The Sunday Scaries | AD

Many people get that dread in their stomach, that the beginning of the week is coming round again and Monday is raising its weary head. This is sometimes referred to as the Sunday scaries, which I only found out recently...but this is also the name of something that could possibly help relieve some of the scare from the week.

I've written before about the new trend of CBD that has been on the rise recently. Now as you know, I only have limited experience of CBD due to not having consulted my doctor - which I definitely recommend before using any CBD product as you need to be completely sure that it isn't going to affect you or anything you're currently taking, in a negative way. The Sunday Scaries, aptly named, have released a range of different CBD holistic treatments that purport to relieve you from some of the anxiety that you may have on a Sunday, or any other day of the week for that matter. CBD can come in range of different forms, but they particularly specialise in gummies, which are also vegan! Alongside this I just wanted to raise that I'm glad that the company is aware that it is not a replacement for medication, or professional judgement but is supportive of the use of CBD alongside any other treatments or words of advice.

If you weren't sure, CBD is the legal, non-THC part of cannabis which is said to have anxiety relieving effects - the company state that it is legal in all 50 states of America. I am also aware of CBD being legal in the UK, but you may wish to do a check on this product in your country first! Of course, every person will be different and will respond in different ways, which is why I want to reiterate, as the company does, that you need read the label and consult a doctor before consuming any of the products. CBD may not be the cure to your mental wellness but it may be something that you wish to try on your journey to getting better.

As mentioned earlier, gummies is something I haven't seen before, so if you were concerned about sprays and drops then this might be for you!

If you're interested in the company and what they have to offer, then you can go straight to their website by clicking, here.

How to combat driving anxiety

Below is a handy video from the AA driving school that could help you with your driving anxiety!



The AA Driving School releases a new VIDEO and research after a reported 60% of young drivers still rely on superstitions to pass their driving test

A quarter of drivers resorted to extra measures such as lucky pants, superstitions or a long drive to get their nerves in check before their driving test, reveals the AA Driving School*.

60% of young drivers aged 18-to-24 were by far the most likely to turn to extra measures – 7% admitted to wearing lucky pants, 6% said they carried a lucky charm and 9% said they took herbal remedies such as Rescue Remedy before their practical test.

You can watch the New AA Driving School video designed to help learners combat their test nerves and pass with flying colours here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=-pC8vhgeipU

The study also found that a long drive or having a lesson before the test was the most popular way of easing tension, with one in five (20%) drivers saying they did this.

In order to help pre-test drivers, the AA has published advice on how to combat driving anxietyyou can read it here:

https://www.theaa.com/driving-school/driving-lessons/advice/driving-test-nerves

Stand out stats:

Only one in ten (13%) drivers said they felt no nerves before their test.
Nearly half of all nervous drivers (44%) said their nerves affected their test in some way.
Women and younger drivers were the most likely to admit nerves affected them on their test day (52% and 77%).
Drivers in Northern Ireland were the most likely to put their faith in superstitions in the run-up to their test, with 2% saying they avoided walking under ladders or crossing the path of black cats before the big day.
Last year over 1,700,000 people took their driving test - just 46.7% passed

Edmund King, the AA President, said: “Passing your driving test and getting on the road is a real milestone for many people.

“While we’d be more likely to advocate an extra lesson or two to combat pre-test nerves, if wearing lucky pants helps someone feel more confident on their test day and they pass as a result, then good for them.”

The top ways that nerves affected drivers are listed below:

Made minor mistakes - but still passed their test
Woke up early
Had a bad night’s sleep beforehand
Made a serious mistake that led to a failed test
Couldn’t eat before the test
Had a sudden ‘blank moment’ about something they knew how to do
Said something silly to the examiner
Couldn’t stop shaking
Vomiting
Got lost on the way to the test centre

And spare a thought for these drivers who spent most of their test feeling less than fresh.

“I remember sweating so much that I had to pull over to wipe my brow and clean my spectacles! And put talcum powder on my hands!”

“Sweated profusely and the instructor had to open the windows to clear them!”

Finally, let’s remember the poor person who almost accidently bribed their examiner…

“I handed my instructor £20 instead of my license, and it looked like a bribe.”

Sources

*Populus received 20,435 responses from AA members to its online poll between 13th and 20th March 2018. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

On a dark day

It isn't always what you see when scrolling through posts on Instagram whilst eating your breakfast. It's not the media's warped version of being locked up in cords and chains and it's not bottles of orange tablets on the side of your kitchen counter.

It's the pain of your heart falling out of your chest, the struggle to get out of bed with weights on your feet and needing sticks for your eyes to keep them open. It's the struggle to chew and swallow every mouthful of porridge even though it's got your favourite syrup in it. It's the want to make the right decision, but being in so much turmoil on the inside that you can't see in front of your face.

It's the worry of being a burden on others and yet wanting someone to come and shake you to see if you're still alive and the thought of not taking another breath and yet wondering what your children would look like smiling back at you.

It's the questioning as to when things will get better, when staring back at you in the mirror is someone you can no longer recognise when writing yourself letters and running out of pages in your journal with all of the words that escape your head.

It's wondering how you're going to get through the next day, let alone the week when each step brings you more stress onto your shoulders. It's the pain of people leaving, tenfold.

It's the ship in the ocean with the waves crashing over the boat, the sea salt sticking to your skin and the water filling up the deck. It's the isolation in that sea that you're told keeps you safe. It's the big red brick walls which are built to heaven and back to keep you protected with the reinforced steel to stop people from getting close to you. It's the theft of sunshine and the country lines into the darkness. 

It's also the strength, the light and the truth. It's the big dark monster which has an achilles heel which only courage can contain. It's the untold story that people carry on their back when walking the mountain. It can be big, bold and beautiful. It is a test that never seems to end, but it has an attachment of achievement that is only known to those who live with it. It carries with it a hidden power, bigger than those who have never experienced it. In the end, it can be the smallest dot on the wall surrounded by colour. It can almost be invisible, it can be cured. Most of all as if I never knew, there is nothing stronger than someone mental illness has flowed through.