Being amongst other paramedics, supported by the wellbeing volunteers I felt connected and over the days able to open up. I was able to see that I wasn’t alone in how I had been feeling and explore this in a safe environment.
Since the retreat I have realised just how invaluable the outdoors and mindfulness is and just how much I can do to help my own mental health. I have gone from not coping at work to using the mindfulness techniques I learnt I help me cope.
Before the retreat I was burnt out and not coping at work which was slowly seeping into my home life. Though through the retreat and the work the wellbeing team did I left feeling energised with a host of techniques to draw upon which do work.
I have never been one for mindfulness and the idea of this in a group setting was far from my comfort zone, but simply not coping I felt I needed to tackle my mental health from a different angle and the thought of a few days away from work was what enticed me.
I saw the retreat through the College of Paramedics and in some way it felt less scary the idea of being with other paramedics - like an extension of the now rare crew room chats.
The first thing I will say about the retreat is the food! It was brilliant and as a coeliac seeing how much care was put into this helped me relax and see these retreats really are for anyone.
Being amongst other paramedics, supported by the wellbeing volunteers I felt connected and over the days able to open up. I was able to see that I wasn’t alone in how I had been feeling and explore this in a safe environment.
Initially I was anxious about talking or how to even start but with one of the volunteers picking up on something small I said and speaking to me about this I felt the ice had been broken and I was able to start opening up and at the time this meant a lot.
I was still sceptical about the mindfulness activities, but as we started to work on this through the first evening and into the next day I felt a sense of ease. Something I had been lacking for a long time and so I really opened up and embraced it. Throughout the retreat we were taught different techniques and along the way we were invited to share our thoughts and feelings but with no pressure to have to do this.
During the day we were out on walks and with my fitness at the time this was something I was concerned about. The night before we had a talk about the next days walk, what to expect, what to bring and most importantly a reminder that this was for us all to enjoy and that we would be going at a steady pace, guided by those at the back.
I gained so much from the walks! Not just from being outside which I had forgotten to love, but to realising I really can do this which I realised upon getting to the top of one large hill with the encouragement of the mountain leader and one of the wellbeing staff. This really brought about a change in how I saw myself.
Since the retreat I have realised just how invaluable the outdoors and mindfulness is and just how much I can do to help my own mental health. I have gone from not coping at work to using the mindfulness techniques I learnt I help me cope, to getting outside everyday and even finding my love for cycling again and doing my very first 5k run.
I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and that Mind over Mountains exists in such a great way.
