World Suicide Prevention Day 2020- What are your top tips for mental wellbeing? - Page 3 — Scope | Disability forum
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World Suicide Prevention Day 2020- What are your top tips for mental wellbeing?

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  • leeCal
    leeCal Community member Posts: 7,550 Disability Gamechanger
    edited September 2020
    A tip for maintaining mental health is to not catastrophise.
    when we exaggerate our woes it makes things far worse and can make things seem insurmountable. So keep it real is my motto.

    “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.” 
    ― Dalai Lama XIV

  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    Another great one @leeCal :) 

    I think another one that goes with that one is trying not to be overcome by vagueness. It's easy to get caught in the trap of thinking things like 'everything's terrible, nothing is going right, I hate everything', and it can really help to think about things more specifically to both pin down what the problem is, and to be able to look for the good things might you have in your life. 
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  • RAwarrior
    RAwarrior Community member Posts: 430 Pioneering
    Part of having PTSD mean you sometimes have to rewire your brain because PTSD can change the way the brain works.

    I try (but I am not always successful) to distract myself by trying to focus on the positives when I feel like I am struggling. 

    This could mean spending time outside feeding the squirrels (which many of you will know about), gardening or watching something on YouTube about something which interests me. 

    If I can’t go to feed the squirrels even looking at one of the many photographs I have on my phone of the squirrels can help to lift my mood?

    If I am honest there are times when I can’t lift my mood because my anxiety takes over. This is usually triggered by work colleagues who make me have to repeat myself which just wears me down.?

    I just have to find ways in which to cope with people who simply don’t understand or don’t care which is not that easy. 

    As I said my main issue is having to repeat myself even about minor issues so I start to doubt myself regarding my communication skills. 

    It’s strange because as far as I am aware, nobody within this online community has had any difficulty in understanding me so I don’t know why it feels like an uphill struggle with work colleagues. 

    I had counselling last year and one of the first things they said was the fact that nobody listens to me is really wearing me down.

    I think sometimes we have to be realistic because there will be days when I struggle regardless of what I do so I have to accept that. However, I do try to find ways in which to improve my mood.

    As I have previously mentioned, I have found joining this wonderful online community a massive help. I can’t thank people within this online community enough for the support I have received?

    It really helps to write about my situation and hopefully in a small way I can help other people. I don’t feel alone?

    I find it amazing that there are so many that actually want to help each other 
    ?

    I also appreciate the links to information which are provided within the online community as it’s really helpful?

    I think I just have to be realistic and try to manage my PTSD in the same way if I can, that I have managed my Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis.

    I will have days when I feel like I am in a downward spiral because something has triggered my PTSD but I have to try to find ways of adapting?


  • leeCal
    leeCal Community member Posts: 7,550 Disability Gamechanger
    Mindfulness or being present in the now can give us a welcome break from thinking too much. Sometimes I just make a cup of tea, sit down and taste the tea, sipping slowly and really just enjoying the feeling of drinking and tasting. Just for a few minutes this can give us a welcome respite from our thoughts. 

    Any task can can be done mindfully, for example try stitching without concentrating on the task...ouch! ?

    “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.” 
    ― Dalai Lama XIV

  • davegregson40
    davegregson40 Community member Posts: 83 Pioneering
    What I try and do is contact somebody or contact a friend or one of the organisations or groups that I am involved with such as SCOPE and say something positive, so despite everything feeling negative around, I know that that one positive thing has happened and I have done no matter what else I may think .
  • leeCal
    leeCal Community member Posts: 7,550 Disability Gamechanger
    This article on mindfulness is very good.

    https://www.lionsroar.com/the-moment-is-perfect/

    “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.” 
    ― Dalai Lama XIV

  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    Well said @leeCal. Mindfulness doesn't have to be about meditation or going out of your way to do an activity you wouldn't usually do, it can be about being mindful during your usual daily activities.

    One of the many reasons I don't sew :D 
    National Campaigns Officer, she/her

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  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    That's lovely @davegregson40 :) Thank you for your contributions to the community!
    National Campaigns Officer, she/her

    Join our call for an equal future.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 144 Pioneering
    I work on my old car and watch football on catch up , or listen to some music I love, read some of my old car magazines. 
    In other words, try and do something you really love and enjoy, 
  • RAwarrior
    RAwarrior Community member Posts: 430 Pioneering
    @davegregson40

    I think your ideas are really good.

    I have been really stressed recently and by posting what has happened in the wonderful online community, I have had so much support from people who really understand me :)

    For me it makes a huge difference if someone just posts a few words of support which means I don't feel alone.

    Sometimes I wonder if  "it's just me" but when I have posted what has happened, I have received honest and constructive support. :)
  • Chloe_Scope
    Chloe_Scope Posts: 10,586 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @RAwarrior, I'm sorry to hear you have been stressed, but I'm glad you are part of this community and that you find it supportive. Hope you're having a good day. :)
    Scope

  • RAwarrior
    RAwarrior Community member Posts: 430 Pioneering
    Hi @Chloe_Scope,

    Thank you for your support. I have found this community to be extremely supportive. 

    I am still suffering from anxiety unfortunately.
  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    When I can I try to sew but I can’t do what I used to so I just sew motifs 
    I am a hermit who lives an avoidant lifestyle most of the time 
    Especially during this pandemic 
    here’s pics of a denim jacket to help inspire you 
    take care everyone 
  • leeCal
    leeCal Community member Posts: 7,550 Disability Gamechanger
    Nice stitching @janice_in_wonderland ?

    “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.” 
    ― Dalai Lama XIV

  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    @leeCal
    Thank you 
    invisible stitching apart from the orange butterfly :-)
  • Chloe_Scope
    Chloe_Scope Posts: 10,586 Disability Gamechanger
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    That all sounds great @givingup! You're right that doing something simple that you usually enjoy can be a really good way of lifting your mood :) I hope you're getting on okay today
    National Campaigns Officer, she/her

    Join our call for an equal future.
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    That looks fab @janice_in_wonderland! I can't sew at all :D 

    How are you feeling today? The pandemic has definitely made socialising more difficult, but I'm glad you're on the community :) 
    National Campaigns Officer, she/her

    Join our call for an equal future.
  • leeCal
    leeCal Community member Posts: 7,550 Disability Gamechanger
    Being positive helps a lot along with a good sense of humour. 
    Things can mostly always be worse and so the present may not be as bad as you might think. 
    Over-thinking is also likely to cause problems, try to rest your mind a little for a while by distracting yourself. I already mentioned being mindful or some might call it being present in the here and now. Try peeling an orange slowly and then eating it slowly, whilst doing that you’re experiencing the present, it can be as simple as that.

    “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.” 
    ― Dalai Lama XIV

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 144 Pioneering
    Yes , even when having a meal, think of the knife and fork, spoon etc in your hand, feel the texture of whatever there made of, it does work.

Brightness