My Running Story - Hannah Storm ...

Hannah shares her story about how running for her mental health has had such a positive impact on her mental health. She writes:

I am writing this during the week of World Mental Health Day and just days after learning I have qualified to represent Great Britain for my age group in duathlon.

The two might not seem connected, but it’s no exaggeration to say running has helped save my life.

I have been running for more than two decades, but in recent years it has taken on a special significance.

In 2019, I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, resulting from multiple traumas connected with my work as a journalist.

My diagnosis came after several years of symptoms, including nightmares, anxiety, hyper-vigilance, irritability and avoidance of anything that reminded me of my traumas.

Running has long been shown to benefit our mental health, and it had helped me prior to my diagnosis.

But as the pandemic began, and we were all plunged into uncertainty, it became a tether.

Running helped me process the traumas I survived, which included several sexual assaults, and helped me see I was not to blame for what happened to me..

To read the rest of Hannah’s story go along to your nearest stockist and buy a copy of the Easingwold Advertiser.

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