Learning to become fluent with words that accurately describe the pain and symptoms you are feeling is one of the most helpful things you can do to create a positive working relationship and understanding between yourself and your medical professionals.
Category: Mental Health
Musings & Meditations – April 8 2021
What remains? Nature.
Book Therapy – There Is No Good Card For This
We have all been in that place where something awful happens to someone and we are petrified of saying the wrong thing or not sure how to help. This is where the book ‘There Is No Good Card For This: What to Say and Do When Life is Scary, Awful and Unfair to People You Love’ by Emily McDowell and Kelsey Crowe comes in to save us!
Just Because You Are Strong Enough To Carry It, Doesn’t Mean You Always Should
I hope you have people and places where you don’t have to be strong too.
A Word on Timing, Comfort and Change
There is something to be said for timing and usually we only see that something happens at the perfect time if it involves an obvious change or lesson, but even the things that we seek comfort from can come to us at the right time.
Who Is On Your Team?
As soon as things get tough, you know you are going to need a few people to lean on. Who is on your team?
What Do You Do While Everyone Else Is At Work?
One thing I am constantly being asked is ‘what do I do all day if I am not working?’. Here is a little insight into my daily life and health management.
Have You Considered Mental Health First Aid Training?
We are all aware of the mental health campaigns urging us to check in with each other, to start the conversation about someone’s mental health… but do you know how to support and guide them to resources if they say “No, I’m not ok”?. What are the next steps to take? Do you feel confident to have that discussion? Read more about my experience completing the Mental Health First Aid course.
Take Control Of What You Can – The Online World
When chronic conditions start to infiltrate every part of your life, you can feel like you are losing control or have others make all the choices for you. This series is about regaining a bit of control in areas that are manageable and make a huge difference – starting with the online world! Read about how I changed my online experience from taking me for a ride to taking the wheel!
How To Use Breathing Meditations For Pain
Most of the time we don’t even realise that we are holding our breath when we are in pain. So when we are in the moment of pain and waiting for it to pass or ease, here are some neat little breathing meditation practices to try to relax our bodies.
My Favourite Meditation Resources
Following on from my meditation journey post, I thought I would share some of my favorite meditation apps, teachers and people!
My Meditation Journey
My journey with meditation had a lot of false starts and it was definitely a skill that once I started with the right intentions and reasons, I haven’t stopped and it has become the most valuable practice in my life. Read more about my meditation journey here:
The Daily Project That Sustained Me During My Most Difficult Year
I started the year with ideas and dreams for a project – but the year had other plans for me and my project.
A Healthier Way to Review The Year
It’s pretty hard to look back on a disappointing year, when nothing went your way and felt like a struggle to get through. From my experience from many tough years, here are a few things to keep in mind when reviewing the year.
The Days Are Long But The Years Are Short
2020 has been a strange year and a lot of us have struggled with the notion that our perception of time has changed. This is a very similar experience to when you have a chronic medical condition. Read more here!
Book Therapy – Notes On A Nervous Planet
Matt Haig is a brilliant writer and human being who is constantly investigating and questioning the effect of modern life on our mental health. He is a huge advocate for mental health wellness, and has shared his experiences through his multiple fiction works and his non-fiction books.
Musings & Meditations – November 19 2020
Look on each day that comes as a challenge, as a test of courage.
Maybe She’s Born With It
So often we can fall into the trap of assuming that someone is naturally gifted with skills, habits and traits. But what if they weren’t born like that and worked hard to be that person?
The Danger of Setting Completion Dates For Things We Can’t Control
I have learnt that time and expectations are two very dangerous things to try to predict and manage. Now we are all learning that with COVID-19 too.
Reading Gives Us Someplace To Go When We Have To Stay Where We Are
When life gets too much we can retreat into familiar places and stories that give us comfort, and which feel better than the place that we are currently living in. Escaping into a book is the perfect balm for a tired soul in need of rest from yourself, your life and the world.
Musings & Meditations – October 29 2020
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” ― James Baldwin
Musings & Meditations – October 22 2020
You can not prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. – Chinese Proverb
Managing Both A Chronic Condition & An External Crisis
Being in pain or managing a chronic condition while also having an external crisis play out in front of you, can really add to the stress and therefore the symptoms that you manage. From my own experiences, here are my suggestions for managing both a chronic condition and an external crisis.
The Chronic Condition Emergency Plan
We never know when something could go wrong or we need additional help, and the best way to manage this is to be prepared and have a plan. Here are my tips to cover all bases!
Book Therapy – The Poetry Pharmacy + The Poetry Pharmacy Returns
I would love to introduce you to The Poetry Pharmacy. If you are a poetry beginner, or a literary lover, I am certain that you will find joy and comfort within these pages.
The Survival Kit
Nurturing ourselves with familiar and enriching activities that restore our energy is what keeps us afloat when everything around us is uncertain, rough and stormy.
Sharing Your Story With The Right People At The Right Time
Knowing who and when to share your story with takes skill and awareness, and can be incredibly supportive and rewarding.
Progress Is Not Linear
Once we have taken care of the immediate issues, diving into medical investigations can make it hard to work out if you are making progress.
Activities For Slow & Quiet Days
Some days you just need something to do that is quiet and not too taxing on your energy levels.
How Someone Looks May Not Be How They Feel
We all just want to be seen and heard for how we really are.
Clothes Can Change Your Mindset
Clothes help us to transition into different states of being and doing, and can transform your mindset and mood in an instant.
Taking Care of Yourself First
As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
