-Amy Walker
Hello, I’m Amy Walker from Under
the Surface. I am an 18 year old blogger in Scotland that currently blogs
in her spare time. My blog posts are based on things I am passionate about such
as my personal experiences and opinions. I also blog regularly about mental
health.
What has inspired you
to share your story?
When I discovered that my mental health problem had a name
and diagnosis rather than it being a bad habit, I took great comfort in reading
about others who have Dermatillomania. I would search it on twitter and read
blog posts about it. I started blogging shortly after and was asked to write a
piece for Stigma Fighters Teen. Writing for them made me realise that not only
were there other people who suffered from mental health issues, but they were
also incredibly passionate about helping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental
health. The sense that there was a real community of people on the Internet and
on social media, who were collectively working together to reduce the stigma
around mental health, was something that I really wanted to be involved in.
Has telling your story
helped you?
Each time I tell my story through blog posts on various
sites, I feel refreshed. It is a little reminder that, again, it is not a bad
habit but something much stronger that I am trying to fight. These little
reminders are important, especially in situations where I tend to question
myself and ask myself why I do certain things. Writing about mental health
issues has allowed me to combine my passion for writing and my avid interest in
mental health. This has not only helped me, but also has allowed me to do
something that I enjoy and makes me happy.
Has telling your
story helped anyone else?
I really hope so! I can’t say for sure because Dermatillomania
is not well known about and a lot of people suffer without knowing they have
it. However, I feel that I am achieving my main aim, which is to raise
awareness about many different mental health conditions.
What did you find
hardest about sharing your story?
It is the hurdle I have still not jumped which is sharing it
with people I know. I am only close to a few people in my personal life who are
aware I have Dermatillomania. However, they don’t know that I write about it.
Those that are not close to me have no idea about either. I have planned to
share my blog soon, but I want to get into a routine and build more of a
community first.
Do you have advice
for someone who is thinking of sharing their story?
If you are nervous then you can test the waters by Guest Posting
on other sites, which gives you the opportunity to distance your story from
your personal social media/site. You can also remain anonymous until you have
received some feedback and are more confident with your decision to share your
story.
Do you have any
useful information on your mental health condition?
Dermatillomania is one of many body
focused repetitive behaviour conditions. The condition involves repeatedly
picking at areas of the body. Personally, I pick at skin on my scalp on a daily
basis. I also occasionally pick at my face and lips. Although the condition is
something that I do to myself physically, it is to do with what is going on in
my mind. Dermatillomania is often linked to other mental health conditions such
as OCD and anxiety.
For those who suffer with conditions such as Dermatillomania, information and helpful advice can be found on the following websites:
http://www.skinpick.com/dermatillomania
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dermatillomania/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.bandbacktogether.com/dermatillomania-resources/
Booking an appointment with your GP can also provide support in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
Are you interested in getting involved in The Power of Story Telling Blog series? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch blog@studentminds.org
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