. I'd just had enough and wasn't willing to let this break me. I discovered exercise helped keep them at bay, Rescue Remedy spray, taking time out to self care, looking after myself more, cutting down alcohol, making healthier choices.
I took my power back, took power back from them and beat them down. After a time the attacks became less frequent and then they stopped altogether, I totally forgot about them and got on with my life.
Two years ago I was standing beside Lyra McKee when she was murdered and what followed was an intense time of trauma, intimidation, threats and stress.
I developed insomnia and anxiety and, just as lockdown was declared, I added to that particularly awful trilogy as the dreaded panic attacks returned with a vengeance.
This time around, older and wiser I suppose, I decided early on it wasn't going to consume me again, because I knew how awful it was before.
I sought help straight away. I talked about it, I reached out. I got counselling. I worked on ways to pip it to the post. I embraced meditation, yoga, self care, exercise, even hippy crystals and all the beautiful things in my life.
I spoke to my doctor and was assured there was medication there if I needed it. I felt supported, not alone.
It took a little while, a lot of work and great help - but the difference this time around was that I had no shame in talking about it.
I wanted to feel well and there was 'a thing' stopping me from doing that, so I moved to fix it. It takes courage to ask for help, but a lot of great people have made speaking about mental health completely normal.
Those working to promote mental wellbeing and those who have shared their journey took away the stigma and I hope that in talking about my own experiences I can add something to that conversation.
In my house we talk about mental health in the same way we talk about physical health. If you have a sore arm we go to the doctor and get it sorted. The same if we feel our head isn't right. There is no taboo, there is no stigma.
Both are weighted equally and both are crucial to us feeling and functioning well. Importance is placed on self care and looking after our entire selves.
My kids know they can talk to me if they are not feeling good and we'll sort it. It's not a big deal. Everything is fixable.
I hope that today finds you well. I hope that if it doesn't, you talk to someone. Anxiety and depression can make you feel so very alone, like no one gets how you feel. But plenty get it, plenty understand.
There is help out there when you ask for it. You are not alone. Take good care of yourself.
