Nell: It’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
Me: Yes, I know.
Nell: Kev and I were discussing it when we were down by the quay. So many people are struggling alone. We all need to talk more.
Me: I completely agree.
Nell: When you first meet Kev you would never guess he has suffered from panic attacks for years.
Me: No, you wouldn’t. He wasn’t able to travel more than 5 miles from home until recently.
Nell: But he is not afraid to tell people about it. He says it helps if they know and more people have anxiety than we realise.
Me: Yes, but you have to be brave enough to do that. It’s a big step.
Nell: You do. I’m dreadfully anxious about losing Charlie.
Me: Yes, I know you are.
Nell: I feel I need to keep everyone safe and I can’t.
Me: It’s a fear many people share. Myself included.
Nell: But worrying about it won’t keep them any safer. It just takes over your life.
Me: It’s hard not to though, isn’t it? Have you talked to the others?
Nell: Yes, at Morning Thoughts. Harriet feels she has to be perfect all the time. She is stuck in a good girl’s collar.
Me: Yes. Poppy seems pretty fearless, though.
Nell: It’s bravado. She doesn’t like letting anyone in. John the Doberman has wanted to marry her for years but she can’t commit.
Me: What about Dave?
Nell: David has perfected the worried look but it is usually only about missing a meal.
Me: Do you think Mutley worries?
Nell: No. I think Mutley has reached the point of acceptance. He takes each day as it comes.
Me: We waste so much time worrying about things that will never happen, don’t we?
Nell: Yes. We do. So let’s try and let those thoughts go. If anything happens we will deal with it together. We always do.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
Nell: No need for sorry.
