There are many emotions we experience in life. Not all easy ones. Anger and fear are two of these emotions. So are gratitude and compassion.
I’ve recently moved homes and anyone who has moved can attest to there being some level of feeling overwhelmed and displaced.
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My aim with this short blog is to utilise the holiday’s essence of thankfulness as an opportunity to explore how we relate to our identities over time. We can have gratitude for our identities, as they shape who we are and give life meaning. They give us a sense of belonging.
In acknowledgement of mental health week in Australia, a reminder for everyone globally, and in my capacity as a Beyond Blue Ambassador with lived experience, my blogs aim to provide a deeper understanding of what it is like to live with mental health challenges.
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Life is ‘ravelling and unravelling’, and you might be noticing it yourself.
Some of us are experiencing up to our sixth COVID-19 lockdown and it’s damn wearing. Even tougher for those who have the virus or have lost someone close during this crazy time.
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Music has a way of bridging what is in the head and heart. It gives us something to work with that has meaning when there are challenges.
I woke up today in Melbourne Australia’s sixth lockdown. And here we are again.
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The worldwide COVID pandemic has heightened judgments and negative intrusive thoughts for many of us.
For me, judgmental and negative intrusive thoughts have always been a norm. And it is most often toward myself not others. It is only a matter of how close to mind they are at any one time.
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The seed of willpower and motivation to face each new day needs ongoing cultivation to grow and thrive.
We need to set up the conditions to enable it to flourish. This can range from slow breath and movement modalities like yoga and meditation, to strong physical exercise, to calling a close family member or old friend to taking a stroll along a beach or garden. It is sipping a hot drink, a nourishing meal or a cleansing shower.
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Since I experience anxiety and depression and have for most of my life, I try to live in a way that deliberately maximises feeling well.
There are probably times in the day that flow easier than others. You may identify with a part of the day that takes more effort. Mornings have always been hardest for me and therefore I require a series of deliberate acts in order to recalibrate to a better frame of mind.
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I have reflected long and hard on the last few weeks disclosure of sexual harassment, assaults and rape of women in Australia. As an American living in Australia the last 25+ years, I am well aware of the rising #metoo movement that has spread globally. I know some of these statistics and with real names and faces.
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I’m living proof that curiosity can influence our wellbeing. No doubt we have all had encounters where we feel threatened. It could involve colleagues at work, family members, parenting or other personal conflicts. It’s part of life.
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve yearned to experience and sustain balance. Perhaps because it’s a state of being that renders utter contentment physically, mentally and emotionally. And it feels damn good! Simply put, I desire passion, energy and will to actively participate in this life with a healthy dose of steadfast stability.
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I have always had a natural tendency to compare myself to others. This is both human and normal. But overdoing it can lead to going down a rabbit hole and eventual despair if we don’t catch ourselves. You may relate in some way.
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When I share a first-hand account of living with mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, I feel an urgent and immediate need to share what it’s like with those who’ve not felt what I have. While this aspiration to enlighten others may be virtuous, I’ve recently realized that binary categories don’t work.
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In light of World Suicide Prevention Day (and R U OK Day in Australia) this Thursday Sept 10, I value the opportunity to write more openly about thoughts of death and not wanting to be here.
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I was recently reminded of the role of listening to our instinct when we feel the need to act for someone who is greatly suffering.
Either because of the COVID-19 pandemic, or despite it, there are people experiencing significant mental health challenges. Some who are on the brink of tragedy. To the point that life is so punishing and exhausting, it seems like they cannot take it anymore.
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As someone who has personal experience of at-times debilitating anxiety and depression, I was asked to reflect on what I’ve learnt about myself during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If there’s one thing we all should have learnt during recent times, it’s to be less surprised by the unexpected.
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It may be untimely to stand up for inequality and injustice through protests because of the COVID-19 pandemic but it’s imperative that we listen, reflect and act in some form. Now more than ever.
Inequality and injustice in all forms is contentious – gender, race, religion, socioeconomic status, disability and the list goes on.
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Given the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, when it comes to your mental health, it’s more important than ever for you to continue with regular professional support if you need it.
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We are all dealing with change yet again as COVID-19 restrictions ease around the world. Our relationship with acceptance, facing uncertainty and relinquishing control hangs in the balance. If not before the pandemic, we are experiencing this now and we can use these developing ‘muscles’ going forward.
Having lived with mental health challenges for over four decades, these are the three muscles I’ve been working on for many years. They have ultimately aided me in better dealing with life while we have been in lockdown.
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