Mental Health Diaries- June 1st

The journey of service to others in mental health begins with taking care of your own.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=332516564082249&id=279497796050793

Mental Health Reflection: Fear of the Path

Fear of the Path: Click Here to Learn More!!

#WHY MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

CLICK BELOW TO LEARN MORE!!!!

OCTOBER 10, 2018 MENTAL HEALTH DAY

CLICK THE READ MORE LINK BELOW TO LEARN MORE!!!!

Creating a New Path: The Power of Truth...The Beginning.....

CLICK THE READ MORE LINK BELOW TO LEARN MORE!!!!

Breaking the Loop Teaser: Stay Tuned for Upcoming Content!

I have high functioning Bipolar depression. It may appear as someone who does not need treatment or successful treatment, but this is far from the case. It took me decades to understand what it was and why other women who have mental health challenges and are high functioning are oftentimes surviving but not truly thriving.

HOW TO CREATE A MENTAL HEALTH TOOL KIT

Open In Case of Emergency- My Mental Health Toolkit

As someone who has been challenged for decades by bipolar depression, I have developed through trial and error my mental health tool kit. These are strategies that I employ when I feel my mental health out of balance. As a disclaimer, these tools are not meant to help me achieve complete balance (trust me I don’t have that even on my perfect days!) but they help to slow the decline of my emotions, thereby avoiding or lessening the effects of my bipolar depressive symptoms.

My Emergency Toolkit (In no particular order)

1. I freeze. Whatever I’m doing or feeling I just stop and pause, literally. I will go so far take any and everything out of my hands, stop walking and just stand still.

2. Meditation. I never liked meditation or being more aware of my breath, until I learned that I don’t have to do it 1 hour a day. I don’t even have to be perfect, I just do it. This has by far been my most preemptive and in crisis toolkit item.

3. Calling Out. I have been very blessed to have a great support system. When I am challenged I reach out to my loved ones. They know not to give advice during these moments, instead it is used to provide encouragement.

4. Hibernate. If I am overloaded by the world, I use my bed as my little island away from the outside.

5. Movement. Natural light and the outdoors not only give my brain time to refocus on something other than my racing thoughts (the smells, sights and sounds) but I attempt to walk or stand next to a part of nature. I have always been a lover of dance and so if I can fit it in, I take a dance class.

I encourage you to use this checklist as catalyst to develop your own self care emergency routine. Even if you are not challenged by mental health, there are many times to use this when you want to realign your energy. Please see my future posts in this series to help you think through how to create a custom tool kit of your very own.

Purkids for the Soul

Sitting in the middle of the floor in the Purkids room I get the pleasure of observing and absorbing their little world. Sitting in silence they calmly walk over me, on me and around me. My breathing slows, my mind slows, my need to accomplish the next to do dissipates. Being a part of their little community, even for a short time, I am always in wonder. I learn something new with every visit and I notice little changes in myself.

Whether you are a dog, cat, fish, bunny or just general lover of animals understanding what caring for animals can do for your overall health cannot be underestimated. From lowering your stress level, to decreasing your chance at heart issues pets can play an important role in the overall health and wellness of a human body and spirit.

If you read my last post you have learned that I have been a lover of animals (cats specifically but honestly all animals) since I was a child. Recently my cat passed and I have chosen to give back by volunteering at a pet shelter.
 It is a gratifying for my soul as it is for my physical health.

So if you are ready to improve your health and the live of another animal, I welcome you to check out the purkids site for further information on volunteering, foster or adoption opportunities.

Some of the many health benefits of animals

Decreases Stress. ...

Lowers Blood Pressure. ...

Eases Pain. ...

Lowers Cholesterol.

Improves Mood. ...

Helps People Socialize. ...

Prevents Strokes. ...

Monitors Blood Sugar Levels for Diabetics.

FURKIDS- MY SELF CARE TEAM

ZANE ON THE LEFT AND PAGET ON THE RIGHT LOOKING OUT INTO THE WORLD

Sitting by the window with Zane and Paget. I stroke their fur as I put my head in between the cat tree to see the world outside. Birds are fetching their next meal at the feeder. The both watch with keen interest. My heart rate slows as I gently have my hand on the nape of their necks. We both sit in silence for what seems like eternity. Although I am here to help save them, they is really the one saving me.


Pets have the power to heal. I knew that at a young age. My earliest childhood memories involve sitting under the dining room table speaking to our house cat Sugar. To be honest, she was my mothers cat but as my sisters and I came into the world she allowed us to share my mom. I would spend nights sitting under the table rubbing her forehead while I spoke in soft tones. I would tell her about my day and talk to her about hers.

When she passed, we continued to have family cats. Each one was equally special. I was fortune in my lifetime to have my own cat in my late twenties. I searched far and wide for a purebred korat cat. Life however gave me just what I needed, Gizmo Jullian aka Gizzy. Everyone who came in contact with him thought he acted more like a dog than a cat. For me he was just Gizzy. He would be there to listen when I had a bad day. When my depression took a life of its own he would sit in bed with me while I cried myself to sleep. He would allow me to dance with him around the house during my happy times. Gizmo was pivotal in my self care. He would remind me that I could not just give up, he needed me.

Losing him after 10 years was one of the most devastating experiences during that time. However after some time I found Furkids and found a way to give back to animals who have given so much to me throughout the years. Volunteering with Furkids, specifically Purkids cats has been not only helpful to my overall health by lowering my stress levels it also helps me to learn how to give of myself to cats who only need love and safety.

Purkids specifically are cats that may not have had a chance to fully socialize with humans or experienced some type of trauma. Purkids volunteers work with specific cats, and through these interactions help these cats to become more comfortable around humans, thus making it easier for them to be adopted.

MY PURKID PAGET

I work with two wonderful cats, Zane and Paget. They have taught me lessons in love and that love doesn’t always come from animals that are cuddly and friendly. The special moments that I have and breakthroughs give me more joy each week. From my initial visit with hissing, paws ready to strike and just walking away from me all together, to full body rub downs, baby food grabbing with paws, and play time. Working with these cats has not only opened my heart to them but also to others.


If you are interested in volunteering with Furkids in any capacity (dog or cat volunteers), please see the link above. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

HOW I WANT TO GIVE BACK

I was recently listening to a great podcast on finding what you love and the number one question that was most important was who do I want to serve. I pondered over that question for a few months as I did not know what particular group I wanted to help. One day I realized that there is not just one group, I am a combination of perspectives and therefore I want to serve those parts of my past that made me who I am today.

I am a lover of music, well specifically anything minor, moving or sad. I was introduced to music at such a young age, it is entrenched in my DNA, from the music I sing to the movement through dance. So providing my experiences in music to a community who needs it, that is how I want to give back.

I struggle with self care. Specifically I find it challenging to focus on taking care of myself. I am learning to listen to my body more. My journey with bipolar depression has put me on a personal
journey to discover better ways to create a self care routine. I understand what happens when you don’t prioritize self care. I want to walk the journey of self care with others who may not be as far along as I am. That is how I want to give back.

I remember walking through my grandmother's garden, and in the back of the garden was a large compost pile. Every day that I visited her, I would watch her deposit food scraps into a white pail in the kitchen. We would then take the pail out to the compost. At the time the importance of giving back to the earth was natural. Now I am learning more and more about creating sustainability within my own home. Providing what I have learned to help those learn to build a better world is how I want to give back.

My path in life was made a little easier through access to education,
opportunities to see culture outside of my community and working with people who supported and guided me despite the worlds challenges. I want to help someone else to build their own path. That's how I want to give back.

Giving back to others using my talents, skills, passions and knowledge helps me to find what I love.