OVERDOSING

By Raveena Hargun

From January to the end of February 2021, I started overdosing myself, taking 6 to 8 tablets each day till a very close friend realised that I was overdosing because I was sad that I had lost them. It required my best friend to send others messages to let them know I was abusing drugs.

I wrote a lengthy email outlining all that had transpired to him. He sent me a message as soon as he heard what was going on, I informed him of everything and he warned me not to do it again, which I did. After the drugs were taken away from me, I kept phoning and messaging friends to let them know how I was feeling.

I was just going to work and talking to my best friend. I was ringing him to ask him to take the pills away from me. I remember him asking me why I kept taking the pills, asking if it was doctors or my parents who told me to take them. I said, “No, he didn’t,” but I always listened to him since I have so much respect for him. I did as he said and threw the items away.

September was the happiest day of my life, I saw him with all of my friends, I was very happy, my friends kept saying I looked so happy. Even though I did see him, life fell apart from October to December because I began to overdose as I lost contact again. I don’t know why it happened but I care about him so much, I even felt suicidal and, kept posting the tablets on and off on my Snapchat story which worried some people, particularly my family, and friends.

I just wanted him back in my life and to speak to him so I kept asking my friends to help me to bring him back but they wouldn’t, I was crying and told them I wanted to leave. They did their best, calmed me down and took me out for a drive in their car.

My friends saw me taking six pills from the bottle, and they took a photo of it. They promised to take the pills away from me but refrained because they felt bad doing so. However, I told them that if they did take the tablets from me, it would be to my own benefit. I shared the pill bottle on my Snapchat story, and the following day, I shared a video of the eight pills in my hand. I received messages from family and friends asking about my well-being.

A week later I posted another picture of the eight tablets in my story, my cousins and family friend asked about it, and checked if I was okay. A family friend asked someone for my auntie’s number and phoned her worried about me.

On the 15th of December my auntie called, she said had a call from a family friend asking if I was okay, My aunt asked me what those tablets were for. I told her I was overdosing myself. She wanted to tell my mum, I said I will tell her by myself. Then rang a few of my best friends crying over the phone and I told them my aunt knows everything. My friends picked me up since I was upset and we all went for a drive while chatting about everything.

I was worried about how I would tell my mother, when I got home I told her I overdosed myself.

She was very supportive, hugged me and asked if I had any pills. I told her I did not have any and I had not been taking any for four months. I have not taken any since 15th December 2021 to date. Thank you to my friends, and family for supporting and helping me.

Support and help: Call 111 Emergency 999 www.talkingtherapies.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk

CRYING AND MENTAL HEALTH - By

A phenomenon unique to humans, crying is a natural response to a range of emotions, from sadness, and grief to happiness.

Through my experience, crying helps my mental health because it feels worse to keep sadness in. For me, sometimes I can hide the sadness but I’ll cry on my worst days. On a good day, it’s all about crying with laughter. You should not be judged for crying. If you can’t speak to your family, try speaking to work colleagues or people close to you. I find it difficult to control my tears especially when I have bad anxiety. Sometimes I have a good cry by myself in private. Unfortunately, I can’t always control it and I want my best friend there, otherwise, I’ll get upset and start to have panic attacks.

Humans produce three types of tears. Basal; the tear

Raveena Hargun

ducts constantly secrete basal tears, which are a protein-rich antibacterial liquid that help to keep the eye moist every time a person blinks. Reflex crying is tears triggered by irritants. They are released to flush out these irritants and protect the eyes. The most common one is Emotional tears, humans shed tears in response to a range of emotions. These tears contain a higher level of stress hormones than other types of tears.

The benefits of crying: a soothing effect, calming and reducing distress. Crying with others also provides support. Crying relieves pain. Enhances the mood as well as releases oxytocin and endorphins to help improve mood. By releasing the pain it can aid sleep. In addition to this crying helps to kill bacteria and keep the eyes clean as the tears contain a fluid called lysozyme. See your doctor if you have been crying too often.

SILENT HEART ATTACK IN WOMEN - By

What is a silent heart attack? A silent heart attack, also called a silent Ischemia is a heart attack that has either no symptoms, minimal symptoms or unrecognized symptoms. A heart attack is not always as obvious as pain in your chest, shortness of breath and cold sweats. A silent heart attack happens when the flow of blood is blocked in the coronary arteries by a build-up of plaque. Silent heart attacks are more common in women than men.

Here are the four signs of a silent heart attack:

1. Chest pains, pressure, fullness or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve mild pain or discomfort in the centre of your chest. You might feel pressure squeezing or fullness in your chest. These symptoms usually start slowly, and they may go away and come back.

2. A heart attack doesn’t affect your heart it can affect the rest of your body but this can make identifying a heart attack confusing. You can get discomfort in your arms (one or both of them), back, neck, jaw and stomach.

3. Cold sweats, waking up with cold sweats and nausea can be pointed towards the flu symptoms, this can also be a symptom of a silent heart attack. You know your body better than anyone but if it feels more than flu symptoms you should get yourself checked immediately.

4. Dizziness and breathing difficulty- if you are having trouble breathing and getting tired of mundane

Raveena Hargun

activities, that you do very easily. If you get shortness of breath you could also feel dizzy and faint.

What is the cause of the silent heart attack? Heart attacks are due to atherosclerotic heart disease. This condition develops when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries. In some cases, a portion of plaque can break free and form a blood clot. If the clot grows, it can cause a blockage that prevents blood from the heart. A severe spasm tightening of a coronary artery can lead to a silent heart attack. If you do notice symptoms of a silent heart attack, try to stay calm and call 911 immediately