Tuesday 8 January 2013

5 Things About Me

I was tagged in one of these on Instagram yesterday and I actually had a lot of fun trying to think of 5 random facts that people might not know about me so I decided to post it on here today as well.

Here's 5 random facts that might let you get to understand me a little better, or of course, it could just be a random list of the first 5 things that popped into my head. I'll let you decided on that one...

1. I've jumped out of an aeroplane at 12,000 feet.

I did a skydive in 2009 for a children's cancer charity and decided to face my fears of both flying and heights by hurling myself our of an aeroplane for fun. It was a blast and I managed to raise over £700 for charity.

2. I'm Agoraphobic.

Some of you may not know this but I've vowed to be more open about it this year after struggling in silence for the best part of 2 years. Agoraphobia is an extension of an anxiety or panic disorder. The NHS website tells me that in the UK, up to two people in 100 have a panic disorder and it is thought around a third of those will go on to develop agoraphobia as a result.

It means that the fear of going into unfamiliar situations - such a crowds, town centres, meetings or basically anywhere that I have never been before or don't feel safe and familiar with, causes me to have a severe panic attack. I have not ventured outside of my own home without my "safe person" (a friend or family member that I feel completely safe with) for more than 2 years. I have recently been able to walk my dogs around the block unattended, but I have to do it at times when I know I will be very unlikely to meet another person. If you have never had a panic attack before I can't stress enough how horrible they are. People seem to pass them off as something silly but at the time you are having one you feel like you are about to die. Psychical symptoms include but are not limited to: rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing (hyperventilating), feeling hot and sweaty, feeling sick, upset stomach, chest pain, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), diarrhoea, trembling, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and feeling faint. Sound like fun? No, thought not!

If you want to learn more about Agoraphobia and what you can do to help someone who suffers with this disorder please read the NHS website or visit the Anxiety Care website for more information.

3. I have a brain tumour.

Stop right there! Don't panic! It's not cancerous. Everyone jumps to that conclusion when the T Word is thrown around. It's just a little cyst/blob that decided to move into my brain and chill out there for a while. I have to have it monitored every 6 months for changes, and if it grows by a millimetre or more I have have to undergo treatment to have it removed (which is not easy as its stuck in the deepest darkest part of my brain.) I've named it Brian, by the way and we have become close friends...

4. My favourite colour is Green.

Not really that much of a shocking revelation but people always assume I'm going to say pink or something as I'm such a girly girl, but I love green. I was my Nana's favourite colour too and I love mint and lime shades.

5. I've lived in 3 different countries.

I've lived in 3 different countries but I only speak one language. I know - that's really bad and I do keep meaning to try and learn another language but I just get bored after about a week.

I've lived in England (obviously - it's where I'm from and I live here now), Ireland and Spain. Hopefully I can make it to 4 countries as I'm dying to get somewhere that has a warmer climate soon. I'm fed up of all of this rain!

Well that was fun. Do you have 5 things that people don't know about you? Share them in the comments section or write your own blog/Instagram post and leave the links below so I can read them.

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

 

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