Observe your thoughts, but don’t judge them, or necessarily agree with them. Merely observe and acknowledge.
Tag Archives: mental illness
Meet Your True Being
You are NOT your mental illness.
10 Simple Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
If you are like me then winter is not your friend. The cold, dreary days tend to drag on, as cabin fever sets in and depression, boredom, lack of motivation and lethargy begin to choke the life out of me.
I came across this entertaining, well-written article on Psych Central by author, Therese J. Borchard. Borchard lists these suggestions to help you battle the winter blues.
1. Be of service to others
I started cooking new-to-us, healthy recipes as my husband and I committed to losing weight before bathing suit season arrives. I feel like I am doing something extra special for my family as I spend an hour or more each night chopping, dicing, and slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, and preparing scrumptious home-cooked meals. The weekly planning and execution of such dishes (compared to a box meal or popping a pizza in the oven) alone helps to battle my boredom as well.
2. Join a gym
I did this – Yeah!!! The problem? I never went! A gym is a great idea for some, but not for me. Because of my anxiety, I have a hard enough time getting out of the house for essentials like doctor’s appointments. I am more successful with a mile walk around the neighborhood where I can take my time and hide behind my sunglasses rather than going to the gym and risk having to interact with anyone.
3. Use a light lamp
I do this, and it helps a lot. After 45 minutes in front of my light, I feel energized and ready to get off the couch and do something productive (like make those dinners.) I use my light twice a day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. It really does work.
4. Wear bright colors
I am an earthy kind of girl, wearing lots of browns, blacks, and greens. Neutral colors fill my closets, so I have not tried this suggestion out, but it makes sense that bright colors could lift your mood.
This morning, I walked into a new doctor’s office and the walls were painted a dreamcicle, creamy orange, and adorned with bright impressionist paintings. It was a breath of fresh air. I literally felt calmer and happier as I sat there, surrounded by these bright, yet soft, colors.
5. Force yourself outside
I step outside when I let the dogs out, mainly to have a cigarette, but hey at least I am getting out! I also go for walks outdoors.
6. Hang out with friends
This is a tricky area for me. I meet with a small group of women once a week and overall, it helps my mood. Having face-time with close friends definitely enhances my emotional well-being, but too much of it drains me physically and mentally. Migraines often follow visits that last too long. My limit for any type of social situation is about two hours.
7. Head south
We have always taken our family vacations during the summer months when the kids are out of school. Last year, however, I convinced my husband to head south during the month of December specifically for this reason – to battle my seasonal depression. It worked…for that month anyway.
We will probably do it again next year, but will shoot for January or February instead. The December trip was great, don’t get me wrong, but I think my depression really takes a nose dive after the holidays, so a trip in January would be more ideal.
8. Learn something new or start a home project
This winter I have been editing our home videos. I even splurged and bought a software program to add fun effects to them. It takes me several hours to do a ten minute video, but the results are very cool and satisfying.
Creative projects like video editing, painting, and photography keep my mind off the bleak weather conditions. When my hands are idle, my mind wanders and that is never a good thing for me.
9. Limit sugar intake
Sugar-crashes and weight gain….’nuf said.
10. Take Omega-3’s
My suggestion on this is to talk to your doctor. I take them, but I don’t feel they make a huge difference (if any at all) on my emotional health.
What do you do to battle the winter blues? Share your tips in the comments. Also, while you’re here, I invite you to subscribe to this blog. Thanks and have a blue-free day.
Let’s Talk About Mental Illness
A single conversation with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books. ~ Chinese Proverb
Today, we may keep our thoughts and worries to ourselves. We may search for explanations within the craziness of our minds. We may consult books and the internet to find answers for why we feel anxious, depressed, and hopeless, and how to fix it. We may suffer alone in the madness, telling ourselves that no one understands how we feel, that we are unique in the torture we suffer.
Or we can be open-minded to the possibility that like us there are others who experience the pains of mental illness. We can seek out those who have been where we are; ask them about their experiences and how they cope. We can lean on others for strength.
Sometimes the problem is not that we don’t have the answers but that we aren’t willing to discuss the questions with another human being. We often and unknowingly perpetuate our symptoms by searching for peace on our own.
It is in reaching out, asking for assistance, and making ourselves vulnerable, if only by talking to an understanding and trustworthy person about our thoughts and feelings, that we find peace. If I surround myself with others who understand and support me, I will survive. Afterall, we certainly won’t be crazy at the same time! I will lean on others when I need to and they will lean on me in turn.
Today, I will talk to someone about what is going on inside of my head instead of isolating, and I will know peace.
Need someone to talk to? Need someone to listen who understands? I get it. Leave a comment and let’s share about it.
To Be Normal
Mental Health Goal #1
How to Stay Happy When Others are Fighting
When the conflict of others does not directly involve me, am I able to stay out of it? At times, it is difficult to let the adults in my life fight their own battles. Also, it is harder to distance myself emotionally than physically.
Physically, I can go for a walk or a ride, sit outside, visit a neighbor, put on head phones and listen to relaxing music, or take a break from my surroundings in some way.
Emotionally, however, my thoughts obsess over the conflict, causing anxiety, depression and fear to overwhelm me.
If I am able to expel these thoughts from my mind in a constructive way, like talking about them with a trusted person who is a neutral party, the negative feelings leave me. Then I am able to detach with love from those waging amongst themselves.
I have the choice to try a different action; to walk a different path. Today, I can choose to know peace.
Keep Moving, Keep Changing – a poem
Who knew that clouds pass over
only to return so frequently –
a constant state of motion
only when the wind blows?
Who knew that scum gathers
in pond water; its slime slippery,
spotted with rot on both
dark and sunny days?
Who knew that inertia
holds the key to living,
and dying,
in the utmost subtle way?
I didn’t know, but
now I do. Do you?
Patron Saint of Mental Illness
May 15th is the feast day of Saint Dymphna, the patron saint of mental illness. For more information click here.
We do not know for certain how we will react in a particular situation until we are actually there. Multiple factors influence our thoughts, emotions and actions at any given moment. These factors may be outside of ourselves or come from within.
As humans, we all suffer from ailments, whether it is for a week with the flu, years with cancer, or a lifetime with mental illness. We must not forget that like the flu and cancer, mental illness is not a weakness or character flaw. It is an affliction of the mind/body that colors the way our soul/spirit experiences this world. Without help it is too much for us.
Have you ever prayed for someone? Do you ever ask others to pray for you?
Today, I ask St. Dymphna to pray to God for me and for all those who have mental illness.
Serenity Prayer
We feel that our past traps us in a constant state of despair and suffering. We blame others for our unhappiness. While our human condition tells us that we have to depend on things outside of ourselves for our peace of mind, this simply isn’t true. Our past experiences may have shaped who we are today, but they do not have to continue to affect us in negative ways.
We are not responsible for what happened to us as children, but we are responsible for doing something about it as adults. We have choices, now. Choices that may not have been possible before. We can remove ourselves from abusive and unsupportive environments and people. We can seek out positive and trustworthy individuals, and ask for their help. We need to find others who have found healthy solutions to difficult problems, and learn from them.
We are not unique in our experiences. There will always be others who have had worse experiences than us and others who have had more fortunate ones. Therefore, to compare ourselves and our situations with others is futile; it will only lead to either feelings of superiority or inferiority.
The way to true peace is to simply face the facts of our own situation, and accept what we cannot change while changing what we can. Praying for the wisdom to know the difference is vital to our plan of action.
Today, I will ask the Universe, the Divine Light, my Higher Power, the Holy Spirit, my God for the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
P.S. Happy Mother’s Day!
Write into the Light 