- I grew up on one of the roughest estates in Leeds, Drugs Alcohol and constant fighting, Crime was at a all time high and all done in plain sight, people climbing though their neighbours windows and robbing their house middle of the day and then going door to door selling what they have just stolen to pay for their drugs, looking back now i laugh becuase that takes a huge set of go-nads. Me, My two brother and Mum and Her Partner and his 3 kids all under one roof living in a four bedroom house, Yes my mums parnter not my dad but i called him dad for as long as i can remember. Your probably wondering where did dad go? well he left my mum and moved away…Next door. YES he moved right next door to us with his new partner which actually was my mums partners sister, take about keeping things in the family. Anyhow my dad lived his life and had another 2 kids with the neighbour, at a young age been able to see your dad and watch him raise your two little half brother but not raise you was heart breaking and tough, a small edge between the house is what seperated us yet as a child i couldnt of felt further away from my dad.
- Living in a four bedroom house with so many people in it you would think we would all be close and tight knit but it was the complete opposite, arguments over everything and anything, having to go to school and play out in hand me downs or clothes from the local charity shop or car boot sales and finding out your mum bought your best friends old clothes for you to wear! Now im not giving my mum a fair shout she had three of her own kids to raise plus 2 more from the new relationship which were both older than us and both girls, so three boys and two girls in a small house is tough on its own, she did a great job at keeping me alive but sadly we lost the value of relationships.
- The roughest council estate in leeds – what a statement to make, yet im confident it was more like the roughest council estate in England. Leaving your front door stuck fear into your heart as you just didnt know if some local druggy was outside and going to beat you up, or if the local bullies were waiting for you to steal your shoes, yes they would punch you kick you black and blue just to take your second hand shoes, on that note i remember when my mum bought me my first ever skate board, i was so happy a brand new skate board not second hand new and its all mine, i went onto the street to play and show my friends, within 5 minutes it was stolen by the neigbours that lived 5-6 houses away, crying i ran into my house and told my mum and she was so mad, she stormed out of the house dragging me along to their house to demand the skate board back, mum confronting another mum and saying what had just happened all while the theif stood their holding my brand new board, his mum says NO i bought him that today and i have the recipt, well turns out she didnt but the threats of smashing all our windows was payment enough for me to lose the board.
- Welcome to the Broadleas in the late 80s to early 90s
Introduction
- A journey though the life of an council estate raised kid! My earliest memories of my childgood was walking outside early morning to get to school early to play football with friends and as i pass my garden gate and look down the street to see who and what is about before i start my five minute walk i see a car on its roof spinning on fire, this was actually quiet the norm in the area i grew up in. One of the first things i learnt as a child was i have two options in life run or fight! and as a middle child wanting to protect my eldest brother and my younger brother i subconsciously picked fight. Learning how to throw a decent punch was way more important growing up on a couil estate than knowing maths and English.
- We pass though the years and tramu that awaits me and see how my lifes shapes into the man i have become and at what price i paid to free myself from the shackles of drugs and prison
Self Isolation…
Good day to you all, I hope you are all coping well during the self Isolation/lockdown period.
Been isolated away from friends and family is a very difficult thing regardless of your mental health but if you already suffer with mental health then this is extremely hard. It’s easy to just sit back and try to relax, binge watch TV or films but your mind is inactive and mental health illness will creep in and take over!
My advice is to try keep your mind and body active as often as possible, any household jobs you have been wanting to do that you can do! Let’s get them DONE. If you have no jobs to do then let’s work on some home exercises, What have you been doing to stay fit and healthy?
During the lockdown period we all need to help each other! Let’s communicate and keep social interaction going. Why not try read a book? Maybe do some crosswords? Or if you have family dust down the good old monopoly and game old school 🙂
I wish everyone the best of mental Health and a great day, im here to talk and help find tasks to do to keep the mind busy and active ❤️
Depression…
What is depression?
To anyone who has or as suffered with depression this may seem like a silly and simple question but to those who have not here’s the low down. Having depression is quite simply the silent killer, depression is a mental health illness and having it doesn’t make you any less of a person although it makes you feel worthless and useless. I once spoke to a therapist regarding my own mental health and the way they described it was spot on, Life is a rainbow when your young its full of colours and you find more and more as you grow up and when something bad/negative happens in your life your rainbow gains a black band though the middle and the more negative impacts you have on your life the band grows. And the rainbow is your emotional field some days its all bright and happy and the next you could be in this black band where everything is dark and horrible. I was told to picture the rainbow with the black band though it when I was feeling down and to remember I will be back into the colours in no time and the black band is only a small section of my life.
Having depression is mentally exhausting as your always thinking…. Your lost in your own mind and no way to escape! You isolate yourself from family and friends and work, then your left alone with your thoughts and this is the dangerous silent killer. The best way to describe depression is to imagine been trapped in a cave, dark and been reminded of all the bad things in life and negative situations! With no way out your left with the dreaded option many decide to take which is suicide. 😭
I try and make an attempt for people to understand so they know how someone is feeling who suffers with mental health illness. The best advice I can give is firstly contact your GP and make an appointment even the discussion and telling someone helps then any medication and treatment that follows will put you on the correct path. My second would be to then speak to family and friends, this can be hard but they love you and will support you and understand your situation. Third and last is to try and get out and have a walk or run to clear your mind and keep healthy.
I have a open door policy to anyone who suffers with mental health, im happy to talk and help people though this. Sometimes just having someone you can text and let your anger, frustration, or sadness out on can be a great help.
The Journey Begins
Hi and welcome to my blog. My name is Karl and I will be writing about my life, mental health, and life coaching.
What is life coaching? This is a method used to help people identify things within their lives and to help those towards overcoming obstacles within their lives. We don’t straight out tell you what to do and when, but rather guide you down the path so you can have your own eureka moment!
What is Mental Health? This is a very broad subject, but we will be focusing on depression and anxiety for the time being, however, if you wish to discuss other mental health issues we will. Depression is also described as low mood, and is also different for most people, but the common factor is feeling sad, worthless and alone. Anxiety is a feeling that can be overwhelming and affect your confidence and social interaction on a daily basis, Anxiety is where you’re over thinking a situation in the most negative way possible and become hot and sweaty and even faint. Later we will discuss tips and advice.
Why can I help? The truth of the matter is I may not be able to help! Although I can tell my stories and you may find things in common and relate and understand you’re not alone! I’ve had depression now for over five years and now I can truly smile again and be social, I’m not cured nor is there a cure, but we can all learn to cope and move forward to live a close to normal life.
My Mind And Me 