Hairy Bikers: Si King on their latest series 'Go North'
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Appearing without long-term friend and fellow Hairy Biker Dave Myers – who is battling with Covid – on BBC Breakfast, Si has emerged from the lockdown aiming to talk more about mental health. Talking to Dan Walker and Sally Nugent he addressed his friend’s health saying: “ I think it’s hit him a little bit harder than any of us were anticipating, really. But Dave is as tough as an old boot.” He added: “He’s not very well at the minute but we’re keeping a close eye on him.” Despite having avoided Covid until now, during the lockdown, the pair were focused on keeping spirits up, with an Instagram page dedicated to people talking about anything and everything.
After research emerged that more than half of men suffered poor mental well being across the last year, Si and Dave decided to club together and get a conversation going.
Si said: “Dave and I have always encouraged men to talk about their health, and to open up that dialogue.
“That’s because we were two middle-aged men who struggled with their weight, and to lose weight, you have to deal with what’s in your head first.
“We’re just like everybody else. We struggle with our moods, we struggle with mental health.”
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Si in particular has taken huge steps in trying to improve his own mental health. This involved going to regular therapy sessions.
Talking on the subject to the Mirror he said: “Therapy is a road that I have gone down because you sometimes need professional help and intervention. You just can’t do it yourself.
“You need to have a professional that opens up doors, those doors that you don’t want to open. It’s a journey that you have to make. There’s nobody else who can make it for you, you have to do it.”
Si’s mental struggles have been partly brought on by his turbulent health. In fact the chef nearly lost his life due to a brain aneurysm.
Talking about his ordeal on one of their many cookery programmes, which sees them travel across the globe, Si explained that the trip nearly didn’t happen at all.
He said: “Last year I was very ill indeed. I think it’s more poignant to see the world I was living in.
“There were times when [I] was sick that I never thought we would get back on the road like this.”
After receiving the sobering news that he had the brain aneurysm- Si also lost four stone. With the stress of the illness and the sudden weight loss it must have taken a toll on the star mentally.
After recovering from his aneurysm, Si then put a stone and a half back on in weight whereas his other half Dave had managed to lose three stone. However, the star recognised that together the two were a lot healthier than they had previously been.
In addition to therapy Si started exercising daily as well as volunteering to cook for his local community – both of which helped boost his mental health.
He said: “Exercise is great because it releases endorphins into your system. It was the single biggest change for me, because I exercised every day. I rowed, I punched a punch bag for 20 minutes and stretched, and that just helped lift my mood. I’d also cook for the elderly members of the community too.
I think that was important, there was that sense of community that helps very much with people’s mental health. You need that sense of place. And I think what’s come out of the pandemic is a greater sense of community.”
Although mental health is different for everyone, recognising that you or someone around you may be struggling is extremely important. Mental health disorders include a wide range of conditions that affect your mood, thinking and behaviour.
The Mayo Clinic provides a list of general symptoms and signs that may indicate that your mental health is deteriorating. This includes:
- Feeling sad or down
- Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
- Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
- Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping
- Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations
- Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
- Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people
- Problems with alcohol or drug use
- Major changes in eating habits
- Sex drive changes
- Excessive anger, hostility or violence
- Suicidal thinking.
Sometimes symptoms of a mental health disorder can appear as physical problems, such as stomach pain, back pain, headaches, or other unexplained aches and pains.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms it is crucial to seek advice from a GP or medical professional. Like Si, finding a way to deal with mental health – such as therapy – is key for maintaining it.
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