Cora Jaine is shaving her head at the end of the month to raise money for Tonic. Please read her brilliant blog about why she has chosen to support Tonic, and her own experiences with mental health.
Cora Jaine
Some people have said ‘You’re gonna shave off your hair?! ALL of it?! That’s Brave!’.
But you know what is BRAVE to me?
Dreading what is going to happen on any given day but STILL getting up and facing it!
Having voices in your head telling you that you are not good enough but STILL going for your dreams no matter what!
Panicking on the inside but STILL showing a smile on the outside.
Being scared to leave your house but STILL making small steps to overcome that.
Waking up every day knowing that you will have to fight your demons yet again but STILL getting up anyway, every day, to fight that fight.
Not everyone wins that fight and we have all lost too many people to keep overlooking it.
There are so many ways in which we all suffer with our Mental Health, some more than others, and each person and their suffering is valid. I think mental health issues can be overlooked a lot of the time because others can’t ‘see’ the issues. It’s not like a cold, where people can see that we have a runny nose or hear that we have a cough. It isn’t something people are readily aware of, and yet it is probably one of the most important issues humans face.
It is difficult to speak about mental health because most of the time it is so hard to explain how we are feeling. It is great that more and more people are now speaking out about their experiences and I want us to be able to continue on that road. I would love for us all to feel free enough to speak up about it, and the more we do the more people will feel understood and realise they aren’t alone in their battle.
Tonic Music for Mental Health realise the connection between the arts and recovery from mental health issues. They were founded in Portsmouth (my hometown) in 2012 and, ever since, their mission has been to raise mental health awareness, challenge stigma and promote mental wellbeing through music and the arts.
From their early beginnings promoting mental health awareness, they now champion mental health action by providing opportunities for people to participate in music and the arts, directly supporting them on their journeys of recovery. I first heard about Tonic at a friend’s gig I went to; they had a stand there and were the loveliest people to speak to!
I chose this charity to fundraise for as their message is close to my heart. I have friends, family members, colleagues, past partners and idols who all suffer with their mental health. Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, bouts of feeling suicidal, feelings of numbness – these are just some of the battles that my loved ones and many others deal with on a daily basis. I also suffer from brain overload and overwhelm a lot, which isn’t something I like to talk about too much as I try not to let it take control of me, but sometimes it is completely debilitating and I can’t bring myself to do anything.
For me, music has been the creative outlet I need to get by. Music, throughout my whole life, has always been there for me – in times of bereavement, struggle and sadness, as well as happiness, joy and excitement. Music is so important; it allows me to get out of my head for a while, and I became a songwriter for that reason; it allows me to spill my feelings and let them flow out of me, rather than keep them stuck inside. I have such an emotional connection with music – it brings out feelings that I didn’t even know I was hiding. It is refreshing to allow myself to cry and write my thoughts and emotions into song – it helps with the overwhelm a lot. Also, bouncing around the room to proper bopper helps to expel any extra energy I might have. If I didn’t have music, I really don’t know how I would deal with a lot of stuff. I wonder if anyone can relate?
So, to sum it up, this is why I am being ‘brave’ and shaving off my hair at the end of March:
It is for all those who have no choice but to face their BRAVE. Every. Single. Day.
I have set a goal of £250, as I know times are tough, but I am confident we will surpass this goal by the time that the end of March arrives.
The goal posts are:
If I reach 50% of my goal, I will be shaving to a grade 4 on 31st March 2021.
If I reach 75% of my goal, I will be shaving to a grade 2.
(We have already reached this goal! Whoop!)
If I reach exactly 100% of my goal, I will shave without a guard at all.
And if we exceed the goal, I will wet shave with a razor and go proper shiny bald!
Am I scared of getting rid of all my hair? Absolutely! This head of hair of mine I have had since BIRTH! And I mean that – I came out with a FULL head of hair! So it is safe to say that I am terrified, but I can’t think of a better cause to shave it off for.
I hope I have your support and if you can please, please donate, it does not have to be a lot – a few pounds will make a difference, trust me. And if you cannot offer any financial support right now, that is okay too. If you are able to share on your socials or even send a message of support, I would greatly appreciate it.
You can donate here:
If you would like to follow my journey and watch the LIVE shave at the end of March, you can follow me on social media @CoraJaine (Facebook and Instagram).
Thank you for taking the time to read and I wish you all a much better year than the last. You are amazing ♥
Big love,
Cora Jaine