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Mental Health Mantra 3/365  I went to visit my 91 year old Dad today through his bedroom window in the residential home where he is living - I haven't hugged him since March. It was quite an upsetting visit as he was sobbing and crying this morning, part of this is his illness of vascular dementia, but he was also upset to see me outside in the cold all wrapped up and he just couldn't understand why I wasn't allowed inside to sit with him. Pretty much the whole 30 minutes he was crying and sobbing. 'Keep going' I told myself, 'don't collapse and cry with him', I was beginning to feel my voice tremble. I had brought a bag full of goodies I know he likes, fruity shower gel, under arm spray, a big carton of Osem Croutons and pictures of us that his key worker will help to stick into his on going scrapbook I made for him. I gathered all my energy for 10am on a Sunday morning and tried to talk him through those tears. The last time I visited him it was only last week, Christmas Day, the visit went well. I think it's all about the set up. Who's with him, which carer, how his day has started. I had made sure they knew I was coming but I didn't call this morning before I left, maybe I should have done. He wasn't in his room, he was in the lounge. Window visits are tough. No touch, or energy connection. Driving home I could let it go, I felt shaken and upset, I was thinking about what I needed to affirm and this popped into my forebrain. I am brave, yes you are! I know you need to know it too. Whatever is facing you in this now moment, take 3 minutes and declare .... I am BRAVE Yes you are! Sending oodles of warmth Keep shining your light and trust your intuitive intelligence.  "Art with Heart - calm your mind soothe your soul."
All rights reserved 2021 Julia Harvey
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In all of this external drama I have had to choose one thing to keep me sane and so I made meditation a priority, connection to spirit, quietness, stillness, amongst all the other stuff I have integrated over the past 32 years. The mental health anxiety I am witnessing in others and snapshots in myself the breakdowns of what is going on, means it has to be a daily practice otherwise I will go under. I hope it helps you to soothe any anxiety about what is unfolding and can help you calm your mind and soothe your soul. This is for you who who want to rebalance your chakras and feel less anxious about all the external stuff happening. I am planning to do some videos of me doing this self soothing meditation, which could be super cool if we do them in a group, so let me know if you'd be interested and I'll keep you posted. Take one of these slides and place your hands in the positions illustrated and repeat the mantra to yourself for 3 minutes. If you want to focus on all 9 of these hand positions, this will take you 27 mins (yep I can count lol). Sending you oodles of love on this wintery day. Keep shining your light and trust your intuitive intelligence.  Art with Heart ~ Calm Your Mind, Soothe Your Soul.
What Is Stress? Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. What Causes Stress? Many different things can cause stress -- from physical (such as fear of something dangerous) to emotional (such as worry over your family or job, relationship, bereavement etc...) Identifying what may be causing you stress is often the first step in learning how to better deal with your stress. Some of the most common sources of stress are: Survival Stress - You may have heard the phrase "fight or flight" before. This is a common response to danger in all people and animals. When you are afraid that someone or something may physically hurt you, your body naturally responds with a burst of energy so that you will be better able to survive the dangerous situation (fight) or escape it all together (flight). This is survival stress. Internal Stress - If you catch yourself worrying about things you can do nothing about or worrying for no reason - then you are dealing with internal stress and it is one of the most important kinds of stress to understand and manage. This often happens when we worry about things we can't control or put ourselves in situations we know will cause us stress. Environmental Stress - This is a response to things around you that cause stress, such as noise, crowding, and pressure from work or family. Identifying these environmental stresses and learning to avoid them or deal with them will help lower your stress level. Fatigue and Overwork - This kind of stress builds up over a long time and can take a hard toll on your body. It can be caused by working too much or too hard at your job(s), study or at home. It can also be caused by not knowing how to manage your time well or how to take time out for rest and relaxation. This can be one of the hardest kinds of stress to avoid because many people feel this is out of their control. Stress can affect both your body and your mind.  What are your stress levels? As you read these statements, think about the answer in terms of ....... Always, Sometimes or Never
If you have answered Always to 6 or more of these statements, then this may be a time to seek out support, perhaps first stop is to chat with your Doctor, it may be helpful to chat to them about your responses. Perhaps you have asked a member of your family to answer these statements, it's important to encourage them to seek out someone to talk to i.e. their Doctor and not to continue to feeling this way. |
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