Hi, I am so excited you found my blog! I am Dave Truss, originally from the UK, now living and working in Romania with a non profit charity: Forget Me Not Ministries.
Struggles with my mental health
I am a Christian, I am neurodivergent, and I have struggled with my mental health since I was 12 years old when I had my first suicidal thoughts/ideation. Over the following years I have gone through depression, anxiety, diagnosed with ADHD and in February 2020 I had a stroke which led to PTSD/anxiety and generally struggling even more with my wellbeing.
For me, the past few years have been a deeper dive into the journey of discovering more about my mental health through therapy and getting a professional diagnosis on what I am facing day to day. Something that has really helped me on this journey and given me something fun to focus on, has been my growing love of espresso! When I first came to Romania in 2008, I didn't even drink coffee or like the taste. Fast forward through many years of being served thick, black, strong espresso from the very friendly & warm Romanian's & Roma I have met over the years, and I am now not just a coffee drinker, but a certified espresso obsessive!
Some of the espresso gear I played with in the past few years!
Journeys into thick, rich java!
Although I'm aware that the ADHD in me definitely makes me prone to obsess about every new hobby I get into; espresso and the world of machines, gadgets and most importantly freshly roasted coffee beans that I got into have really helped me to have a fun focus while I have gone on this journey of mental health discovery. That is where the name Java Journeys came from, and I hope with this blog to share parts of my journey with you.
I will sometimes be sharing about a new coffee bean I am trying, and other times I will be sharing more about my mental health, and anything else that I am thinking about. My faith in God has been a big (I'd say integral) part of my story...navigating what I believe while I have experienced things like depression, anxiety and being neurodivergent has been a long journey in itself and still is. Praying to and believing in a God who loves me is so encouraging, and is at the core of who I am. But I have also needed professional mental health help, therapy and medication in my life. I really believe that God cares deeply about our mental health and that the amazing mental health professionals working to help people, are part of him caring about us and our wellbeing. So I hope to share more about that too, and also my experiences of diagnosis and discovering more about mental health disorders.
My other interests
I love walking! For me there is nothing like going for a long walk, and growing up in the UK by the sea and now living in Romania I have been blessed with beautiful places to walk in.
I am into photography, this first started when I went on my initial trip to Romania in 2008 and bought a digital camera. This was a 2mp Sony handheld, and nowadays I use a Sony mirrorless camera. I really enjoy combining walking with photography.
I love movies, especially older ones. I am currently working my way through the TCM top 36 classic movies to watch.
Walks I have taken in Romania and the UK
Engaging with my website
You can read a bit more about why I created this website here.
I won't be posting here on a regular schedule, just as and when I feel I have something to share, so consider subscribing to get my new posts sent to your inbox.
Advocating for mental health, and promoting more awareness of the importance of wellbeing is something that is so close to my heart, and something I hope to make a small contribution to through this blog, so I hope we can all go on a journey together! Hopefully with a good mug of coffee in hand.
Thanks for reading,
Dave
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** The content provided in this post is for informational purposes only and is based on personal opinions and experiences. I am not a licensed mental health professional, and this information should not be considered as professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding your mental health. If you are in crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact a mental health professional or emergency services.