On Thursday, it was the yearly DONCASTER BUSINESS SHOW….
It’s something I attend every year, I was looking forward to it more this year as the number of people in the Doncaster business scene that I have as connections, know or even friends has jumped up dramatically in the last year.
After the very positive January I had, I was looking forward to the show, so much so that I had an idea for a video that would get people and businesses at the show involved, while spreading awareness for mental health, MHFC, showing the Doncaster business community and doing well on LinkedIn.
A few weeks before the show, I put the idea on LinkedIn for people to be aware of it, and to get in touch if they wanted to get involved.
Between putting the idea on LinkedIn, not going to many events throughout February and having bad sinusitis leading up to the event, my anxiety in the week leading up to the event was bad.
The days leading up to the event, I wish I hadn’t put anything on LinkedIn.
A few people said that if they were free and still at the event, they would help.
This is great and very kind, but I feel guilty with people donating their time for free, I just thought that we’d see how it goes, but I fully expected to do it myself.
As I didn’t have to pick my daughter up this year, instead of going 10am – 12pm, I went 12:30pm till the end at 4pm.
This gave me more time to chat to everyone and also more time to film for the video.
The day before the event, I was getting really bad anxiety, I didn’t sleep great the night before, and the morning of the event, my anxiety was even worse, it was the worst it’s been in a long time.
I knew that as long as I took all the stuff for the video with me, I didn’t have to do it if I didn’t want to, but if I did, I had everything there ready.
Going into the venue, my anxiety symptoms were really bad, after chatting for around 20mins, I decided not to do the video with the banner, as that was too much, but to do it with the MHFC shirts, especially as it helped with the mics.
I started to do the first few with the people and businesses I know, Dolphin ICT and Clean and Bright, Lisa from Clean and Bright then helped me get Twenty Four IT, Talk to Media and Eagl-s Embroidery.
But the anxiety was getting worse, I was badly sweating, and the thought of the number of businesses, stands, and people there was overwhelming me.
This is when Callum stepped in, Callum knew I was anxious about it and that I was struggling to do it, he’d also lent me his mics for the video.
He asked to get involved, to help and support me, THIS was the game changer, Callum took control, talking to businesses, to people and telling them what we were doing and what the video was about, and even counting down for them to say ‘MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS’.
The first video we did was with Sommer, Diaz and Alicia from Austin Banks, I told them that I was struggling, but they were very keen for me to do the video.
Between Callum, Sommer and Diaz, they’d discussed that Callum would help me until 2pm when he was leaving, and after Sommer’s talk, Diaz would help me from then on.
Again, I felt very guilty, but the support was incredible.
Me and Callum went round as many businesses as possible until 2pm, we got a lot done and I can’t thank him enough for this.
I had a little supportive chat with Gaynor along the way, and at 2pm I went to support Sommer during her presentation, which she did incredibly well with despite her nerves.
Then me and Diaz continued with the video, as Callum did, Diaz took control, talking to businesses, telling them what it’s about and counting them down, we finished off the rest of the room.
I then started to walk around by myself, to try and find other connections I knew, but I’d missed, so I could get a video of them, and because I knew them my confidence was increasing, I managed to get a few more videos.
Even though I was drained from doing the videos, talking to so many people,and being in a busy room, I was relieved I’d got all the content, I was just hoping the content was good and that I could edit it into a decent video, as video capturing and editing isn’t my expertise.
I felt drained but wired when I got home, I was looking to sort the video out over the next one or two days, but seeing how alive the LinkedIn feed was with all the content already, plus my mind wouldn’t relax until it was done, I had to do it that night.
One downside was that a few of the videos had audio issues, with a couple not having audio at all, this included Austin Banks, which I was gutted about because they helped so much.
But the video was a lot quicker to edit than I thought, and the video came out fairly decent to say it was turned around quickly.
Between 9 and 10pm I was posting the finished video on MHFC’s socials.
Thankfully, it seems that the video was received very well, and it was worth the anxiety.
I’m very glad I saw the idea through to completion, it was a good idea, but not one I thought was going to happen in the days leading up to it.
A HUGE thank you has to go to Callum, Diaz and Sommer.
As mentioned, I’d spoken to Callum about me not doing the video and wishing I hadn’t posted about it, so he knew I was struggling.
He’d lent me the mics for the video, which I wouldn’t have thought about, and looking back now, if I didn’t have the mics, the video would not have been anywhere near as successful as it was without the mics.
BUT, IF Callum hadn’t helped me in the beginning by taking control of the video, the video either wouldn’t have happened at all, or would have had very few businesses involved.
So thank you Callum, I hugely appreciate and thank you for your help.
Likewise with Diaz, once Callum had left, she got involved, took control and helped me massively.
And Sommer, not only did she have a talk with me about anxiety and that I should do the video and she really supported me, but Sommer also organised for Diaz, her employee, to go round and help me, this is on the day of the busy Business Show, I have huge thanks and respect for her to organise and let Diaz help me.
Overall, I was happy with the result of the video and the attention it got on LinkedIn.
Again though, I’m shown the true value and power of having people around you that truly support, encourage and want the best for you.
People knew the idea, but also knew I was struggling, and stepped up to help and do whatever they could for me to help see it through.
Having these types of people around you at events, in business and in life is so powerful and helps you to achieve things you want, things that maybe you struggle to make happen without that extra support and encouragement.
Thank you to Callum, Sommer, Diaz, Gaynor, Lisa, and everyone else who supported me on the day and everyone who liked, commented and shared the video.
And thank you to Heather for backing the idea.
I know there were a lot more people I know at the event, and we either didn’t see each other, or went at different times, so I apologise for not getting you in the video as well.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE – https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7432902953398755328
CLUB100 NETWORKING….
I felt quite drained from Thursday, but I wanted to push myself and attend the networking event at The Crown Hotel.
To show myself I could do it, show others struggling what’s possible and for me to push my anxiety.
It was a quieter event, but it was still good to attend and especially with the food that was being offered!!
When I got home, I was definitely happy I went, but I was feeling even more drained, and I was very worried about how I’d be feeling the next morning as I was attending the DRFC game.
DRFC GAME….
I had very mixed feelings about this, I was still drained from Thursday and Friday, but I wanted to push myself again, push my anxiety and not let Wayne and Lisa down, as they had gifted their hospitality tickets.
I’m currently still struggling to attend games that aren’t in hospitality due to my anxiety, it’s something I’m trying to get over, and I’ve spoken about before.
I’ve been in a box quite a few times, but I was anxious and drained as I was hosting and for 5 or more hours, today I wasn’t hosting, so I felt more at ease, and I didn’t have to be there for as long hosting as I was just watching the game.
The downside is that you’re in your seat and not directly next to a box, I prefer standing and knowing that, being next to a box, I can at any point return to the box and still watch the game, especially if I’m tending up due to the cold.
So it was important for me to attend and push myself, my anxiety and exposure therapy.
The seats helped a lot as they were at the end of a row.
It also helped that there were quite a few friendly faces there, and at the end I was very thankful to spend time with Carol, Marcus and Alicia on the Pass Logistics table, again, good supportive people that are cheering you on and wanting the best for you.
Carol was so welcoming, supportive and encouraging to me, I can’t thank her enough for her support as she made things a lot easier for me.
They even invited me out to go for drinks in town, but unfortunately, on this occasion I wasn’t able to, but definitely next time, as I’d love to spend more time with them, I certainly appreciated the offer and them including me though.
I also can’t thank Wayne and Lisa enough for the hospitality tickets as they knew it would help me.
Out of the three days, I was the most drained that night and worried about Sunday morning as I was meant to be at the MHFC Sunday session, and I could feel a tension headache coming on.
MHFC SUNDAY SESSION….
Thankfully, before I went to sleep the night before, I was able to calm my mind after attending the game, enough that I woke up headache free and managed to attend the session.
I did have a tension headache in the afternoon, but that wasn’t down to the last few days, it was just what happens sometimes after talking part in MHFC sessions.
OVERALL….
I’m really happy that I managed to do everything I wanted to over the last three days, and that I managed to complete the video idea I had, to a fairly good standard and that it was well received.
As a few people have mentioned or asked since, unfortunately I struggle a lot to say the two ‘P’ words to myself…. either Praise myself or say that I’m Proud of myself, it’s just something I can’t seem to do, and if someone forces me to say it, I don’t believe it, so there’s no point.
Strangely though, on the flip side, I’m happy to support, encourage and praise others all day long to help them mentally.
THANK YOU to EVERYONE who’s helped, supported and encouraged me recently.
Knowing that there’s people wanting to help and support me/you, in any way possible, to help you complete or achieve goals you want to is so powerful.
It makes you feel better mentally, like you want to try and do more, as people understand, are rooting for you and can help you if needed along the way.
FOR THOSE STRUGGLING….
Recovery from mental health struggles is a long, draining and frustrating process, but if you keep working bit by bit, you will see improvements.
For me, exposure therapy and having the right supportive people around me have been key.
You will have some setbacks, and they won’t be nice, but overall, you will improve and get there.
I’m still a long way off where I want to be, but I’m improving.
YOU GOT THIS 💪
(Sorry for the very long post this time, I felt it all needed to be included.)
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IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH FOOTBALL ⚽️💚
EVERYONE WELCOMED & SUPPORTED
#MHFC #MentalHealthFC #MentalHealthMatters
