Journals

It seems to me that those who live with Self Harm, addiction or Mental Health are some of the most creative people I know. Maybe due to life experience, maybe due to introspection, maybe due to their unique view of the world.

I have always kept journals and diarys, some date back to when I was 16. Most reflect where my mind was at any given time, some so black, some with hope, some I look at and think 'my God, did I write that' , some with sketches, some with poetry,but it is my nature to write.

I recommend writing, scrapping,painting, doodling to work through things, but also with caution. Sometimes when we write where we are at, it can be pages of negative thoughts & images, of ourselves and the world. If you constantly go back and read these, you are reinforcing a negative view. Those I have written like this and I can be my worst enemy, I now write often just on a scrap of paper and I put awayin my 'black folder' (symbolic eh), never to be read again. Those thoughts are valid at the time, and I need to get them out but I consiously dont fill my head with them.

I keep a positive journal, I fill it with scraps I find in magazines, quotes from on-line, compliments people have given me. This can be as simple as someone saying 'I like your shirt' gradually and often slowly I fill each book. Ive even asked those close to me to write something positive in it.

Your blog can be an online journal but again caution. Others may read it and reinforce a negative view. Some may read it whom you dont intend, work colleagues, siblings, friends and take the wrong slant on it. Remember the net is a public domain.

If writing is not your forte, paint, draw, its not about being Michaelangelo this is purely for your expression. I did a quick search and here are some sites to get you started;

Soul Collage
Journals & Papers
Facing Us (has an online wellness book)

And Breathe...

This works for me when the world gets too hectic... just throw my arms back, look up and breathe .... helps put things in perspective & no one can touch me ... What works for you?

Tip #4

I had a best friend. He always told me... try to be nice to Abbey and don't take yourself so seriously. When things start getting shaky I find something, it doesn't have to be big, but something that makes me feel like I am being nice to me. (Stopping to look at the sky, or a little flower no-one else sees, or just making a decision to smile no matter how my day seems to be.)

When I create that one moment for myself, my outside stresses and situations might not change but I change how I am processing them and I am back in control of me, and for the rest of the day I am ok.



[Facing Us.Org]

Tip #3

It's not all about me

One of the things I don't like about these illnesses is that my focus is so much on ME all the time. How am I feeling? What am I doing? Is this sadness or a depressive downturn? Am I happy or is this a manic upswing? So I try and ask my friends and co workers every day how THEY are, what is new in THEIR life. It gets me out of my own head to practice asking about other people every single day.

Image:Best Friends by ~Midnitesho
Tip: Facing Us.Org

Wellness Wednesday

Tiger Balm

Tiger Balm is an ancient Chinese formula originally developed for use by Chinese Emperors for relieving pain and increasing circulation in the area where it is applied.

Used primarily for relief from muscular aches and pains, Tiger Balm’s active ingredients include camphor, menthol and clove oil. Tiger Balm comes in three types:white - a gentle colourless formula that can be used as a chest rub - the stronger red coloured ointment that produces a greater sensation of heat. A liniment version for massaging into large areas where there is muscular or joint pain ...

I use the red Tiger Balm for headaches ... It's not too expensive and I always have it in the first-aid kit. I apply a tiny bit to each temple and rub softly. Do be extremely careful not to get it near your eyes. I combine this with drinking alot of water (especially in summer) as the headache is often through dehydration (especially if I have become stressed or overworked) I forget to keep up the supply of H2O. Using the balm means I rarely have to resort to paracetamol.

If you would like to join in Wellness Wednesday, you can link here at my other site. Basically this is our first week of posting tips, ideas, thoughts on small things we do to enhance our health. By sharing our ideas we hope to build a data base of ideas & empower ourselves with regards to our day to day health. Hope you join us ... Abz

Tip #2

Sleep
Instead of laying in bed obsessing about how I am not sleeping, I get up and do one of three or four things: 1) I write a list about what ever I am obsessing about, and then let it go 2) I vacuum or do other light cleaning - but for no more than 10 minutes 3) I take a ten minute bath using a soothing bath gel like a lavender scent 4) I write in my journal.

[FacingUs.Org]

Tip #1

Prepare ahead of time for your appointments

I keep a special folder (bright colour so I won't lose it so easily) just for my psychiatrist and therapy appointments. I put anything I want to show them such as information about medicines I want to know about, programs I want to get into, or poems & journalling I wrote. I also put my list of questions I always have built up since my last appointment. Of course I bring my "Healing Calendar" where I chart my daily sleep, mood and medicine intake. By having this folder I usually get to cover everything I want to ask while I am with my doctor instead of walking out and 2 minutes after the appointment saying," Oh no, I wanted to ask.....!!!" Then have to wait another month or two before I can ask him.

[Facing Us.Org]