Choi Chung, RPh, BSc Pharm
One of our values that we believe in is helping patients make informed decisions through health promotion and education. One of our aims with this interview series is to bring awareness to the different healthcare professionals and health advocates around the world and how they’re actively involved in bettering the lives of others!
We were able to have the opportunity to interview Linney Bee. Check out the interview below as she talks more about her profession and how she’s actively involved in health advocacy!
#1 First off, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed Linney Bee. Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am a writer, cheese lover, mother, dog-mother, wife, and recovering alcoholic. It’s nice to meet you!
#2 Can you tell us about why mental health is so important to you?
Physical health is easy to assess because it’s something we can see, hear, and feel. While mental health is more of a ghost that haunts us secretly. Often times we can’t put into words how we are feeling, which seems silly if you think about it – how do we not know what’s wrong? It’s our brain, our thoughts, shouldn’t we have the best handle on it? I’ve struggled with anxiety and consider myself to be a high functioning alcoholic. My own mind used to terrorize me daily to the point where I couldn’t function, and I didn’t know why. My heart would race, my blood pressure went through the roof, and my ears would ring so loud I couldn’t hear my own breathing. Alcohol used to calm me down. Fortunately, I also found comfort in self-help books. Reading about self-help taught me how to exercise my brain and think differently. The anxiety didn’t disappear, but I learned how to deal with it. Since our brain is the nucleus of our body, I truly believe it is the cause of our physical ails as well.
#3 What inspired you to become a mental health advocate?
I needed an outlet to hold myself accountable. To stop drinking and to eat better, I decided to post every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a reflection on how my sobriety is going. The plan was to keep doing this until I felt I didn’t need it anymore. I never planned to become a “mental health advocate” but once I started sharing my story, I was surprised at how many people reached out to me to cheer me on, show their support, and share struggles of their own. While mental health is talked about more frequently nowadays, it still needs to be talked about more to open up more conversations and raise awareness.
#4 What is one of the top pieces of health advice you’d like to share with the public?
For me, dealing with my anxiety and sobriety, I needed redirection. The days where it was just me home alone were the worst because drinking is all I could think about. I had to find a way to channel my darkness into something productive. I tried drawing, reading, running… until finally I found myself in my kitchen with a sense of peace. It took me a few tries to get it right. Channel your depression, anxiety, sobriety, personal issues, or whatever monsters you’re facing into something. You’ll slowly develop the habit that’ll keep your demon at bay. It’ll never go away completely (I had to make friends with my Panic Pal), but redirection teaches you how to fight your battles a different way.
#5 Where can our audience reach you if they have any further questions for you?
You can find me on Instagram (@linney.bee) or on WordPress (http://linneybee.wordpress.com) OR you can email me at Linney.Bee.Blogs@gmail.com.
