How do you manage your mental health? Too often the stigma around mental health prevents people who need help from seeking it.

For many years I suffered with my mental health. Out of the blue I was diagnosed with psoriasis in 1997 and later developed psoriatic arthritis. I had never heard of psoriasis and didn’t know anyone with it. We didn’t have Google back then and found there was little information & support.

Psoriasis

Both can be chronic conditions and debilitating. I suffered for eighteen long years and often felt like I was on a roller coaster. It affected the skin on my hands, knees, elbows and other areas including my scalp. My joints were often very painful and I gained weight due to that and some of the medications I had been prescribed. It had effects on my mental health.

After transforming my life, I now enjoy Stand Up Paddle, hiking and walking the Brecon Beacons, which are on my back door, with my dog, Ralph and grand-dog, Patch. You’ll also find me sometimes “working” by Llangorse Lake or Bryn Bach Parc – my offices away from the “home” office – because I love being in nature.

Nature can generate positive emotions such as calmness, joy, and creativity and facilitate concentration. Connecting with nature is also associated with lower levels of poor mental health, particularly lower depression and anxiety.

Blue Fin SUP

I am naturally drawn to green space and water. I love to paddle board and am an Ambassador for Bluefin SUP, a stand-up paddle board brand, something that I would never have envisaged for myself.

Paddle boarding is one of the fastest-growing sports and I enjoy that you can go as easy or hard as you feel with a session. I have visited some lovely canals, rivers, beaches and coves and have seen many beautiful views and spotted some dolphins in Cardigan Bay. Time spent on the water in nature supports my well-being. SUP has taken me to views I would never have experienced on foot. It can be enjoyed individually but is also social, I have met some great friends through SUP.

I highly recommend SUP as a hobby and sport but I recommend you book a session with a coach. I did this early on my SUP journey. I learnt skills including techniques and self-rescue which improved my confidence on the water.

More info on Blue Fin SUP

Regular exercise will bring changes to your body, your metabolism, health and more. Clinical trials have proven how exercise is a powerful tool against anxiety.

So how does this work? Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins which are peptides produced in the brain that block the perception of pain and increase feelings of well-being.

Cold Water Therapy

Cold water therapy is one of the fastest, easiest, and most natural ways to reset your body and mind. I have been a fan of cold water therapy since developing a passion for SUP, paddle boarding and enjoying its benefits. I have dipped at some beautiful locations but it’s not always practical or convenient to travel for a dip regularly to experience benefits. I found a way to enjoy the benefits of regular dipping at home. My

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