There are some lessons life teaches you slowly, not in a single moment, but through years of rising, falling, crying, breaking, healing, and somehow… trying again.
For me, anxiety has never just been a feeling. It’s been a filter, a lens through which I saw myself, my work, and the world around me.
This is Part 2 of my Managing Anxiety series, and today we’re leaning into one of the deepest parts of the journey: mental health.
And I’m going to be completely honest with you…
Even writing this made my chest tighten.
But sometimes, the things that scare us are the things we’re meant to face.
So here we are.
Together.
Breathing through it, talking through it, and learning through it.
What Mental Health Really Means
When I talk about mental health, I’m not talking in clinical terms.
I’m talking about the everyday moments, the ones we don’t tell anyone about:
- How your heart reacts to simple things.
- How your brain interprets those reactions.
- And how those interpretations shape your entire life.
For so many of us, mental health challenges show up quietly as anxiety, as depression, as emotional waves that don’t make sense.
Sometimes they get loud enough to bring thoughts we don’t want to admit out loud — thoughts about self-harm or suicide.
I need you to know something before we go any further:
If you’re struggling, you are not a burden.
You are not alone.
You are loved, wanted, and worth every moment of support and care.
There is help.
There are people who want to hear you, hold space for you, support you TIACS, Lifeline, your GP, someone you trust.
Please reach out. You deserve that safety.
The Power of Self-Talk
In Part 1, I talked about self-talk, the quiet voice inside your head that becomes your constant companion.
For me, becoming aware of that voice changed everything.
It helped me:
- name what I was feeling
- express what I needed
- soften the way I responded to myself
Because when you understand your mental health, you’re no longer fighting an invisible enemy.
You’re giving yourself the tools to navigate the world with clarity and with kindness.
My Journey with Mental Health
In 2020, after years of feeling like I was spinning in circles, I was diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).
But the journey didn’t start there.
For about five years, I bounced from counsellor to psychologist, trying to understand why my emotional landscape looked like a roller coaster. I felt like two different people:
One week, I was confident.
I was speaking on stages.
I was achieving, smiling, thriving.
The next week, I was anxious.
Sad.
And sometimes, dealing with suicidal thoughts.
Everyone kept telling me I was “fine.”
But deep down, I knew I wasn’t.
So, I started tracking everything.
Every emotion. Every shift. Every low point.
And slowly, a pattern formed: the worst days always arrived a week or two before my period.
I remember going to a doctor, vulnerable and shaking, telling her about my suicidal thoughts…
and being handed a pamphlet about PMS.
That moment… it cracked something in me.
But later, when I went to my regular GP, someone who truly saw me, she connected the dots.
She explained PMDD, helped me understand my brain, and started me on a plan that included antidepressants.
That was the first time I felt like someone truly understood.
Living With PMDD
Here’s the simplest way I’ve learned to explain PMDD:
Your hormones are normal, but your brain reacts to them like an allergy.
For years, working in a male-dominated trade, I denied that my cycle had any impact on my job.
I thought admitting that would make me look weak.
Learning about PMDD didn’t make me weak.
It made me wise.
Now, I plan my life around my cycle.
I give myself rest when I need it.
I push when I can.
I listen to my body without guilt.
Medication was part of the journey too.
It steadied the storm long enough for me to learn how to sail through it.
And now, I’m slowly weaning off a new chapter that feels strong and intentional.
The Question That Shifted My Mindset
There’s one question that changed everything for me, almost like flipping on a light switch in a dark room:
“Is this a reasonable reaction to this situation?”
Let me give you a real example.
During the toughest part of my cycle, if a coworker didn’t smile at me one morning, I’d spiral immediately:
“He hates me.”
“He thinks I’m terrible at my job.”
“I shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m not good enough.”
The anxiety would build a whole story around one tiny moment.
But when I paused…
when I used my circuit breakers…
when I checked my self-talk…
I realised something important:
This was a one-off.
He was usually kind, helpful, supportive.
He was probably just distracted.
So, was my reaction reasonable?
No.
It was my mental health — magnifying a whisper into a roar.
That awareness pushed me back to my GP, to my counsellor, to a new mental health plan, and eventually, to coaches who helped me rebuild my inner world.
Finding the Support You Need
Your mental health story won’t look exactly like mine.
And that’s okay.
Some people discover panic disorders.
Some find ADHD tendencies.
Some realise they sit somewhere on the autism spectrum.
Some never get a label, but they find tools that help them navigate their life more clearly.
Here’s the truth:
You don’t need a diagnosis to deserve support.
If something helps you, it’s valid.
If something heals you, it matters.
Lean on your GP.
Lean on a counsellor.
Lean on TIACS, or someone you trust.
Or lean on a coach, someone who can walk beside you, not above you.
You are not broken.
You are not weak.
You are human.
And there are so many humans who feel exactly what you’re feeling — even if they don’t say it out loud.
Coaching and Moving Forward
Coaching changed the way I saw myself. And now, as a life and business coach, I help tradies and tradeswomen bring mental-health tools into their everyday routines, especially in an industry where traditional advice doesn’t always fit.
I’m not a mental health professional.
But I am someone who believes that most of the answers you’re looking for are already inside you.
Sometimes, you just need someone to help you access them.
You’re more capable than you think.
You’re stronger than you realise.
You’re already halfway there.
Final Thought
Mental health can be messy and unpredictable.
Some days feel heavy.
Some feel impossible.
And some feel like a breath of fresh air.
But you can learn how to navigate it.
You can learn how to understand yourself.
You can learn how to take care of your mind with gentleness and patience.
So next time the world feels too loud, ask yourself:
“Is this a reasonable reaction to this situation?”
If the answer is no — pause.
Breathe.
Reach out.
Ask for help.
You are not alone.
You are loved.
And you deserve a life that feels safe, balanced, and whole.
If you’re a tradeswoman or tradesperson who’d like some help navigating this journey, I’d love to chat. You can book a coaching consultation with me here:
https://calendly.com/louise-azzopardi/coaching_consult
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