I wanted to reach out and help other people to find small victories amongst the darkness. I’ve asked family and friends of various ages and backgrounds to express what they do to cheer themselves up and help them deal with darkness.

Firstly, any victory is a victory. Like I’ve said before, when I remembered to finally put the milk in the fridge instead of the cupboard was a big deal to me. I was remembering to do some of the small stuff again. So getting out of bed, or getting dressed, or anything else which may feel like an impossible task when you’re feeling down, is a massive victory.

I found that reading my favourite book, watching my favourite film, or listening to my favourite album was particularly comforting. I tried to listen to songs that reminded me of happy times, and read books that cheered me up and made me feel positive.

Exercise is another really useful tool – it releases chemicals in your body which make you feel good. Sport is fantastic, because you can do it on your own or as part of a team, depending on how you feel. Going for a run or a walk can be great for clearing your mind, and playing a team sport encourages you to focus your mind purely on the game.
Try lots of different methods and see what works for you – if you find anything, however small, which makes you feel even a tiny bit better, keep it up. Try your best to help yourself, one step at a time.