Sane New World: Let's Kick Mental Illness In The Face

This is a book review, yes I know that I'm not a book blog but it has been a big part of my life these past few days. I want to share this newfound tool with the world and hopefully help a few of you with the same issues. I have never been one to hide my mental illness on my blog, I don't feel like I should have to, it's nothing I should feel ashamed about and if you get offended by me talking about it then I think you have a few issues of your own.

Over the years and more prominently the past couple if months, I have used millions of tools suggested by millions of different people, some with mental illness and some without. All have been helpful, but only in frustratingly minimal amounts. Picture a really big rock and you know for a fact there's a giant diamond in the middle, you start to pick up all of these tools like pick axes and chainsaws and each one takes off a teeny tiny chunk of the rock. The rock is gradually getting smaller but it will take hundreds of years to reach the diamond. This is how I feel about my depression. It sucks it really does, but I am now more determined then I have ever been about anything in life to kick it in the hoo hah! 

Apps and meditation will only get you so far but actually knowing and understanding how and why it happens gives you so much more power over it. Understanding why your brain is reacting and making you feel the way you do gives you more knowledge on how to control it, how to prevent it or in some cases get rid of it. Ruby Wax's book Sane New World is absolutely fascinating and informative. I bought it because someone mentioned that they were reading it on my comments and I instantly thought I should give it a shot. It does go into the nitty gritty of neuroscience which some may zone out of. I personally find it fascinating and it has given me so much information on what is happening in my brain that I feel so much better when it comes to counteracting things like negative thoughts. A lot of the time, for me anyway, it's the fear of not knowing why your body is reacting the way it does, you panic thinking maybe their is something actually physically wrong with you, but no, apparently it's just the many areas and chemicals in your brain jumbling together and all working at once, imagine your brain is Primark on a Saturday and all the people are different chemicals and signals in your brain, exactly, it's terrifying. 

For the first time in a very long time I feel like I could have the power to control and monitor my emotions, I'm nowhere near fixed or fully in control but I feel like I have the strength and determination to do it. Thank you to Victoria Chapman who introduced me to this amazing book and thank you to Ruby Wax for letting me know that we are all wired the same and we have the power, as humans, to feel whatever we do and do not want to feel.

Do you have or know anyone who suffers with a mental illness? What tools do you use to cope?