18/10/2026
๐ฆ๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐กโ
This week, I want to talk about something a little more serious than our usual porch conversations.
๐ ๐๐ก๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐.
I've had a difficult few days, and while I'm not going to get into the details, I do want to share something that I think is incredibly important.
๐๐'๐ ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ.
Sometimes we don't even recognise how much we're struggling until we find ourselves reacting to things in ways we normally wouldn't. We get overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, withdrawn, or just feel like we're not quite ourselves.
And sometimes we convince ourselves that we should be able to sort it all out on our own.
But we don't have to.
I've been reminded this week just how important it is to ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐.
A friend, a family member, your GP, a mental health professional. Somebody.
And yes, getting the right support can take time. Sometimes you have to make phone calls, wait for appointments, ask questions, and advocate for yourself when you really don't feel like you've got the energy to do any of it.
But please don't let that stop you from taking the first step.
There's no shame in struggling with your mental health. There's no shame in needing medication, therapy, or just somebody to sit and listen.
And there's certainly no prize for suffering in silence.
One thing I've learned is that sometimes taking care of yourself means admitting that you can't manage everything on your own.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐น ๐๐ผ๐'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐.
And please, don't isolate yourself because you think you're a burden or because you're embarrassed about what you're going through.
Reach out. Have the conversation. Ask for help.
You deserve to feel better, and you deserve support while you're figuring out how to get there.
For anyone here in the UK who doesn't know where to start, you can contact your GP, or call NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health support in England. Samaritans are also available on 116 123 if you just need somebody to talk to.
And if you're the person somebody reaches out to, please listen. You don't have to have all the answers. Sometimes simply being heard makes a difference.
๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐, ๐๐ผ๐ผ.
Welcome home, y'all.
โ Jen
