The Nathest Shave 2.0

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of R U OK? and every donation will help! Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

MY STORY

Hey everyone,

This is quite tough for me too because it involves a ton of vulnerability, which I usually shy away from, but here goes. It's been 7 years since I last completed an event, recognizing the same causes and I'm just as nervous now as I was then. The reason I have chosen to do this is because I did and still do, live with anxiety as A LOT of people also do. For people who have been through it, you feel alone and misunderstood, but truth is, it's more common than we really expect.

It was about 10 years ago now, my life was totally different. Anxiety had a relatively large stranglehold on me that prevented me from doing a lot of things, but also, it changed who I was. I stopped wanting to socialize, I didn't want to go out to events, and I almost got to a point in my life where I didn't want to leave the house. I was a shell of myself. I'd often wake up and not want to get out of bed, not go out into the big bad world. It was nauseating. Mentally and physically it drained me on a daily basis. Being the person I was, though, I told myself I wouldn't let this get me. I wouldn't let my mind enslave me. I would often push myself to do things outside my comfort zone as a way of moving forward, progressing, but it never went away. I tried many things to help me push past it including meditation, EFT (Tapping). I quit smoking (nearly 10 years strong woohoo), I quit a lot of stimulants such as red bulls/V etc. But I just couldn't shake it. Nothing I seemed to do worked.

I eventually built up enough courage to start telling people, once I had figured out exactly what it was! Probably one of the hardest things I have ever done, was talk about it and tell people what I'd been going through. Why I was absent. Some people have these physical reactions, but don't understand anxiety, so associate it with something completely different. I think talking to people and opening up, being vulnerable was the pivotal turning point for me dealing with everything. What it ultimately came down to, was the fact that I was embarrassed or ashamed, and it snowballed from there.

I still deal with it today, but I have certain copping mechanism's that I use to calm myself and a great support network that know and understand what I go through, which, I believe, is extremely important, if not, the most important, which is why I've chosen R U OKAY? as my charity of choice. They do a wonderful job and are responsible for allowing people to open up to one another in the hardest of times.

I really love their message and it resonates with me completely. In saying that, let me be that person and if you're ever feeling like you can't talk or have nobody to talk to about things you're going through. I'll be your ears. And if not me, please just reach out to someone you feel comfortable with. I promise you it will make a world of difference!

I appreciate everyone who has read this, and thank you all in advance for the donations. It means a lot! <3

Much love to everyone!

Nath xo