Philippa

Why I’m Doing 20 Hours of Silence

This June I’m going to sit in silence for 20 hours.

I’ll be sitting in a 2x2 metre square. No phone, no talking, no distractions. Just me and my thoughts… which, if you know me, is mildly concerning.

I’ve had anxiety and depression since I was really young. It’s not something that just went away — I’m still medicated, still managing it, still figuring it out as I go. Some periods are easier than others, but it never fully disappears.

So I've learnt to stay busy. Friends, family, work, animals — it all helps. It means I don’t have to sit in it for too long.

So this will be uncomfortable for me.

And that’s kind of the point.

Because for a lot of people, especially young people, there isn’t an off switch. You don’t get to step away from your thoughts. It can feel constant, and isolating.

Sitting in that space for 20 hours is meant to be a small glimpse of that — the quiet, the stillness, and how heavy it can feel.

I’m doing it for 20Talk, who focus on youth mental health and prevention — helping people before things get to a really bad place, and making it easier to actually talk about what’s going on.

Because a lot of people are struggling in silence.

I know things are tight for a lot of people at the moment, but if you’re able to donate or share, I’d really appreciate it. 

Love Pip x