Hello everyone! I hope that you have had a great month of May. Since this month is Mental Health month, I thought that I would take a moment and just talk about my Mental health journey and how sewing and other crafts have saved my life.
In 2014, I was at a big convention and had my first panic attack. Actually, I had several over that weekend. When I returned home from the event I went to the doctor because I was also experiencing vertigo and it was so bad that I could barely stand half the time. I was then diagnosed with anxiety and put on medication for it. I was doing better until I started to experience another mental health issue that likes to come with anxiety, namely depression. I have struggled with both for some 8 years. When I would have lows with my depression they were deep lows but society told me, I wasn’t allowed to show that I was struggling. Or at least that’s what my brain was telling was telling me. That there was something wrong with me and I needed to hide it from everyone else at all costs. The only problem is that after a while it starts to take its toll and I was only ending up more and more frustrated and turned into bouts of anger. I was feeling more like a mess than every before and everything I was trying wasn’t working. Worst of all, I was embarrassed to talk about it as growing up people just didnt talk about that kind of stuff.
Ever since I was a kid though, I loved crafting and making things but I hadn’t really found that one hobby/craft that spoke to me. When the pandemic hit, like happened with many, my mental health took a serious hit. I was used to keeping myself so busy that I didn’t have time to think and suddenly I was stuck inside and couldn’t go anywhere. For as long as could remember though I wanted to learn how to make clothing. I had a sewing machine already since in the past I had an obsession with making quilts. So I started with masks because they were small and I could make them quickly. With that, my confidence grew and I then made a tote bag for groceries that had pockets and lining. Then a headband. After these successes, I wanted to try making a pair of shorts. I found this fabulous video on YouTube about drafting your own pattern. My first attempt…well, I think it speaks for itself…
I’m not going to lie, all of my hopes were dashed in that moment. But fortunately, I’m stubborn so I recut the pieces out and watched the video again and again until I got it. That was almost 2 years ago and I’m still going strong. I have been able to create and design some breathtaking things because I never gave up. Along the way, it has really helped my mental health.
It has given me a creative outlet when things are not going the way I had hoped. It gives me a way to express myself and show up as my authentic self. Not only that but I have also discovered a wonderful and supportive community. So I encourage you, no matter what kind of creative craft works for you, keep searching until you find that one that speaks to you and makes you happy. The road isn’t always going to be smooth but it is worth it in the end.
To finish it off, I’m going to add a glimpse of my newest creation. It’s still a work in progress but I’m so proud or how much I got done this weekend. Can you guess which character this is a cosplay for? Talk to you next week!
Cats MeWOW Designs 