From people who have been through it

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are three weeks ago so switching meds for the third time so today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something and it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“to whoever needs this: i was where you are in february. nobody at school had heard of it. today i made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I'm not going to tell you everything happens for a reason. It doesn't. But you can get through it. I did, and I'm not especially strong. Try not to make big decisions on the worst days and I learned that the hard way.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the autumn. Feeling useless. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: my body remembering before my mind does was my lowest point. A year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“If you're just starting this, the first thing I'd say is open the post. I know it's scary. I know the red letters make your stomach drop. But the not knowing is worse. Call someone, anyone: the council, a debt charity, even just a friend who can sit with you while you do it. You don't have to fix it all at once. Just start with one envelope.”

“If you're facing eviction, get on the council list early. They take forever. Keep your phone charged. Ask for help. I swim to stay sane. Find your swim. It's scary but you can get through. I'm still here.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last month. Married with children and only now admitting it to myself. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: telling his parents was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time. Praying for strength.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in January. Checking my pulse all the time. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“When doctors say the scans are normal and you still hurt, it's easy to doubt yourself. Don't. Pain is real even when it doesn't show up on a screen. Find one person who believes you, and hold onto the good weeks. I still have bad ones, but I've learned to plan around them. You will too. And if you can, get a buddy. Someone who gets it without you having to explain.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last year. A hostel bed. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the autumn. My degree not recognised. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feelnig in your fingers after the cold.”

“for anyone starting with the mirror stuff: it starts with one comment and then it lives in your head rent free, which is rude. what helped me was noticing how much time I gave to strangers on Instagram and how little to Clive or Kemar or my own lunch. I am not fixed, not even close. But I stopped weighing myself before work. small. do one small thing that is yours and not about how you look, even if it is just eating the chicken with the skin on.”

“I'm not ging to tell you everything happens for a reason. It doesn't. But you can get through it. I did, and I'm not especially strong. Try not to make big decisions on the worst days. I learned that the hard way.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are at the start of the year. Learning to use a wheelchair. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I'm not going to tell you everything happens for a reason and it doesn't and but you can get through it. I did, and I'm not especially strong so keep one thing of theirs close. For me it's his jumper.”

“I'm not going to pretend it's easy. Losing a job sucks. The ghosting, the silence, the way people look at you. But you're not the only one. I found a training course, met some people. It's small but it's something. Don't stay in the shed too long. And answer at least one message a day. Even if it's just to say you're okay.”

“Not sure if this helps, but please be gentle with yourself. I wasn't, and it made everything harder. Talk to your union if you have one, they were brilliant for me. And talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are at the start of the year, leaving accounting. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something so it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are two months ago. Pacing my day in spoons. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are after the new year. Married with kids and only now admitting it to myself. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the summer. Heart rate jumping to 140 when I stand. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are six weeks ago. The flood took the ground floor. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last week. Mood charts on my phone. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: the kids every other weekend was my lowest point. A year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are four months ago. Colic every evening. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“If you're at the start of this, I won't pretend it's easy, the first few months were the worst of my life. But I'm writing this from the other side, and some days now I forget to be sad, the breathing thing where you breathe out longer than in actually works for me so go slowly.”

“When the debt first hit me I felt like I was going under. I kept it from my wife out of shame, which only made things heavier. What helped was finally telling someone. After that I sat down and wrote out every debt I owed, then worked out how to clear them bit by bit. It is slow going and some weeks are rough. Still, it can be done. Plenty of people have been where you are. Ask for help. Tell someone you trust. And just keep chipping away at it. That is where I am at right now.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are at the start of the year. She says it meant nothing. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the autumn. Checking the hob ten times. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“If you're at the start of this, I won't pretend it's easy. The first few months were the worst of my life. But I'm writing this from the other side, and some days now I forget to be sad. I told my siblings exactly what I needed instead of hoping they'd notice and go slowly.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are four months ago. My LinkedIn says open to work so today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something, it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last month. Moved for work and know nobody. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“If you're just starting with a teen who won't leave their room, I won't pretend I have the answers. For me, the waiting list felt endless and the exclusion letters kept coming. What helped was finding one other parent who got it. I still drive nights and Nathan still games, but we had a chat last week about nothing much. That was something.”

“When I was first diagnosed, I felt like my body had betrayed me. I was angry. I still am some days. But you learn to adapt. The pump, the hypos, the family comments. It is a lot. But you find your people. I found a diabetes nurse who listens. I found friends online who get it. You will too. Just keep going. And do not let anyone tell you what to eat at a wedding. You know your body.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in November. Shaking in the mornings. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in May. A previous loss making it worse. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold. God willing it gets easier.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in May. Financial control. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last month. HR is on their side. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I know it feels like the whole world is against you right now. It did for me. But please, tell someone. A teacher, a parent, a doctor. Don't keep it inside like I did. It eats at you. And try to find one person who makes you feel safe, even if it's just online. You are not the things they say about you. I promise.”

“When I started I was scared and everyone thought I was crazy and maybe I was a bit but you know what you can do it even when it feels impossible and you will cry in the toilets sometimes and that's okay because the next day you get up and you go again and you learn something new and then one day a patient smiles at you and you know why you did it so just keep going and don't listen to the people who say you can't because they are not you.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are at the start of the year. Five years together. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: vaping and lying was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time. Praying for strength.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in October. Scanxiety before every check. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are at the start of the year. Nobody asks how I am. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Sé que ahora todo es muy confuso. Las noches son largas y el dolor es fuerte. Pero puedo decirte que se puede salir. Al principio, todo parece imposible. Pero con el tiempo, encuentras una nueva normalidad. No te preocupes si no puedes dormir; habla con alguien. Y no tengas miedo de pedir ayuda. Tus hijos te necesitan fuerte. Un día a la vez.”

“I was sure I'd never feel normal again. I was wrong. Someone told me to do one smlal thing a day. Some days it's just a shower. Keep going, even slowly.”

“Hey, I'm not far ahead of you. I reported mine and it went nowhere, and that hurt worse than I expected. But I'm still here, still sewing badly and walking by the sea. If you're waiting on a court date or just waiting for the day to feel normal, it's slow. Find one thing that keeps your hands busy. Find one person who doesn't need the whole story. That's what's working for me, most days.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in November. Nursing on short staffed wards. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in May. The inquest. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in August. Sleeping in the chair next to her hospital bed. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: a temporary hotel room was my lowest point, and a year later I am ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are around Easter. A wig I have not worn yet. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: a spnosor I text was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“I think to whoever needs this: I was where you are back in the summer. An inpatient stay when I was 17. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“If you are just starting out with this, I won't pretend it's easy. I went to a meetup and left after twenty minutes. Christmas was a quiet day with the radio on. The phone only rings with spam now. But I've learned that small things help: feeding the birds, a chat at the library. Try to find one person who will meet you for a walk. It doesn't fix everything, but it's a start. D.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last spring. Going to a meetup and leaving early. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last year. Friends all married with kids now. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in August and panic attacks on the train so today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”