Products I regret making… (After training as a mental health counsellor)
Welcome to The Annie Show! 💛
This is a little space where I’ll be sharing my thoughts, answering your questions, and taking you behind the scenes at Sugar & Sloth, my stationery, pin and illustrated gifts independent brand ✨
In today’s video, I’m diving into a question I’ve been thinking about a lot lately...
What products (self-care and anti-anxiety stationery) do I regret making now, after training as a mental health counsellor?
Let's dive into what I'd change, workbooks, notepads, mugs and all, and how my understanding of emotional wellbeing has evolved with my training 🌱
I'd love to know what you'd like to see on the Annie show! Please let me know if you have any questions you'd like me to answer next ✨
Hello,
The “I hate everything” phrase on stickers etc does actually make me laugh. I have your design (that did pop up in your video) as stickers on my morning and my evening meds box. Very chronically ill here so I take a lot of meds, it’s a chore and annoying. Now I do recognise completely that my meds are essential to my wellbeing so in a way they are a positive thing. That being said. Yeah I hate everything when the pharmacy box gets delivered. The act of actually putting the meds in the individual slots in the medicine boxes are immensely satisfying, and a full box is so nice to just pick up and shake. The rest though is the chore, the reason why I have medication boxes in the first place is because remembering when I took this medication, or that medication, just made my head spin. One of my conditions is ME, so I’d rather be taking a nap then counting med doses
Another phrase I love on stickers etc is “yes, I am always in pain.” They are normally the happiest colour looking stickers ever but it’s a phrase that is normally used in negative ways. On the other hand my pain clinic loves that I can say that confidently, I’m looking (somewhat) on the bright side. Yes I’m in pain, yes I will never be completely pain free, but I’ve made the knowledge my bedfellow and that helps in my treatment. Yes the pain is always there, but so are medications, naps and really colourful stickers. (Sarcasm and dark humour are also incredibly important too ;-) )
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Sugar and Sloth replied:
Hi Sarah,
I’m so pleased you like that one, and that it has such a special place on your meds boxes. I really love the idea of those little stickers making such a tedious, necessary chore feel even slightly more colourful and less grim.
And yes, I absolutely think sarcasm and dark humour have a place. Sometimes when life is really hard, the slightly wonky, dark, ridiculous humour is what helps us get through it without completely losing the plot.
I think our British humour can be very nuanced, and things can so easily be taken out of context, especially online. But there is something really powerful about being able to say, “yes, this is hard, yes, this is always there, and yes, I’m still finding colour, humour, naps and tiny bright spots where I can.”
Thank you so much for sharing this with me. It really means a lot to know my work is sitting alongside something so important in your daily life.
Big hugs, Anita x
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