So glad you stopped by And hope to see you again soon.
Melinda
Month: October 2023
#Weekend Music Share-Hotel California (Live 1977) I was at the concert
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
What’s Your Mood Today?
Do You Know A Person With Bipolar Disorder? This Is My Personal Experience
If you care for someone with Bipolar Disorder, know the basics about the illness and side effects. You’ll learn as you go. It’s important that you don’t keep asking how they’re doing; that will stress them out. You will have to up your game to catch the nuances of body language and conversations.
Different types of Bipolar Disorder.
There are three types of bipolar disorder. All three types involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, irritable, or energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very “down,” sad, indifferent, or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.
Bipolar I disorder is defined by manic episodes that last for at least 7 days (nearly every day for most of the day) or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate medical care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed features (having depressive symptoms and manic symptoms at the same time) are also possible. Experiencing four or more episodes of mania or depression within 1 year is called “rapid cycling.”
Bipolar II disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. The hypomanic episodes are less severe than the manic episodes in bipolar I disorder.
Cyclothymic disorder (also called cyclothymia) is defined by recurring hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not intense enough or do not last long enough to qualify as hypomanic or depressive episodes.
Until the doctor gets the medication balanced, you might have to take a medication for a month or longer to see if it works; if not, the doctor tries another. Changes in medication will continue until the Psychiatrist finds the right mix of medication. I went through many drugs in the beginning because I’m treatment-resistant, which means many medications do not work on me. It’s important to note that over time, medication can stop working, and the Psychiatrist has to find another medication. I’m currently taking a cocktail of 6 different medications.
In the 32 years since I was diagnosed, I’ve experienced rapid cycling, mixed features, hypomania, and depression. The most difficult for me to manage is rapid cycling. One minute you feel great, and 15 minutes later depressed. This is a very unstable time. Make sure you let your Psychiatrist know about your rapid cycling.
If possible, find a Psychopharmacologist over a Psychiatrist if you can find one. The difference is that a Psychopharmacologist spends extra years of education focusing on how medication and the brain work. It can be difficult to find one.
I thought my doctor didn’t like me for a long time. Over time, I learned how to talk to him, and now he’s like family. You don’t have to like your doctor if they listen and share details about the drugs and answers to your questions, and you trust them, keep them as your doctor.
Personal Experience
The backstory starts with the DEA, which is limiting the amount of medication each pharmacy receives each month. This is an experience I have been dealing with for the past year. This month, my pharmacy only had 25 pills, and I had to wait 3 weeks for a refill because they had not received a shipment. Pharmacies are NOT making these rules. Get to know your pharmacist; they may be able to help you through this crisis. Don’t take your anger out on the Pharmacy. Until the DEA backs off, this problem will continue.
Here’s one of the challenges I face. One medication is what I call my anchor medication. This past month, it took 3 weeks to get my medication in stock. In those 3 weeks without the medication, it is no longer in your system. After going three weeks without the medication, my body has to start over. So far, I have not been able to see if it works because I can’t take the medication long enough to work.
My new Psychiatrist is cutting my Xanax to 3 per day, not the 4 per day that I have been taking for so long. The bottom line is I’m in withdrawal as my body adjusts to only 3 a day. You stack that on top of the problems with refills; it’s frustrating. This means my anxiety is higher during certain hours when I don’t take my Xanax. It’s a very addictive medication, and one of the worst withdrawals I’ve been through.
It’s important to have someone that you can reach out to if you need help.
This happened two evenings ago due to my anxiety being very high. To better communicate, you can say certain words to help them understand where you are at and when you are falling into depression or higher than a kite.
I was so truly happy, and I haven’t been happy in so long. I was soaking in every moment because my mood could change. Feeling joy in my heart felt so good, and I didn’t want it to end.
My husband said I was jacked up, and I said I knew. The key word here is I KNOW. For me, that means I know and am keeping tabs on your mood. If it’s a problem after that, I’ll let you know.
I went upstairs to get ready for bed, and when he came into the room, I continued the conversation in a combative way. I was jacked and angry, raising my voice much higher and even pointing my finger at him. I could not believe what was coming out of my mouth and my behavior. In the last 22 years, we’ve had a handful of fights.
We have established words to use when my mood changes and is concerning. When he tells me I’m jacked up, the keyword is I KNOW, which means I’m keeping an eye on it. When I’m feeling suicidal, I let him know. This is how we communicate about my Bipolar Disorder when he observes a behavior change.
If you are newly diagnosed, be patient. When you start the journey, it can be rough and frustrating.
Don’t obsess over your new diagnosis; learn the basics of your illness and symptoms for now. The most important thing I can say is to only read about your illness or symptoms of Bipolar Disorder from trustworthy websites. When you read anything else, you risk getting the wrong information. It’s critical to read a respected source. Right now is not the time to read the wrong information. On my website, there is a pull-down menu called Organizations That Can Help. There, you can find resources under Mental Illness. In the beginning, you may feel overloaded; remember this is a long journey.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder
Melinda
The Best Way To Find New Pain Doctor
As many of you know there are doctors including Pain Doctors who are spooked by the DEA crack down on all opiate use. I recently looked to see who I would make an appointment with and found several doctors but when I checked out their websites several made it clear they don’t write scripts for pain medication.
Here’s the approach I take with all new doctors
Ask my doctors if they know anyone for a referral.
I would search in your area, and write down six doctors, this is a good start.
Check out their website and make sure it doesn’t look cheap. You want the best doctor you can find so if the website doesn’t look like a professional designed the page, I would push them to the bottom of the list. Pain doctors make tons of money so it would make sense to have a great website.
Search several different ways to find information on the doctor, like reviews. See if you can find out where they to school.
I’m not certain about this, go to the state Medical Board and see if you can check that their licenses are current.
Be sure to take the doctor’s name off your list if they’re not what you are looking for.
Calling to make an appointment
Do not say anything about needing pain meds. Some questions are filler so that you don’t sound like a drug seeker.
Call and ask services they offer. If the front desk is too busy, ask to speak to the manager or someone who can spend time answering your questions.
Ask the person you’re talking to what type of services they offer.
They may mention pain medication, then you’re on your way. If they don’t say anything about pain medication here’s when I ask about medication support if needed. This makes the conversation smooth.
Be sure to get the name of who are talking to and once you decide on a doctor, make sure you make friends with the manager in case you need support in the future.
Remember that many pain doctors know each other and they can also look to see the prescriptions you filled lately.
This may be over the top for some but I would visit every office of a doctor that may become your doctor. You can learn so much by looking at the office. I would stop in like you know nothing, you just stopped by to see what brochures they have to give you more information about the practice.
You will likely have to provide a urine sample each time you come in. My old doctor let me go on every third visit because I was a long-term client. If you use Delta 8 & Delta 9 gummies there is a good chance it will show up in the urine sample. Be sure to tell the doctor or front desk that you take the gummies before the urine test.
Pain doctors are in high demand because of the number of doctors who no longer write prescriptions. Once you decide on a doctor, remember they don’t need your business. This means you need to keep every appointment unless true emergency. Many have policies in place that if you cancel XX times they will basically fire you.
Start your conversation with the doctor talking about your symptoms. That way, again you don’t want to look like a drug seeker.
By doing all the work upfront it will save time in the future by trying several doctors before finding the right one for you.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday *Neon Ladybug
I’m so glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday. Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Playing late at night playing with wild colors. What do you think?
Melinda
Upgrades to Your Car That Are Worth the Investment
So you’ve just bought a new car, sorted out all of your insurance, and you’re finally ready to just sit down, drive your car, and enjoy your new purchase. Perhaps you use it to drive the kids to school, or maybe it’s for your own commutes to and from work. Whatever the deal in your household is, it’s a nice feeling to finally get all of the financial twaddles out of the way so that you can actually use the thing.
But wait a moment! What if we told you that you could spend even more money on your brand-new car? Look, we know it’s not the thing you want to hear after already spending money on a fresh new set of wheels, but we’d say that many of these upgrades are actually worth the money! So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most meaningful upgrades for your car that are worth the money.
A new set of wheels (literally)
No, not a new car! You’ve already spent your hard-earned cash on one, so we wouldn’t suggest buying another! Instead, you should look into getting a literal new set of wheels. Tires are probably one of the most important components of any vehicle because it’s the thing that touches the road. If these aren’t in good condition, then don’t be surprised when you start swerving uncontrollably during wet weather!
Be it huge mud bogger tires or just a fresh set of wheels, get something new that suits your needs. This is especially important if you’re buying a used car because the tires could already be pretty worn out after lots of usage. Getting a fresh pair will help with traction and will ensure a long-lasting vehicle.
Tinting your windows for style and functionality
Tinted windows may seem like something you do only if you want to make your car look fancy (or gaudy, depending on what color you pick!) but they actually serve functional purposes–to provide protection and privacy!
If you don’t really like the idea of people looking at you in your car, then window tinting is a good solution. Similarly, if you hate having the sun glare in your eyes, then window tinting will be a great investment to make. You can even get window tints that protect you from UV rays while also lowering the interior temperature of your car. For people who need to drive a lot in hot conditions, this is a no-brainer!
Safety features that can give you peace of mind
Don’t start wasting money on your car on useless things that you don’t need, like fancy paintwork or sports features like a new spoiler. Instead, get something that could literally save lives! This could be something like a blind spot monitor, lane-keeping assist features, or even automatic braking. These are typically features that come with new cars, but you could get these in existing cars as well.
In short, anything that improves your safety is a good idea!
This a collaborative post.
Melinda
What’s Your Mood Today?
Today is a great day! I’ve accomplished more in the past week than most of the year.
Melinda
Choosing Joy By Guest Blogger Water for Camels
She imparts her knowledge to help others. I like this post, it hit me in a good way.
Melinda
How To Research What Charities To Donate To, Make Sure You Know Where The Money Goes
I donate to several charities a year and it feels so good knowing I’m helping others to live their best life. Below are the charities I’m committed to. Below I spell out how I chose a charity.
NAMI Texas is part of NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
We work to end hunger and poverty in partnership with the communities we serve. Our programs support entrepreneurs around the world, creating lasting change from the ground up.
It begins with a seed investment of livestock or agriculture, followed by mentorship to help project participants build a business, and ultimately to gain access to supply chains and markets.
Operation Kindness is a pioneer in Texas for assisting animals in need of veterinary care, companionship, and most of all, a home. We operate a lifesaving animal shelter in Carrollton, TX.
In addition to pet adoptions and lifesaving medical care, our programs provide foster care for vulnerable animals, resources for pet parents, affordable veterinary services for community pets, a pet food pantry, and volunteer opportunities.
Homeless Veterans Services of Dallas Inc.
The goal of our organization is to help alleviate the problem of homelessness among our veterans and their families by assisting with transitional and permanent housing.
Independent – the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Charity Navigator
The first step when choosing what charities to support is to go to Charity Navigator. Once on the site type in the charity name and check to see that they are legally 501 certified. That means the company has been given a legal charity status.
Eliminate any charities that are not legally 501 certified and at least four-star rated. If they are not legally 501 certified, don’t waste your money.
Then look at their expenses to see if the percentage of the money is actually spent on services. If a charity spends more on its overhead, your dollars do not get to the people you want to support. My rule of thumb is the charity must spend at least 75% of the money on actual services and a small percentage on overhead. If a charity has a low percentage, they are keeping more of the money.
I would also look at their website for more information.
It sounds like a big job but it it comes together fast and it’s your hard-earned money that you are giving.
I’ll give you an example. There is a charity my granny always gave money to and I donated one time long ago, I get a plea for money every week and it’s near impossible to have them take you off the list. Once I found out about Charity Navigator I looked at this charity profile and found that only 25% of the money was actually going to the executives.
If you have any questions please reach out to me. I don’t have all the answers but will try to help you navigate.
For some reason (WP) the paragraphs look correctly spaced but when I preview the post it looks like they are not separated
Melinda
World Mental Health Awareness Day 10th
Every day is an Awareness Day for me because I have to focus on my Mental Health before I feel overloaded and stressed out.
When discussing Mental Health and self-care it could be as simple as reducing stress, getting regular sleep, and putting the electronics away an hour before bedtime. It works for me, or take a nice bath with essential oils to create a nice aroma. There are so many ways we can keep our Mental Health in check. One of the most important tasks every day is to take your medication as prescribed.
Self Care Tips
When life gets busy it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. But practicing self-care can have great benefits for your mental health.
Don’t feel guilty about taking time to care for yourself. It’s not selfish to make your health a priority. You will be better able to help others when you are your healthiest.
How to practice self-care is different for each person and can be different from day to day. An act of self-care for one person could actually be triggering for someone else, such as visiting with family. The important part is to find a balance of activities that work for you.
Here are some ideas on ways to get started, and don’t forget that you can also combine these activities. For example, eating your favorite dessert at the park or going to the beach and reading with a friend.
Build a Healthy Foundation
Get enough sleep and do your best to keep a consistent sleep schedule
Eat a balanced diet and include fruits and vegetables
Remember to drink enough water
Avoid triggers
Take breaks from your computer, phone, or social media
Learn to say no: it’s okay to say no if you don’t want or aren’t able to do something at the moment. Taking on too many commitments can put extra pressure on yourself and cause more stress.
Many people think they don’t have time for self-care, especially men. Your body gives you what you put into taking care of. Men tend to be the worst at self-care or even the idea. Taking a break to get fresh air for 10 minutes is self-care. Your body will give you back what you put into taking care of yourself.
Melinda
References:
https://ibpf.org/articles/50-ways-to-start-practicing-self-care/
Blogger Highlight-Mental Health Struggles
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog of Mental Health Struggles.
Hello! I am a 33-year-old woman speaking out about mental health & daily struggles to help me process things a little better.
I love how frank she is, so refreshing. Be sure to stop by.
Melinda
What’s Your Mood Today?
The Astonishing Mental Health Benefits Of Gardening
Have you ever noticed that some of the happiest people you know are massively into gardening? The reasons for this are simple: gardening is one of the best things you can do to boost your mental health.
But why is this? Why do people who spend time in their gardens seem to have healthier inner lives than everyone else? It is a little mysterious.
The reason, it seems, comes down to the ways that our bodies react when we’re working outdoors. Naturally, we’re inclined to spend time in the sunlight, observing the world around us, and trying to get to grips with it. It’s not just about the physical activity of gardening and so-called feel-good hormones. There’s also a sense that you’re really profoundly connecting with nature. It feels very different from spending an evening in front of Netflix.
So what benefits do people who garden regularly report? Check them out below.
A Sense Of Accomplishment
Having a sense of accomplishment and control over your environment is an addictive feeling. The more you experience it, the more you want it.
Gardens are chaotic systems. Over time, they devolve into an all-against-all survival of the fittest. And it can be a challenge to bring them under control. That, however, is part of the joy of the process. It’s nice to feel like you can tame nature – at least on a small patch of land – and get some genuine satisfaction from the process.
An Increase In Creativity
We don’t tend to think of being creative as a health benefit, but it is a vital sign that we are in a good place. Creativity is a mental state that recruits practically every area of the brain. But it can only happen if we are in a positive frame of mind. If you’re using mental resources worrying about something, it’s hard to develop new ideas. Gardening helps to direct your focus on the outside world instead of your internal thoughts, allowing you room for creativity where you would have struggled before.
Improved Mood
Would you like to improve your mood? Well, according to data collected by Plant Life Balance, gardening can help. According to their research, around 58 percent of people experience improvements in how they feel when they spend time in the garden.
Feeling More Connected To Others
We typically see gardening as an individual pursuit. Interestingly, a large segment of people who do it feel more connected to the broader community. Part of this has to do with the fact that some gardening tasks are communal. For example, Lineage Tree Care points out that gardening involves tree trimming and storm clean-up that affect the whole community. If you visit their website, you can see examples of what they mean. Things like overhanging trees can affect both the property owner and their neighbors.
Feeling More Connected To Nature
Finally, a large number of people say that gardening makes them feel more connected to nature – something that tends to enhance overall well-being considerably.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Let’s Celebrate Columbus Day 10th
It’s hard to imagine what life was like for those who had to take dangerous ship rides and find shelter and a place to grow food. They had little to work with and in reality, paved the way for America’s growth.
The first Columbus Day celebration took place in 1792 when New York’s Columbian Order—better known as Tammany Hall—held an event to commemorate the historic landing’s 300th anniversary. Taking pride in Columbus’ birthplace and faith, Italian and Catholic communities in various parts of the country began organizing annual religious ceremonies and parades in his honor.
In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation encouraging Americans to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage with patriotic festivities, writing, “On that day let the people, so far as possible, cease from toil and devote themselves to such exercises as may best express honor to the discoverer and their appreciation of the great achievements of the four completed centuries of American life.”
We owe our lives to the settlers because of Christopher Columbus.
Melinda
References:
Caregiver Conversations With My Gramps
There are more caregivers than any of us know, and as the population grows older more caregivers are needed. This post is a compilation of conversations with my gramps before he died. I think it will give you a better idea of the day-to-day needs.
He was told by his Nephrologist to not drive and to get his keys if he could. Not going to happen.
He thought he could replace the glass on the door to the backyard. He thought he had a great job. I stop by late at night and glass was everywhere in the garage.
He had me cancel a doctor’s appointment so he could go to Center Center.
He wanted to talk with hospice himself, no way. There’s no idea what he would say and it would not be reality.
I arrived to find dirty underpants, several with poo, and there were more in the bathtub.
I heard him on the phone asking someone if he thought we were telling the truth.
We were told he had 2-3 weeks to live, they forgot to say old people die faster. We. had a week.
He would not acknowledge he had Chronic Kidney Diseases until the end and refused to get in
One morning he yelled out what did I go to his Cheerios, what are you talking about? I didn’t buy the right flavor.
As the days went by I asked him if he wanted to call his family and friends. He looked so sad. I sit by him while he calls the phone book. Then the house was full of family and friends. I had to set hours for visitation and no smoking. Many of our hillbilly family members showed up and said they would come back and bring a card table to play dominos. I got flaked but I set the rules.
My grandparents were from poverty and WWI, and Gramps continued to live like he had no money. One day I woke up and there are tiny pieces of toilet paper with poop on them.
He never told me he was constipated, he pushed too hard and got a hernia.
Melinda
From Alcoholic To Freedom
I’m a recovering Alcoholic and stopped drinking about 15 years ago. Everyone is different in their recovery. I went cold turkey because of my Mental Illness. My Psychiatrist at the time knew I drank, and we talked about it. During a very difficult time, I asked my doctor if stopping drinking would help my meds, and he said yes. I need to have all of my medications to work as well as possible.
I started drinking at 9 years old, lived in domestic abuse, and child abuse and my step-father was a mean drunk. He beat my mother often and she would in turn beat me.
My father was also an alcoholic so my growing up was chaotic.
Alcohol made me act differently, especially at events for work. All memories are in the past and rarely think of the spectacle I made.
Today is the perfect day to stop drinking or at least go to one AA meeting to see if they can give you support. I hear great things about AA making people whole.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Hanson
MMMBop- Get ready to sing along!
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Friday Quote 10/6/23
I’m so glad you stopped by and hope to see you again.
Melinda
What’s Your Mood Today?
Wordless Wednesday *Half Dome Yosemite National Park
so glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday. Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park
Half Dome/Elevation
8,839′
I photoshopped the photo to look like the Old West.
Melinda
Overthinking: The Silent Thief of Mental Peace! Guest Blogger My Mind Strength
What Would You Say To A Special Person If You Could Go Back In Time
I thought about my grandparents the other day and thought of all the questions I would ask if I had a chance.
I was like a child to my grandparents due to traumatic experiences. I was 14 years old when I went to live with them permanently.
This photo is of granny, step-brother Ricki, and me, dig that shirt!
My granny looked from afar when I was very young, looking for abuse. My granny knew child abuse was happening but could not a finger on anything. She probably saved my life at six months old. My mother left me in the tub full of water and went downstairs to talk with my granny, after a few minutes of talking my granny asked where I was. Oh, she is upstairs in the bathroom.
I would ask my granny how being legally blind has affected her life.
Was it frustrating always to have to have someone take you?
I would ask about how she survived the war while raising a child by herself.
My grandparents were so good to me and my friends at boarding school. Every Wednesday was parents group. They were there every week for the full years I was there. She even sent brownies to our dorm or loads of candy, everyone in my hall looked forward to Wednesday nights.
My granny was the strongest person I know, she could do anything except prevent her death.
Melinda
Ronald Reagan Was The Leader Of Bipartisanship
I’ve been a lifelong Republican and even voted for Trump, the biggest mistake in my life. I became a Democrat until the radicals and militia along with Trump’s help stormed the Capital. He does not believe in rules, he does whatever he wants. Quite he is frankly using the Indictments as if they are little trophies.
He is also for the HATRED, lowering standards for Presidents and Congress and most of all Trump has decided the country is his little board game that he moves people around in.
What is Trump saying at Rallies? Does he ever talk about concrete ways he will make America a better place. Most often, no words about what he’ll do are spoken, if the Press asks him a question all he can muster is “Making America Better” Now that he’s been indicted of so many crimes and criminal activities at Trump Tower.
When it comes to politics, I vote, watch to see who wins, and then only what I see on the news. I can’t begin to fathom another four years with the delusional, fake, blame others when he knows it’s not true.
Republican Voters please open your mind and forget politics, write a list of what you expect from a President and Congress. Politics is not a circus, Congress has the same qualifications and disqualified offenses.
What did Trump do for you and how did your life get better after he was voted in.
This post is not Republican or Democrat, this post is looking back on President before Trump and his filthy name-calling and lies. Not to mention By Constitutions #3 and #14, I doubt Congress has read the document or they chose to ignore the rules because of the Republican Party thinks they own the world and deliver nothing but a Circus.
Mr. Reagan had a common-sense conviction that helped his achievements. Sometimes he failed to get what he wanted. Instead of pointing fingers, blaming the other party, or spouting partisan points, President Reagan deftly used his failures to do better. His failures seemed to make him sharper.
Above all, he was a true gentleman of American politics. You would not have seen him giving a speech like many do today – calling his opponents names or giving out generalized insults. Dignity and wit were his weapons of choice.
Former staffers say that his phone logs would show a surprising amount of communication with members of Congress – of both parties. Whether it was at home or abroad, he believed in communication and the credibility of his word.
Good negotiators are careful with their credibility. President Reagan was such a person. When he gave his word, it was a solid promise. I believe that is something we should be mindful of today.
My last words are Ronald Regan was known for his ability to work both sides, there aren’t Republication Kevin McCarthy is a great example. McCarthy worked with the Democrats to get the spending bill. Matz Geotize? is challenging McCarthy because he worked with Democrats.
That is their damn job!
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-Jennifer Pentland
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog of Jennifer Pentland.
Jennifer Pentland
Welcome to my creative space!
My name is Jennifer Pentland, and I’m a self-taught artist who found solace and passion in art after experiencing the loss of a loved one. Through art therapy, I discovered an incredible love for the world of creativity.
Art has become my faithful companion on this journey of healing and self-discovery. It has provided me with a means to confront and navigate the depths of my anxiety, offering a sanctuary where my emotions can find expression and release without judgment or restraint. In the process, I have learned that art has an incredible power to heal and transform, both for the artist and those who connect with the artwork.
You will come back to her site because it’s addicting.
Melinda
Why Adventure is an Essential Tool on the Path to Mental Wellness
If there is one thing about our lives, it’s that if we are experiencing one of the many aspects of the mental health umbrella, it’s that it forces us to retreat into our shell. Mental wellness is not something that is defined as the absence of mental illness but about learning to thrive in a mind state where you can realize your potential, cope with those everyday stresses, and make those meaningful contributions. This is why something like adventuring may seem completely anathema to the idea of self-care. But here are some. Adventure can be an amazing catalyst to improve our wellness. Let’s show you why.
Connection with Nature
While so many people instantly connect the idea of mental wellness with being out in nature, not everybody experiences that stereotypical sense of calm that is out in nature. However, if you attempt to get yourself off the beaten track and make the most of your time in nature, it instantly gives you a sense of grounding and a soothing effect that could be very therapeutic.
Because being in nature can improve our mental well-being, we can stand to benefit not just from being surrounded by trees but actually using these approaches as a way to get as far away from the rat race as humanly possible. We can all struggle to deal with those daily pressures. This is why potentially opting for more hiking and biking can make a big difference. You can easily purchase an electric off road bike for adults or a backpack and a new pair of boots and venture into nature.
The Attention It Demands of You
This is a very important thing to remember, especially when we are consumed by anxiety. We hear so much about the benefits of mindfulness, but rather than something like a body scan meditation or sitting there trying to think of nothing, lots of people make the mistake of thinking that mindfulness is supposed to be a welcome distraction. It should be something that nourishes you, and often when we’re feeling like there is nothing to live for, no matter what we have in our lives, doing something that simultaneously nourishes us but also is challenging enough to take our attention off our thoughts for even a split second is an amazing solution.
Something like scuba diving or rock climbing requires you to be present in the moment because it demands so much of your attention. But you can apply this to other parts of your life as well. For example, going to the gym can be as much of an adventure as doing something as stereotypical as climbing trees or flying. When we feel anxious, we ruminate. There is a reason why those adventurers feel addicted to those practices, and that’s because they’re not consumed by those thoughts that everybody has at one point or another.
Social Connection
Finding someone who is doing exactly the same thing as you, especially when it’s a very unique or left-field practice, could foster a sense of belonging. This is absolutely ideal for mental wellness. As people, it’s deeply ingrained in us that we practice socializing. Being a part of a group of people allows us to be simultaneously involved but also blend into something, and when we participate in an activity where there are only a few people, this instantly creates a sense of trust because you’re both on the same page with the same shared goal.
This doesn’t just mean that you then achieve the goal itself, but because you’re doing something that actively nourishes you in a group of people who are thinking the same way, you instantly feel part of a team, part of a greater purpose, and this means that you will begin to feel more inclined to pursue the things that make you feel this way. It’s like an addiction but with a more positive spin.
Increased Resilience
Going on any form of adventure is, first and foremost, about taking you out of your comfort zone. We all need to push our upper limits so we are better equipped to handle the ups and downs that life throws at us.
We can feel so much guilt that we’re alive if we’ve gone through an incredibly tough time, but we also need to remember that life is not purely about happiness, which is a major misconception, it’s about remembering those challenges can boost our resilience and remember that adversity is something that we all overcome in any different form.
If there’s one thing about life that we should all maintain, it’s a sense of curiosity. This is why going on any form of adventure is an amazing solution, not just for the sake of mental wellness, but for every aspect of our existence.
This is a collaborative post
Melinda
lookingforthelight.blog 