DanTDM is a legend in the gaming world, with more subscribers on YouTube than Beyonce and his very own waxwork in Madame Tussauds. But Dan has bad days like all of us, something he doesn’t normally shout about on his YouTube channel.
He was eager to use his platform to show how lots of us bottle things up when we’re having a crap day, so we teamed up to create a video encouraging you to reach out next time you’re feeling rubbish. Dan says:
“The last two years have been tough, particularly for younger people whose lives have been disrupted. I wanted to use my platform to help others who may be feeling low; to try to help them understand that it’s ok to struggle. Nobody is alone with these feelings.
“I want to see if the gaming community and beyond, can come together to encourage players and streamers to talk and support each other, because the more we open up and talk about the way we feel, the less stigma there is around it.”
At CALM, we know that everyone gets anxious at times in their life. Because life is full of challenges and stressful situations. You know, the things that can wake you up in the middle of the night. School, dating, exams (too many of), LIFE, the future (just too much to think about).
And we also know it’s not always easy to talk about the things on your mind, so if you’re finding things difficult, or you’re worried about a mate, here’s some stuff to help you find the words.
Level one: Look for clues that something’s not right
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a detective, but there are things lots of us do when we’re not feeling great emotionally. You might even notice yourself doing them when you’re not feeling 100%. Here’s some things to look out for:
- Seeming quieter or wanting more space than usual.
- Constantly cancelling last minute plans.
- Being snappy, having a short temper or mood swings.
- Tuning out of things you usually enjoy.
- Feeling like school or work is getting on top of you.
- Finding it difficult to get to sleep.
- Eating disorders, from anorexia to binge eating.
You know your friend and you probably notice when they seem a bit off, but it’s also important to remember that it’s not all on you to know when someone is having a bad day.
Giving your friend a chance to chat and letting them know you’re there for them can make a big difference and shows you care, but if they’re not ready to talk, then that’s okay too.
Level two: Team up with someone you trust
Talking about your mental health doesn’t mean you have to shout your feelings from the rooftops. Opening up to a mate or family member can make you feel a bit better and might even give you a fresh perspective on things. We know it’s tough to start doing that, so if you’re not sure how to go about it, here’s some stuff to make the whole thing less awkward:
- Find one person that you really trust and tell them that you’re finding things hard.
- If you’re struggling to put your feelings into words, choose somewhere you feel comfortable chatting or drop them a message (or GIF) instead.
- Play a game or do something you both enjoy to make your chat feel less uncomfortable.
- Let your mate know what you’d like from the conversation (sometimes we just need to vent and don’t want a solution).
