What is 'normal' anyway.

A talk based on my blog post of the same name: http://www.craigabbott.co.uk/what-is-normal-anyway.

It talks about dealing with mental health and my personal journey.

This talk was delivered at:
- Geek Mental Help Newcastle on 3rd October 2017.

Transcript

1. What is ‘normal’ anyway?
   

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2. What is ‘normal’ anyway?
   11.8K 192 19.3K 5,840
   Craig Abbott
   @abbott567
   Interaction Designer at @DWPDigital.
   Lover of cats and code.
   David Attenborough is my hero.
   #Vegan
   Newcastle upon Tyne
   

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3. “I just want to be normal”
   @abbott567
   

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4. I have depression
   and anxiety issues…
   so right now, I’m anxious as hell!
   @abbott567
   

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5. I rarely talk about
   these issues
   @abbott567
   

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6. “Cheer up mate.”
   “What do you have to be down about?”
   “Things can’t be that bad!”
   @abbott567
   

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7. I’ve always had a need to fit in
   @abbott567
   

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8. @abbott567
   I’ve changed my
   identity repeatedly
   

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9. @abbott567
   The emo phase
   

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10. @abbott567
    The skater phase
    

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11. @abbott567
    The indie phase
    

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12. @abbott567
    The gym phase
    

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13. @abbott567
    I chose the wrong career
    

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14. My first place of work was not a safe place,
    I was bullied every day for almost a decade.
    @abbott567
    

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15. I experienced burnout for almost 3 years
    because I didn’t want to let anybody down
    @abbott567
    

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16. @abbott567
    The ‘party capital’.
    The home of Geordie Shore.
    

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17. I hated clubbing, it made me anxious
    
    but I didn’t want to be ‘boring’
    @abbott567
    

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18. Anxiety is exhausting
    @abbott567
    

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19. Getting wasted helped me escape.
    I’d just get my brain too messed-up
    to think about anything.
    @abbott567
    

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20. I’d find ways to numb
    what I was feeling, rather
    than actually feeling it.
    @abbott567
    

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21. I became selfish, angry
    and unapproachable
    @abbott567
    

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22. Boys are conditioned to ignore their feelings.
    And so anger became the only way I could
    express anything.
    @abbott567
    

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23. This behaviour made me hate myself
    @abbott567
    

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24. My entire life had been doing
    stuff because of fear and guilt,
    with zero support.
    @abbott567
    

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25. @abbott567
    I was always seeking
    
    validation from others
    

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26. @abbott567
    I over analyse everything.
    I always see how things could have been better.
    How I should have been better.
    

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27. @abbott567
    Creative people are far more likely
    to dwell on the detail.
    

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28. Attention to detail is the
    difference between painting a
    picture and a masterpiece. But it’s
    also the reason why we ruminate.
    @abbott567
    

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29. In this industry, it is rare for you to
    come up with anything on your own
    @abbott567
    

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30. Imposter syndrome
    An inability to internalise ones
    accomplishments. A persistent fear of being
    exposed as a fraud.
    @abbott567
    

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31. At the age of 31, I realised
    I have no idea who I am.
    @abbott567
    

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32. Surround yourself with
    positive, like-minded people.
    @abbott567
    

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33. DWP is the first job I’ve had where I
    feel truly supported. Where I’m
    encouraged to be individual and to
    challenge the status quo.
    @abbott567
    

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34. “An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship
    unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly,
    the negativity of the world can’t put you
    down unless you allow it to get inside
    you.”
    - Goi Nasu.
    @abbott567
    

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35. @abbott567
    Stop overworking.
    You’re good enough.
    

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36. Overworking is a fallacy.
    It’s not sustainable.
    @abbott567
    

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37. We’re so obsessed with
    managing our time, that we
    forget to take time to just be.
    @abbott567
    

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38. You’re unique, like everyone else.
    @abbott567
    

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39. If you don’t think you’ve progressed
    as a person, go back 5 years on one
    of your social media profiles…
    Then cringe.
    @abbott567
    

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40. @abbott567
    

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41. @abbott567
    

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42. Discover what makes you happy
    @abbott567
    

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43. @abbott567
    

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44. Don’t suffer in silence
    @abbott567
    

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45. @abbott567
    

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46. Don’t conform.
    Be true to yourself.
    @abbott567
    

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47. @abbott567
    We’re all a bit broken.
    But broken crayons still
    colour the same.
    

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48. KTHXBAI
    Twitter: @abbott567
    Email: craig@craigabbott.co.uk
    North East Counselling Services: https://www.necounselling.org.uk
    Blog post: http://www.craigabbott.co.uk/what-is-normal-anyway
    5 year journal: http://abtt.co/5-year-journal
    

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