Thrive Together Mh

I decided to start a blog. Why? Because there is only so much that can be said through Instagram. So, without further ado, I will introduce myself and what I aim to do with this blog.

My name is Emma – here is a little bit about me:

• I love cats and have two Bengals named Ozzy and Axel
• I’m a big football fan and support Aston Villa
• I enjoy reading and running when I’m feeling good and have the energy for it
• I’m a big music fan and enjoy festivals.
• I’ve recently been teaching myself to DJ

Here is a picture of me as a child with my little sister:

Here is the most recent picture of me taken:

Looking happy in both pictures, right? I’ve always been known to be that “bubbly”, happy-go-lucky person, but deep down, I struggle.

I’m 31 years old. I have ADHD, BPD and Bipolar. I work as a Finance Business Partner. I studied maths at university and then took the typical route of becoming an accountant at a big 4 accountancy firm.

I may be a qualified accountant, but my passion lies in mental health. I set up @thrive_together_mh on Instagram when I was going through a very dark time.

I’d quit my job, was struggling with a new BPD diagnosis, felt extremely depressed and needed an outlet to help myself and others. I guess the purpose of this blog is self-expression, updates on my mental health journey, and making posts to help others.

Being diagnosed with mental health disorders can be a confusing experience. There’s a sense of relief, grief, sadness, hopelessness, and hope all at once.

But having a label doesn’t define you. You are still your own unique, incredible self. Your brain may be wired differently, but show yourself compassion, and I will try to do the same.

My bipolar diagnosis is currently in progress. I’d been reaching out for years, knowing I had it, but it was blamed on ADHD and BPD. It’s very confusing how much crossover these disorders have.

My one piece of advice is to trust your instincts. Medical professionals can get things wrong sometimes or overlook obvious signs. Don’t give up on receiving the help and treatment you deserve 🩷

If you’ve made it this far, then thank you. Creating this blog is giving me a new outlet and I hope something I share will help you feel less alone.