My 2025 Health Update

After a year of really poor mental health in 2023 and then a year of really poor physical health in 2024, I honestly didn't know how this year would go. Well, now over a month into the year, I thought I would share a little update. 

I did a number of posts on my mental health in 2023. I shared my lowest points and my journey through my struggles. From suicidal ideation and self-harming, I started a series of different treatments, with anti-depressants, counselling, CBT, talking therapies and self-help methods. I was on medication from February 2023 to September 2023, then discharged completely from psychiatric services in October 2023 after "significant improvements". 

Now in 2025, I still wouldn't say I'm happy but I'm happier than I have been for the last two starts to the year. I still wish more than anything I could go back to 2022 and change my life, realise how lucky I was and how good I had it. The grass is always greener on the other side, right? 

Thankfully, I've gone from crying multiple times a day, to maybe a couple of times a week, and usually it's triggered by something in particular, rather just me being alone with my own thoughts. It's hard sometimes because I truly feel I am an empath. Not only that, but I often care too much and feel emotions too big. I take everything personally and I want to be there for everyone. Whilst I know this is a good thing, when people don't make it easy, it can be really hard and upsetting. I'm trying to better in that sense, but it still hurts hard sometimes. Overall though, I'm doing better and I'm proud of the fight I've given to get here. 

In terms of my physical health, that's been an upward battle for 2024. I started feeling rough in June, with almost constant cold. I would be poorly for a week, have a couple of days where I felt a little better, than have yet another cold. I tried to stay upbeat, and honestly, I didn't really have a choice because I was so busy. I had hen parties, engagement parties, birthdays or weddings almost every time I had days of work. In between that, I was working almost full-time and completing my Master's so my life was very full. I think I became so rundown and overwhelmed, my body just didn't have time to catch up with itself. 

By the middle of August I was really struggling. I took a week off work for the first time in my life, and forced myself to the last of the summer weddings. There I found myself getting increasingly more breathless, having to take breaks simply walking to the toilet or getting changed. I knew I was bad, but I thought I would be fine. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case and a week later, I was admitted to hospital with bilateral pneumonia following multiple unrecovered chest infections. It was a really scary time and I was really not well. 

After being in A+E, admitted to hospital for a week, coming home, going on holiday and then the 2 month follow up, I still didn't feel great. Despite the pneumonia going, and bloods looking better, I still had raised infection markers. I was still getting regular colds, albeit mildly and it felt like every time I would feel a little better, I would go out to do something and come back even more exhausted. I got 2 UTIs in the space of 2 weeks and I think with Christmas being another busy season of life, I once again was beginning to struggle. 

Luckily, I am now feeling so much better. For the first time in months, I can wake up without a sore throat, without a headache and without a runny nose. I am defintely still having some days where they happening, but not all the time which feels great. I have energy again! 

When I last saw a GP, she thought I had long Covid-19 and hearing that that was a likely diagnosis actually made me feel a lot better about myself. They said it would take 6 months for my lungs to return to normal after pneumonia so I'm not quite at that point yet, and I feel I still feel some of the effects. I know I wasn't the healthiest person before, but whilst I can get dressed and go to the toilet without having to take a break, I still get out of breath going up the stairs or running to an emergency. I would like to start going to the gym again, but I'm honestly kind of scared about doing exercise again. That, and I also don't know where to start again. 

Here's hoping that this year continues to improve, in both areas, and next year I can write that I'm healthy again!