Please continue to read. What I find upsetting and staggering in equal measures is that mental health has taken a dive in Brexit and Covid-19 and people in the world are doing nothing to pull back on their mental health and to take control.

I have been blogging for 13 years now, starting in May 2010. Six years into blogging the stats on my blog were at their highest reaching 82,000 hits in just one year. Although there are a lot of blogs to read, renewing and redesigning my website, making my website easier to navigate and more user friendly, should give each of us the opportunity to start dealing with our mental health, to start making a difference.

We are responsible 'for us'

Where we cannot be blamed for the things we have no control over, other people making decisions for us, the external influences, we are responsible for ignoring the very things that can keep us 'mentally' safe. My blogs are based around what we all deal with, not just me. They’re written in a way that helps us to understand how we can make changes, but you have to give yourself time to read through them, you have to want to do and be better. You have to want to change your attitude to mental health.

My blogs replicate each of our thoughts and feelings

Tim, a very good friend of mine, who started reading my blogs in the early years, when he first came across The CP Diary, said he initially spent an hour reading through my blogs. He couldn’t believe my thoughts and feelings on most things, were exactly how he felt also.

My blogs are based on 'what we all deal with'

And that is true. My blogs, follow the ‘universal coding’ based around what we all deal with. I write with passion about the things that affect me, affect all of us. Not to put a finer point on it, without taking control of your mental health, you're inviting illness in. My blog gives you the control back.

The world is changed through Covid-19, but we don’t have to change in that respect, mentally and emotionally. As someone disabled, I am not changed. Spirituality keeps me grounded. I am simply struggling to keep pace with the decisions the UK government have taken that are certainly not in my best interest, decisions that aren't keeping me safe. It’s why I have taken to writing about these things on my blog.

The CP Diary stats are terrible

The stats for The CP Diary belie a terrible, tragic story. While the website is getting slightly more than average hits a month, no time is spent reading my blogs. The bounce rate is low, (30–40 seconds), which means people are scooting on, turning the pages briefly, not reading and then leaving the website.

Ignoring the very thing that can make us better

It’s staggering, when something so good that fits the brief for us to make better choices, to become better people, and we're ignoring it, because it's easier to 'do nothing.' But it isn't, because mental health issues catch us up. The stats on cancer are one-in-two, not one-in-four like it used to be.

Brexit Stress

Brexit introduced divisions and divisive tendencies, losing FOM has been stressful for many. We’ve all had to cope with lifestyle changes as a result. Mental health has been massively affected. We're now living through a winter fuel crisis. That's also hit mental health with families who are now relying on food banks for food.

Covid-19 Stress

Then with Covid-19, the divisions continue with the vaccine, which is still a talking point, rightly so. Family members have fallen out over other family members making different choices and them not agreeing. Brexit and Covid-19 are each an own goal, because the consequences and ripple effects that have followed, didn’t have to happen. The government should have made better choices, but their bad choices are having 'a ripple effect' on all of our lives and our mental health, including mine.

Cancer - 1-2 people now have cancer

I have seen too many people close to me die of cancer. Let me write that again... too many people close to me, my twin being the most recent. She said she ‘forgot to tap into her’ when Covid-19 struck, but she was already struggling before Covid. We have all taken our eyes off the ball.

My 'Books'

I want you to get the best out of my writing, for my blogs to help you as much as they help me every day. You can also bring my blog into your homes and off-line too through my books, Cerebral Palsy: ‘A Story’ Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me and Survival: The Covid Years all cover mental and emotional health, but differently.

My Books are a 'tool'

My books are tools like no other. They are originals. You'll also be helping mental health charities when you buy my books. They are struggling financially to help individuals looking for support, through mental health.

Also, by buying my books, you'll be helping yourself take control, and helping me also, knowing that my books can help charities support individuals around their mental health. It is particularly true for young people, some who have found themselves sleeping rough. They are the kind of people you will be helping.

Mental Health

Mental health is a terrible thing when you're grappling with situations that can spiral into terminal illness. I have seen it happen too many times. The CP Diary platform is the perfect place for you to start your mental health journey. I don't know what more I can do to convince you? But I shouldn't need to... you have 13 years of blogs to convince you of the importance of mental health.

If you're interested in grabbing copies of my books, Cerebral Palsy: 'A Story' Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me,' or Survival: The Covid Years, you can order Kindle or paperback copies on Amazon, and through the following link https://linktr.ee/Ilana_Estelle