Head Space

Tips to Relax by for the holidays

2010-12-04T14:44:00.004-05:00

This christmas a few tips on things to do to relax during the holidays.

Tip #1: Set aside some time during the holidays to read a book you really enjoy-curl up on the sofa or your bed and lose yourself for a while.

Woman Reading A Book

Photographer: graur razvan ionut
on Free Digital Photos

New theme for X-mas

2010-11-13T14:32:00.000-05:00

I decided to change the theme of Head Space for X-mas-i hope you like it-i find it is un-stressful scene.

I am improving in the are of my depression and anxiety so i should be posting more regularly soon.

Thinking and changing the brain

2010-09-03T17:52:00.001-04:00

People are now thinking that the brain changes much more readily than imagined and Neuroplasticity is the term that deals with this. It is now thought that your thoughts actually change the structure of your brain-maybe one reason Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been so successful. Go to NPR for dicussion of this.

Changing Template and I`m Back

2010-08-22T14:01:00.003-04:00

Hello to you all, I'm back again, i hope for a while.
Blogger has introduced new templates and so i am taking advantage of them and changing the template for Head Space. Hope you all like it. Let me know.

TIME OFF FOR NOW

2010-05-26T15:04:00.001-04:00

I am sorry it has been a while since i posted. I have been feeling burnt-out in connection with computer stuff and in general. i hope to work this out soon and be back at it. stay tuned please for more posts in the future.

COMBATTING MENTAL ILLNESS NATURALLY

2010-03-23T14:26:00.005-04:00

I have decided to focus more of my blog on posts that explore the area of combatting mental illness naturally. I am exploring this area for myself now to try and combat my anXiety (X) so i will share my discoveries with you, but i also intend to find out and post about mental illnes in general. I introduced a category last week that i think i will now rename and break into two categories: Think Natural and Think Natural: the X Edition.

Please share anything you know about in this area-the more info the better.

STILLNESS AND MIND HEALTH

2010-03-13T15:13:00.009-05:00

Recently i read a good article in the Montreal Gazette called Stay mentally Fit with quiet time and i include a copy of the article via this link. In the article they talk about mental health and what you can do to help yourself maintain it. One thing that is highly recommended is stillness-taking time basically to still your body and focus your mind on journaling, garden noises, etc for at least 15 minutes a day.

from free digital photos

NATURAL HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS

2010-03-05T10:59:00.006-05:00

I have decided to add a new category called Natural Help Highlights. I am currently reading a few books on how to help anxiety through natural means and will share the highlights of what i learn. Tune in next week for the first post in this category.

Canada Post Supports Mental Health

2010-02-21T13:24:00.007-05:00

I was on Canada Posts Website and noticed that they are continuing to support Mental Health with a booklet of stamps, whose stamps reflect the cause the money is going to, that has a added cost of 1$; the money goes to their foundation that works to support mental health. Thank-you to Canada Post for this initiative: for helping normalize mental health problems, for supporting mental health and for encouraging those who struggle with mental health problems, of whom i am one.

SARKS LIST

2010-02-13T14:31:00.010-05:00

I wanted to share this list designed and created by Sark as an encouragement to live more. Do some of the things on this list or come up with some of your own. When i originally saw this i added my own ideas to it as i copied it down. I like it especially because she touches on things i would not think to do.

Natural Relief From Anxiety

2010-02-06T13:49:00.006-05:00

I am currently reading the book Natural Relief From Anxiety by Edmund Bourne and others. The book covers exercise, relaxation, diet, meditation, conditions that agrivate anxiety and so on. Its a great book to help you combat your anxiety, take a look at it.

A Plan

2010-01-29T15:10:00.003-05:00

One thing i am trying to do right now is create a plan that will help me to combat my social anxiety and the other problems that i struggle with. I really need to do this because unless i have a plan when i want to do something i am a bit useless. Shop, no list, no go. Get things done today, no todo list, no to doing. Try to do this for yourself, especially if you are like me.

One thing i have realized as i have tried to put my plan together, less is more. Out of all the things i consider would be helpful in getting better i have decided i need to concentrate on just a few: mainly exercise, spending time with people being the big two, and counceling and learning about problems to better deal with them being the other two.

It Takes a Little Time

2010-01-23T12:26:00.004-05:00

I wanted to share the lyrics from the Amy Grant song It Takes a Little Time, form the Behind the Eyes albulm, with you because i find them encouraging in remembering that the problems we struggle with take time to deal with and not to beat myself up about that-its a process.

It takes a little time-Amy Grant

It takes a little time sometimes
To get your feet back on the ground
It takes a little time sometimes
To get the titanic turned back around
It takes a little time sometimes
But baby you're not going down
It takes more than you've got right now
Give it time

What's this walking thru' my door
I know I've seen the look before
Sometimes in faces on the street
Sometimes in the mirror looking back at me
You can't fix this pain with money
You can't rush a weary soul
You can't sweep it under the rug, now honey
It don't take a lot to know
(Chorus)

Now it may not be over by morning
But Rome wasn't built in a day
You can name this thing a thousand times
But it won't make it go away
Let me put my arms around you
And hold you while you weep
We've been talking and talking
I'm sick of this talk
And it's nothing that won't keep
(Chorus)

No you can't fix this pain with money
You can't rush a weary soul
You can't sweep it under the rug now honey
It don't take a lot to know
(Chorus)

I found the lyrics at lyricsfreak.

Zombie

2010-01-15T14:50:00.007-05:00

The song Zombie by the Cranberries is one of my favourites and recently as i listen to it made me think how the violence in our lives (especially when we are children) can cause silience. Not necessarily vocal silience, although it could cause that sort of silience, but rather an inner silience, a repressing of emotion, a repressing of self. We can become zombies, although zombies that are not as noticable as real zombies, we are still the living dead, having cut off a part or alot of ourselves we are no longer living. For myself this has been true for a long time, though now i am alot less of a zombie than i was before. If you are a zombie, deal with your wounds of violence, break the silience. Good photo to represent breaking free from being a zombie.

"Zombie"

Another head hangs lowly,
Child is slowly taken.
And the violence caused such silence,
Who are we mistaken?

But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying...

In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, dou, dou, dou, dou, dou...

Another mother's breakin',
Heart is taking over.
When the vi'lence causes silence,
We must be mistaken.

It's the same old theme since nineteen-sixteen.
In your head, in your head they're still fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are dying...

In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, hey, oh, ya, ya-a...

[ CRANBERRIES LYRICS at www.AZLyrics.com

Get lots of light

2010-01-09T16:21:00.004-05:00

One way to maintain your mental health during winter is to make sure you get natural light during the day. Whether you sit in a cafe near a big window or you go for a walk outside, try to make natural light emersion a habit during the dark winter months.

Sorry

2009-12-11T14:19:00.002-05:00

Sorry i have not posted ofr so long. A long standing illness i struggle with flared up and put me out of commission for a while and since then i have found it difficult to get back to blogging. I hope to start again soon.

Find out if you are highly sensitive

2009-10-24T16:38:00.003-04:00

If you think you may be a highly sensitive person take the time to find out because if you are understanding yourself will make such a difference in your life. It has made a great deal of difference in my life-before i wanted to be someone else and was unhappy with what i could not do-now that i understand more about myself as a HSP i do things in a way that works for me and accept myself and the way i am-more sensitive to stimulation, more easily drained than other people, etc.

Also-sorry for my lack of posting for a while, i was sick for a bit and that put a wrench into things.

De-stress among the leaves

2009-10-09T13:26:00.002-04:00

Fall is a wonderful time to lower your stress levels. Get out on a nice cool, sunny fall day and walk through colourful trees and falling leaves-you will feel more relaxed after some of this.

More books that will help HSP's or Highly Sensitive People

2009-10-02T16:22:00.007-04:00

Go to the store portion of the HSP website to find more books that could be helpful-i like the book Making Work Work for the highly sensitive person and The highly sensitive person in love.

Highly Sensitive People

2009-09-25T13:59:00.004-04:00

How can you know you are a Highly Sensitive Person or a HSP. Well, one way to find out if you probably are is to take the short test at http://www.hsperson.com/. Of course you can explore the website just mentioned and that will give you more info. For greater depth of info read the book The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron. For some quick facts go the Wikipedia site one HSP's.

Head Space directions

2009-09-19T11:45:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone, i'm back again. I have decided to add a new category to Head Space: Highly Sensitive People (HSP). Being one myself and knowing what a difference it makes to living when you understand this part of yourself better i felt this would be a worth while category to explore for myself and for other HSP. I have also decided to concentrate a more on those things that relate to my own headspace (such as anxiety, introversion, etc. )to narrow my blog a bit and also because the areas related to myself are areas i have more knowledge. Next week, an intro to HSP.

On Holiday

2009-08-21T14:15:00.001-04:00

I am going to being taking a few weeks off from blogging to renew my Head Space. Will be back in early September, so tune in then for more. Thanx for reading.

Summer de-stressing

2009-08-14T16:53:00.003-04:00

Feeling stressed, well make time for the park then. Go down, sit near the water if there is any, and read a book, a magazine, etc for a while; then look around you slowly and take in greeness, the flowers and let it soal into you; lastly, close your eyes and listen to the wind blowing the leaves in the trees, children playing, the birds singing-enjoy the music of the park.

More Artists Way

2009-08-07T11:21:00.004-04:00

Following up on my post last week on the Artists Way category i wanted to mention that the idea of taking a Walk on a regular basis is to help clear you mind, find answers while you walk, be inspired by what you see, etc. The Journaling or Morning Pages is to help relieve your mind of clutter, all the stuff from daily life that we keep milling around in our heads, and also to, at times, find answers to questions we have coming up in what we write.

The Artists Way

2009-07-31T14:11:00.007-04:00

I wanted to expand The Artists Way category this week. I have posted in this category previously but intend to post more now. Julia Cameron wrote The Artists Way, plus two books following this one called Walking in this World and Finding Water. In this category i will bring up stuff from the books that i think you might find helpful and i will also talk about the three main exercises that Cameron introduces in the books: Walking, Journaling and Artists Dates.

The purpose of these three exercises is to help you be more free. Specifically, in the books Julia is talking about freedom for or to be creative, but the books can help others especially those who are artistic or creative by temperament. Walking is going on a walk at least once a week; Journaling or Morning Pages is writing once a day, anything that comes to mind, without stopping for three pages-a way of clearing the mind; Artists Dates are a way to replenish yourself-go out and do something you really want to do and would really enjoy doing: visit a bookstore, go bowling, sit in a park. More on all of this next week, but do give these a try-see if you can go on an Artists Date, its harder than you might think.

Luna Lovelace

2009-07-24T14:28:00.003-04:00

I wanted to post on Luna Lovelace from the Harry Potter novels because i find her character very encouraging, besides being one of my favourite characters. I am encouraged because she is so herself. She wears what she wants, stands up for what she believes in and is quite honest in what she says (as harry points out painfully so). I am encouraged by her because i care too much about what others think and want to be more free and just be myself.

Rose Garden 8: Laughter and Stress

2009-07-17T13:53:00.009-04:00

She did everything she could to impress examiner with her wit, using it as a formidable defense. On three occasions she laughed imapproriately: once when she claimed that the hospitalization had been brought about by a suicide attempt, twice with reference to questions about the date of the month. As the interview proceeded her attitude changed and she began to speak loudly. I never Promised You a Rose Garden p.18 Hannah Green

MY THOUGHTS I like this quote, again, because, like the last quote i used, it touches on something i struggle with: laughing and acting strangely in social situations when feeling stressed, as a way to deal with that stress. Reading Rose Garden is a little like seeing myself at a distance, being able to observe my own problems in someone else. I feel relief that yes, it is a problem and i also feel hope because in solidifying something, in seeing it concretely it feels easier to deal with it because i can clearly see what it is and that it exists.

Rose Garden 7

2009-07-11T10:15:00.006-04:00

Now, as by the laws of the world, her image walked around and answered and asked and acted; she, no longer Deborah, but a person bearing the appropriate name for a dweller on Yr's plains, sang and danced and recited the ritual songs to a caressing wind that blew on the long grasses. I Never Promised you a Rose Garden p. 16 Hannah Green

MY THOUGHTS I like this quote from Rose Garden because it captures something i struggle with to a degree as well, withdrawing from reality. Often, especially when i feel stressed, it's like, when i speak i am listening to my own voice, not connected to it. Just reading about it makes it more real and true. I feel relieved, like Deborah did when Dr Fried said yes you are ill; seeing myself mirrored somewhat in Deborahs struggles I know my problems are real.

ROSE GARDEN 6

2009-07-03T13:52:00.003-04:00

In the morning the family started on its trip again. It occured to Deborah, as the car pulled away from the motel and out into the sunny day, that the trip might last forever and that the calm and marvelous freedom she felt might be a new gift from the usually too demanding gods and offices of Yr.

MY THOUGHTS I like a few things about this quote from the beginning of Rose Garden. One, i think it shows how sometimes being in a new enviroment from the usual can bring greater freedom because our usual environment often triggers our problems. Two, i like how you see at the beginning to the book this image of freedom, that Deborah is search for by getting help, and also a small bit of her illness intertwined, which is what mental illness does, intertwines into the good in life. Three, it shows the method she is using to deal with her problems, '...gods...' are now problems too '...usually too demanding...'.

BREATHE DEEPLY

2009-06-27T10:38:00.004-04:00

Another tip for keeping stress at bay-Breathe Deeply. The benefits from this action:

decreased heart rate
decreased blood pressure
slows brains electrical impulses
increases oxygen to muscles

This is tip #21 from the book Stress relief : 60 tips / Marie Borrel.

PLAY

2009-06-20T12:54:00.004-04:00

'The true object of all human life is play'
CK Chesterton

Quote found in Finding Water p. 16 by Julia Cameron

I liked this quote because i need to lighten up in life so it is good for me, but also because is relates to my previous post on play.

NEUROTRANSMITTERS

2009-06-12T16:06:00.003-04:00

Found how you can keep your neurotransmitter levels at levels that are healthy. I know from my own experience that exercise helps me. I am trying to learn more and was reading today about the fact that two amino acids are very important in the production of neurotransmitters-i will tell you more as i learn more. If anyone has info on neurotransmitter health, in easy to follow language, please do share it.

SUNSHINE

2009-06-05T17:43:00.003-04:00

To improve your mood get some sun-the warmth, the brightness all will lift your mood. If the day is hot try to not to be out or out to long in the sun between 11am and 3pm.

NEGATIVE OXYGEN IONS

2009-05-29T16:13:00.007-04:00

In the book I mentioned in my last post, Stress Relief, one tip that they mention to keep your stress down is the type of oxygen ions that you breathe in. Positive ions are not so good for you, but negative oxygen ions are; they help with mood, they aid your mind toward happiness and health. Places these are readily available: nature and near moving water (thats right, being near the sea IS good for your health)-so get out there and breathe them in.

Stress Relief

2009-05-19T14:13:00.005-04:00

I am currently reading a book on dealing with/handling stress which I highly recomend. The books name is Stress relief : 60 tips / Marie Borrel. She divides the tips into three sections. The first section has 20 tips for generally keeping stress under control, the second section if you have some problems with stress and the final section for those with major stress problems. Each tip gives you good basic info that you can easily use and the books design makes it easy to access the info.

Being Nice

2009-05-14T14:41:00.007-04:00

One thing that can make our lives more difficult is being 'nice'. Here I am refering to being 'nice' in the bad sense of:

shying away from anger

assuming that because someone is angry at you the relationship is over

not being honest in case it upsets others

going along with others so they will like you

In the novel Just Listen, written by Sarah Dessen, the main character Annabell is 'nice' and a boy she meets, whose policey is always to be honest, challenges her and encourages her to be the same. We all function better phycologically when we are able to be ourselves, communicating that person and who they are to others, especially those close to us. Being yourself also decreases your stress levels.

Cut

2009-05-08T16:47:00.000-04:00

For this post I wanted to bring to your attention the novel Cut. The novel is written by Patricia McCormick and is a great look at the process of healing for a young woman who deals with issues she has by cutting herself. A good read while at the same time making real someone who is struggling with mental illness. Encouraging for those who struggle with mental illness and enlightening for those who do not. Buy it, take it out of the library, it a great read for adults or teens.

Some US websites

2009-04-24T14:54:00.002-04:00

For this post I thought I would toss a few US websites your way. One is called Mental Help and the other is the National Alliance on Mental Illness website. Hope the info on these sites is helpful.

Play is good

2009-04-18T14:31:00.004-04:00

I was listening to the radio this afternoon and they were talking about how play is a good thing for us, both as children and adults. So, do take some time to play; I'm quite sure that play does help keep the mind healthy so take time to do so and encourage others in your life to do the same; or better yet, play with them.

Exercise

2009-04-03T14:33:00.004-04:00

Now that spring has come to Montreal I am more actively thinking about exercise to help me in dealing with my Social Anxiety. Exercise is good for those struggling with mental health issues because it puts your grey matter in a better space so it can be easier to tackle whatever problems you struggle with. Give it a go. Find an exercise you like and try it out. If possible, find an other or others to do it with, it can make it easier to do it and can have the added benefit of social interaction. Here are a few sites with info on the subject of mental health and exercise. One at Canoe.ca, another at About.com. Give it a try. I have found that increasing your brains endorphins which exercise does also helps you in controling your thoughts which is a great bonus if you are struggling with negative thoughts or thought control. More on this in my next post.

The Complete Artists Way

2009-03-27T16:49:00.003-04:00

I wanted to recomend the new book The Complete Artists Way to you. Its kind of like a course in boundaries for creative types, helping you better define yourself. Part of being mentally healthy is being yourself. Sometimes as children we loose parts of ourselves and this book could help in becoming whole again. Give it a try and see if it helps you. This book is made up of three other books by Julia Cameron so you could try one at a time if you would rather. Click on the link and check them out on the Artists Way website.

A Few More Stress Related Websites

2009-03-20T14:20:00.002-04:00

From a website called the Helpguide, from the BBC, and from About.com.

Mayo Clinic on Stress

2009-03-13T13:29:00.002-04:00

The Mayo Clinic has a nice little section on stress that has some great info., take a look.

Stress

2009-03-06T13:23:00.002-05:00

One thing that can really help your mental health is managing your stress. Not doing so impacts both your physical and mental health alot. My next few posts will introduce you to web resources and maybe a book or two that can help you dealing with stress. I like the Kids Health Website because it gives good basic info about stress that is easy to understand. Take a look at the site and start managing your stress better and stay tuned to future posts for more on stress and managing it.

Some Brain Chemistry

2009-02-17T15:30:00.005-05:00

One thing I have come to realize in dealing with mental health problems is making sure your brain chemistry is in order makes a big difference. I know that for myself some of my brain chemicals are on the low side, which makes it harder to deal with problems. I have come to realize both through examples of others (person takes meds and side effects change personality for worst), my own experience and through what people working in the field have said, that doing things to help my brain function better can make a big difference in overcoming my problems. There are three things I am trying to do to help myself in this area:

One, stop thinking negatively, don't think about negative things, but think about positive things, see the positive, see the glass as being half full. Some have suggested that negative thoughts decrease your neurotransmitters and positive thoughts increase your neurotransmitters.

Two, do things that make me really happy and so increase the endorphins in my brain.

Three, exercise in a way that really increases the endorphins in my brain.

Find those things that make your brain work better and try to work these into your life.

Websites in the UK

2009-02-11T13:56:00.003-05:00

For this post I decided to give you a few sites from the UK that have some good info on them. Take a look and use the ones that you like the most. The BBC Mental Health page, The Royal College of Phychiatrists, The Department of Mental Health UK, Mind, and the Mental Health Foundation.

Mayo Clinic

2009-01-28T15:15:00.004-05:00

Another website that I find quite helpful is the Mayo Clinic Website. It has all sorts of info. on mental health and mental illness, and is quite well designed so it is pretty easy to navigate. Surf over and dive in. The Mayo Clinic also has a Newsletter to keep you up to date on whats happening medically that you can subscribe to.

Canadian Mental Health Association

2009-01-23T13:31:00.003-05:00

The Canadian Mental Health Association has a great website. It is well design, which makes it easy to navigate and access the info it has, and the info it does offer is good. Take a look.

WINTER BLUES

2009-01-09T14:07:00.003-05:00

Seasonal changes can effect your mental health. Some of us are more affected by changes in season, especially the winter season. For most of us winter can be difficult to deal with because of the cold, the darkness, etc. and we can have more trouble functioning. Find here some more practical but poetical advice or here . For others who struggle with SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder the stuggle is harder. Take a look at what the CMHA or the Canadian Mental Health Association has to say about it.

LAUGHTER DURING THE HOLIDAYS

2008-12-26T14:42:00.002-05:00

Another good promoter of mental health, or is that Mental Elf, is laughter.

How? Rent a funny movie and kick back and watch it with friends, family or on your own. Go to a comedy club and see your favourtie comedian perform. Take out a collection of your favourite comics from the library and curl up with them.

NATURE AT CHRISTMAS

2008-12-24T14:39:00.001-05:00

Spending some time in nature during the Christmas season can be helpful.

How? You can combine exercise and nature time: snow shoe through the forest, skate on the lake near your home, or walk through snowy woods, or if you are in a warmer area go to the beach, cycle through a national park, etc.

HOLIDAY EXERCISE

2008-12-22T14:33:00.002-05:00

One good way to keep yourself mentally healthy is to make sure you get some exercise during the holidays.

How? Go sledding with the kids, walk, skate, cross country ski, snow shoe, or if you are in a warmer climb, cycle, swim, hike, etc.

EATING DURING THE HOLIDAYS

2008-12-20T13:43:00.000-05:00

Seasonal Feasting-Enjoy the wonderful food, but also be kind to yourself-try not to have too much food that makes it harder for you to function and if you do, enjoy it while you eat it, and do not berate yourself after the fact when you feel bad, just take the time to recover and remind yourself that you only do this occasionally.

YOUR CHRISTMAS MEAL

2008-12-18T13:40:00.001-05:00

Stress free christmas meal-have everyone who is coming prepare one dish so that the host is not stuck with everything-unless of course christmas cooking is a joy for that person and then , of course, have your fun-just don't over do it.

QUIET TIMES DURING THE HOLIDAYS

2008-12-15T13:21:00.002-05:00

Time for self or your closest relationships-During the holidays make sure that you schedule time by yourself or time with those closest to you to just relax and take it easy; creating this kind of down time will make any people time you have that much more enjoyable.

TIME OUT AT CELEBRATIONS

2008-12-10T13:17:00.004-05:00

Create self space during people time-When you are at parties make sure that you take time out for yourself now and then so you can recharge and continue to enjoy being with people; a few minutes here and there somewhere quiet can make all the difference in not getting too stressed out at holiday gatherings.

MORE HEAD HEALTH AT CHRISTMAS

2008-12-06T11:40:00.003-05:00

For those of you who want to keep your heads during the holidays another suggestion comes from the Mental Health Foundation in the UK. Take a look and keep your head healthy.

CHRISTMAS HEAD HEALTH

2008-11-26T12:39:00.010-05:00

For the Christmas/Holiday season I will be posting info. that can help you keep your mental/inner health in good shape.

TIP
For my first holiday post a Website by The Better Health Channel in Australia. They offer tips on staying stress free during the Holiday Season, touching specifically on areas such as shopping, meals, relationships, budgeting. Take a look and relax. Chill!

AFFIRMATION

2008-11-11T15:58:00.003-05:00

I am a talented person.
The Artists Way 146

REST

2008-10-29T11:29:00.010-04:00

The ego hates to rest. The ego doesn't want to let God, or sleep, mend up the raveled sleeve of care. The ego would like to handle all that itself, thank-you.
Walking in this World Julia Cameron p. 29

ACCEPT HOPE

2008-10-24T15:24:00.010-04:00

I now accept hope.
The Artists Way Julia Cameron p. 146

HEAL

2008-10-16T14:49:00.001-04:00

I now allow myself to heal.
the artists way p. 146

Seek Beauty

2008-10-10T14:45:00.004-04:00

"Let's try to make this a really golden day, girls....We're to seek for beauty and refuse to see anything else."
Anne of Avonlea p117

A good habit to be in, its hard to be negative if you are looking for and seeing beauty.

Be Yourself

2008-10-03T16:06:00.008-04:00

When you're being real and vulnerable, intimacy comes naturally. You are confident enough to show all sides of yourself. That's the definition of real control.

Today, I let myself go. I act goofy and show my vulnerability. When I feel out of control, I don't care who sees me and what people think. The irony is that I'm more in control of my life now that when I was pretending to be. I certainly have a lot more fun. I'm relaxed and I'm myself. Appearances have become less important. I'd rather feel good than look good.

Needing to look a certain way prevents you from forming intimate relationships because in order to do so, you must reveal who you really are. Unconditional love, perhaps the greatest gift in all the world, cannot exist unless someone truly knows you. all of you. When you're trying to control the way you look, the way you act, and the way you feel, intimacy is impossible.

p.87 From Panic to Power Lucinda Bassett

Take Action, Conquer Fear

2008-09-24T20:06:00.003-04:00

Fear is conquered by action.
When we challenge our fears, we defeat them.
When we grapple with our difficulties,
they lose their hold upon us.
When we dare to face the
things which scare us,
we open the door to freedom.
Author Unknown

p.16 From Panic to Power Lucinda Bassett

Don't Live in Fear

2008-09-16T18:08:00.002-04:00

Life is a fabulous adventure. It wasn't meant to be lived in fear.

p. 15 From Panic to Power Lucinda Bassett

FAILURE IS A PART OF LIFE

2008-09-05T14:03:00.003-04:00

Recovery from anything is usually one step forward, two steps back. Failure
is an inevitable part of the path to success.
p. 10 From Panic to Power by Lucinda Bassett

YOU ARE SPECIAL IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS

2008-08-30T13:35:00.007-04:00

Here's the good news: you're special. If you are someone who experiences more than the average amount of anxiety you are full of potential for greatness. Why? You are highly creative with a fabulous imagination.
P. 3 From Panic to Power by Lucinda Bassett

FEAR IS CONQUERED BY ACTION

2008-08-22T14:01:00.005-04:00

Fear is conquered by action.
When we challenge our fears, we defeat
them. When we grapple with our difficulties,
they lose their hold upon
us. When we dare to face the
things which scare us,
we open the door to freedom.

Author Unknown
Quote found in p.16 From Panic to Power
Lucinda Bassett

ACT

2008-08-15T10:28:00.003-04:00

ACT
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power in it.
Goethe

Quote found in:
Introduction xix
From Panic to Power
by Lucinda Bassett

SANITY DEFINED BY NUMBERS

2008-08-05T15:33:00.004-04:00

She saw the pencil doctor a few more times and learned that he was the "ward administrator" and the one who gave permission for "privileges"...To Deborah he gave permission to walk unrestricted on the grounds, but not outside. Deborah said to the large girl, whose name was Carla, "Well, I'm a hundred square yards sane." If there were such things as man-hours and light-years, surely there was foot-sanity.
I Never Promised You A Rose Garden
p.21

Funny and true.

No emotion, world withdrawal

2008-07-30T13:32:00.004-04:00

On the other side of the wall Deborah stretched to sleep. The Kingdom of Yr had a kind of neutral place which was called the Fourth Level. It was achieved only by accident and could not be reached by formula or an act of will. At the Fourth Level there was no emotion to endure, no past or future to grind against. There was no memory or possession of any self, nothing except dead facts which came unbidden when she needed them and which had no feeling attached to them.
I Never Promised You A Rose Garden p.11

MY THOUGHTS I can relate to this quote because currently I am mostly disconnected from my emotions, and dwell often in a land of fact, not emotion. And too often I am disconnect from what is happening around me, like a very close by observer or my life, kind of a Fourth Level place. What really matters to me is to see my reality mirrored back to me in I Never Promised You A Rose Garden and to know that I'm not crazy in thinking there is a problem.

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

2008-07-22T11:03:00.009-04:00

Why quote from I Never Promised You A Rose Garden?
First a bit of background on the book. I Never Promised You A Rose Garden is a book that deals with a girl who is mentally ill and her fight for and desire for help and sanity and the journey she takes toward it. Her parents send her on the journey, other patients accompany her, the staff, some more than others, help her, and her doctor uses her considerable skill as a phyciatrist to free her.

The book really catches so much of what mental illness is...

The book really catches so much of what mental illness is-it is great prose, but also like poetry as I like it best, it uses language well to help the reader see the truth of something without hiding in layers of meaning-this really helps the book not to be too dark, as something about mental illness could be; the light the words shed on mental illness keeps quite a bit of the darkness at bay. The book also has quite a bit of humour which also keeps the book from being too heavy or dark.

All this being said, I am quoting from the book on Head Space because so often it, as I mentioned above, it strikes truth in its pages, and does so with more accuracy than a non-fiction book could or can because the truth is not set apart from life, but set in life and living, making it more available and see-able.

They Flew

2008-07-16T11:06:00.005-04:00

Come to the edge, He said.
They said, We are afraid.
Come to the edge, He said.
They came.
He pushed them...
And they flew.
Guillaume Apollinaire

Quoted in From Panic to Power
by Lucinda Bassett
p. 3

ITS JUST A RIDE

2008-06-27T13:36:00.011-04:00

Recently I was listening to the soundtrack of the movie The Prince & Me and came across the song It's just a ride. I really found the lyrics from the song encouraging because they helped me remember not to take life too seriously, to enjoy life-the ride-and to remember that ups and downs are a part of life, and that the downs are needed for there to be ups. It helped me look at life in a much more positive way.

Here are the lyrics for you to see.

JEM LYRICS

"Just A Ride"

Life, it's ever so strange
It's so full of change
Think that you've worked it out
Then BANG
Right out of the blue
Something happens to you
To throw you off course
And then you

Breakdown
Yeah you breakdown
Well don't you breakdown
Listen to me
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
No need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you round and round
Sometimes you're up
Sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
Don't be scared
Don't hide your eyes
It may feel so real inside
But don't forget it's just a ride

Truth, we don't wanna hear
It's too much to take
Don't like to feel out of control
So we make our plans
Ten times a day
And when they don't go
Our way we

Breakdown
Yeah we breakdown
Well don't you breakdown
Listen to me
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
No need to run,
no need to hide
It'll take you round and round
Sometimes you're up
Sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
Don't be scared
Don't hide your eyes
It may feel so real inside
But don't forget it's just a ride

Slowly, oh so very slowly
Accept that
There's no getting off
So live it, just gotta go with it
Coz this ride's, never gonna stop

Breakdown
Don't you breakdown
No need to breakdown
No need at all
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
No need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you all around
Sometimes you're up
Sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's
just a ride
Don't be scared now
Dry your eyes
It may feel so real inside
But don't forget enjoy the ride

http://www.azlyrics.com/

SUPERMAN

2008-06-20T16:31:00.013-04:00

Another song that i find encouraging is "Superman" by Five for Fighting The part of the song that goes:

I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane,
more than some pretty face beside a train,
It's not easy to be me.

I guess the humour of the song encourages me, but the last line is especially encouraging because i find it hard to be me. So often i am acting in a way that i hope will make others happy; good for conflict avoidance, maybe, but not so good for your mental health or for real relationships (my next post will touch on being real and relationships and "I never promised you a rose garden"). so back to those last lyrics, it encourages me because it helps me remember others struggle with being themselves, I'm not alone, and also it encourages me because it its like i am saying to myself, yes it is a struggle to be yourself, don't give-up.

Here are the full lyrics:

Superman (It's Not Easy)
I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
I’m just out to find
The better part of me

I’m more than a bird…I’m more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train
It’s not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home
I’ll never see

It may sound absurd…but don’t be naive
Even Heroes
have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed…but won’t you concede
Even Heroes have the right to dream
It’s not easy to be me

Up, up and
away…away from me
It’s all right…You can all sleep sound tonight
I’m not crazy…or anything…

I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
Men weren’t meant to ride
With clouds between their knees

I’m only a man
in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me

It’s not easy to be me.

White Flag

2008-06-11T11:34:00.002-04:00

One song that really helps me when i am feeling discouraged is "White Flag" by Dido. i sing the courus and i feel encouraged.

But i will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
there will be not white flag above my door
i'm in love and always will be.

It's like i am fighting back against my anxiety/depression/discouragement and saying i will not give into it, i will keep trying to live. Plus the distinctive melody gives it an extra boost for me.When I'm out and about and here it i am particularly encouraged.

Nature Time

2008-05-23T16:52:00.004-04:00

One way to help keep your self mentally healthy is to spend some nature time. Whether it is time in a local park, time at the beach, time in the wilderness or time in your own backyard, take the time and quietly soak in the sounds, smells and beauty of nature-it will be time well spent. Here is a picture of Park Lafontaine in Montreal.

BREAK AWAY BY KELLY CLARKSON

2008-05-02T14:54:00.012-04:00

I really like this song by Kelly Clarkson because the picture the lyrics paint is one of being able to move beyond what ever holds you back. I feel so encouraged when i hear it, i feel i can do those things it is hard for me to do.

Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray (I would pray)

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could break away

[Chorus:]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)
And breakaway

[Chorus]

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging around revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway.

Here Comes the Sun

2008-04-19T11:17:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the hiatus. I'm back. Today i wanted to post the lyrics to the Beatles-Here Comes the Sun. I find it such an encouraging song-especially is you have been going through your own winter. Be encouraged-here comes the sun.

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun,
sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun,
here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it
comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right

The Optimistic Child

2008-04-02T16:07:00.004-04:00

I highly recommend the book The Optimsitic Child to anyone with anxiety or depression as it takes a very simple, practical and commonsense approach to cognitive therapy and depression (though i find it helpful for me with anxiety) and also a non-negative approach to the subject, which keeps me from getting discouraged. Take it out of the library, buy it, read it-you will understand yourself better and begin to change the way you think-it is intended to help kids but the authors have written it so parents can change too since kids learn by seeing.

True Colors

2008-03-29T13:41:00.005-04:00

I really like the lyrics of this song because they encourage the person listening to be who they, something that can be hard to do and if not done can lead to disease of the mind or soul, but if done can make life painful, amazing, full, etc.

You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Oh, I realize
It's hard
to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see
your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow

Show me a smile then,
Don't be unhappy
Can't remember when
I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
Your true colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow

(Can't remember when I last
saw you laughing)

If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there

And
I'll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And
that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors
True colors are shining through

I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow.

by Cindy Lauper

Are you listening to your life

2008-03-06T17:10:00.003-05:00

Is important to be who you are-the truest form of integrity. This article-Are you Listening to your Life by Parker J Palmer is very encouraging in this. Mental illness can arise out of walling yourself off to protect yourself or pushing yourself into what you think you should do. Live truely.

Somewhere over the Rainbow covered by Israel Kamakawiwo

2008-03-01T13:57:00.007-05:00

For something a little different this week i include a link to a video on YouTube. The video is of the song Somewhere over the Rainbow covered by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole (it also includes some of the song Its a Wonderful World). Just close your eyes and listen to it.

Don't Play Small

2008-02-19T16:35:00.006-05:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

This is one of favourite quotes. I first came across a part of it through Nelson Mandela quoting it in a speach he gave. The quote is from a book called A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson. Let it speak to your heart.

Slow Dance

2008-02-08T16:39:00.000-05:00

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You'd better slow down,
don't dance so fast,
time is short,
the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly
When you ask "How are you?" do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down,
don't dance so fast,
time is short,
the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow
and in your haste,not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down,
don't dance so fast,
time is short,
the music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away...

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower.
Hear the music,
before the song is over.

I recieved this poem in my e-mail a while back. Some say the story that came with it was a hoax, whatever the case, i find that the poem is encouraging and contains a very fundamental truth about life.

Soul thoughts

2008-01-31T17:18:00.001-05:00

'The soul is dyed the colour of its thoughts. Think only on those things that...' you want your soul to be coloured by.

Don't Quit

2008-01-23T13:35:00.000-05:00

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile and you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit...
rest if you must but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out,
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar,
so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
it's when things go wrong that you mustn't quit.

Happy Birthday to You

2008-01-22T15:12:00.000-05:00

Today you are you!
That is tru-er than true!
There is no one alive who is you-er than you!
Shout aloud:

"I am lucky to be what I am!
Thank goodness I'm not
just a clam or a ham
or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam!
I am what I am,
that's a great thing to be!
I say so myself,
Happy birthday to me!

From Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss

Thought Quote

2008-01-18T16:54:00.000-05:00

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.

Unwritten-Natasha Bedingfield

2008-01-11T16:16:00.000-05:00

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it

Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

I break tradition, sometimes my
tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes,
but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it

Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Keep in the Sunlight

2008-01-09T12:43:00.000-05:00

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.
Benjamin Franklin

Laugh, feel good with Comics

2008-01-08T13:37:00.001-05:00

I found a site with all sorts of comics at comics.com. This is a great way to relieve stress, release great chemicals into your system or just to laugh alot. Take a look at it, it's alot of fun.

ROSE GARDEN 4

2007-12-06T15:05:00.002-05:00

Deborah looked around the cluttered office. For the members of the world, sunlight was streaming through the windows, but its goldenness and warmth were only there for her to perceive at a distance. The air around her was still cold and dark. It was this eternal estrangement, not fire against her flesh (blogger note: Deborah was burning cigarettes on herself as a way to deal with the mass of hurt and emotion that she had pushed down inside herself), that was the agony. p. 174.

MY THOUGHTS I can relate to what Deborah is experiencing here because I have cut myself off from the world, retreated into myself to protect myself, and long to connect fully with the world again.

ROSE GARDEN 3

2007-11-15T18:17:00.002-05:00

Deborah's illness has done more than shake the portraits in the family albulm. Some of the family had had to question why and had grown a little themselves because of the asking. If this were true, it was a source of hope seldom mentioned in the phychiatric journals, maybe because it was beyond 'science' and beyond planning for. Outisde the doors of study, Dr. Fried's father had once told her, an angel waits.

MY THOUGHTS I liked this quote because one, it points out that helping one person can help others, and two, for the image of an angel waiting outside the office is great.

Help your mental health by de-stressing

2007-10-04T13:58:00.000-04:00

Spend time in nature.
Listen to music.
Take time with friends.
Exercise.
Play with animals.
Dance.
Read in a cafe.
Read/watch something funny.
Light some candles.

ROSE GARDEN 2

2007-10-03T13:14:00.001-04:00

"'Well...' Deborah came into a sort of sunshine. 'I'm crazy now. As soon as you admitted that i was sick-as soon as you admitted that i was so sick that i had to be in a hospital, you proved to me that i was saner than i had thought. You know, saner is stonger'
'I don't quite understand.'
'I had known all those years how sick i was, and nobody else would admit it.'
'You were asked to mistrust even the reality to which you were closest and which you could discern as clearly as daylight. Small wonder that mental patients have so low a tolerance for lies...'"

MY THOUGHTS

I Never Pomised You a Rose Garden 1

2007-10-02T13:36:00.000-04:00

"She liked working with patients. Their very illness made them examine sainity as very few 'sane' people could. Kept from loving, sharing, and simple communication they often hungered for it with a purity of passion which she saw as beautiful."
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. Hannah Green. 1964 P. 17

Number One

2007-10-02T13:27:00.000-04:00

My first post on this blog to say that i am looking forward to seing where exploring mental health takes me. It's something on my mind since i struggle with social anxiety. So i hope that i can get healthier doing this blog and others can find greater health through it.