Everyone has thoughts and problems racing through their mind, but it is how we choose to deal with them that determines how much they affect us. That is where talking comes in.

We all know there are many reasons why we do not talk about our thoughts and problems. It might be a secret, you might be too embarrassed, you might worry what the other person is going to think or say. Some people see it as a weakness if they cannot solve their problems on their own.

Different ways to talk

I think it is important to remember there are many ways of talking and not all of them require you to speak. For some people, their minds start racing when they get into bed. For this, I find it helps to have a little notebook by my bed so I can write the thought down to remove it from my mind and I know it can wait until the morning.

I find a diary can be helpful if you want to have a good rant or moan about things. It could be that talking to a teddy bear could work if you feel you need to say things out loud but not talk to a person. This is something that I do, and it certainly helps. One thing to remember is it does not matter what people think of our methods if it helps us and our mental health.

The most important thing to do is to talk and not let our thoughts or problems overwhelm us. It may seem scary and hard to do, however you will feel a lot better for it in the long run. One day I was watching YouTube, and someone said, “It’s okay to say, you are not okay.” That is something I think we should all remember, admitting you are not okay is not a weakness, it is a great strength we all need to recognise. Do not be afraid to ask for help.

By Nicola Martin