The Blog…
After nourishment, shelter and relationships, I think that the items we need most as human beings are our stories. Stories can cure so much of the world’s darkness by creating connection, a sense of community, a sense of belonging, empathy, compassion and a feeling that we are not alone. The more inspiration you find, the more success stories you hear, the more tools you look into, the deeper you dig into the deeper soul work of healing… the more you realize you CAN heal. You are WORTHY of building someone of your own. You are FREE to create something meaningful.
I hope you find that here. Right when you need it.
Who here has felt some form of pain because of politics in the last year? I know all of ya’ll are raising your hands right now! In today’s climate, political pain is everywhere, no matter where your allegiance lies. So what can you do to process it? Here are my tips.
I lived in the shadows for what felt like eternity. Things were bleak and dark and I didn't see a way out. The walls were thick, tall and heavy... like the gate to Mordor. Lined with beasts that I didn't have the energy to try to trick. I knew my tricks would throw me in deeper anyway. What was the point. And then... I remember bring in tears and something exhaled within me and a tiny voice whispered...
I’ve been talking about my mental health for 12 years and for some reason, today and what I’ve written feels real vulnerable. Im nervous. What I know from this is that even when you’re in a good place, there’s still the fear about what others will think when I say my truth. And that realization, understanding that stigma is what’s giving me fear, is the reason I’ve chosen to post it anyway.
You see, we think that because we’re in pain (mental/physical/emotional) and so much feels out of our control, that it’s just fate. That this is how it’s supposed to be. That maybe we deserve it. That were destined to suffer. But what if we’re not looking at it in the right way? What if this suffering is an invitation instead?
How do you start healing your body when you don’t love it? How do you work on your mind-body connection when you’re already exhausted? Our culture focuses so much on exercise regimes and weight loss and productivity… All things that are loaded with energy and “busy-ness”. But they don’t really address the way to show ourselves compassion. So I wrote down the things I do that make me feel good - the love notes I give myself when I want/need to reconnect - and it turned into this poem.
Whether you’re handling a mental health diagnoses, or frankly have just been conscious during 2020 so far, chances are your anxiety levels are through the roof. Being in constant fight or flight mode can wreak havoc on your body, causing chronic pain and other symptoms that make you feel super shitty. Being in constant fight or flight mode can wreak havoc on your body, causing chronic pain and other symptoms that make you feel super shitty. Over the years, I’ve compiled a number of practices, rituals and tools that I use to soothe my nervous system and soothe my body when I’m dealing with somatic experiences from mental health challenges. Here’s are 21 of them for you to try!
There’s no doubt that lockdown has brought with it a vast array of emotions, but if there’s one thing that comes with pain, it’s the drive to create in order to heal. One of the things I’ve personally loved about this past few months has been watching artists I know and love really come into their own! It made me so curious as to what drove them, why these artists chose now to step into their creative space and how they felt it impacted their mental health. So I reached out to a few of my faves to see if they would mind answering some questions about their work, and I’m so excited to share their stories with you.
Breathing isn’t something I ever considered to be a skill until I started my journey towards healing! I mean, it’s not like optimal breathing is something they teach in schools. At least, they didn’t when I was growing up. Most of us think of breathing as a physiological function that our body does automatically in order to keep us alive. But breathing is about so much more than just feeding us oxygen. It’s actually the one thing that can bring our mind and body back into alignment when they are out of sync.
Dating myself might seem strange, but it’s actually one of my most favorite things to do. One of THE most important lessons I have learnt in my therapy journey is this: it is of paramount importance that you truly get to know yourself. That you make space for discovery. Here are 4 reasons and ways to date yourself!
Does anyone else go into book shops and, instead of reading the blurb on the back, they pick up a book and turn to the first page that naturally drops open to see if it’s going to be a good fit? Call it the Universe, the earth’s energy, God… whatever it is, it brought me to this book all those months ago… And it changed EVERYTHING.
The “Oh Shit Kit”. A simple box that helped me to step out of my self harming days and start living my life again. It literally saved my life and, although it’s evolved over the years, it’s been at the core of my healing. So why is it so important for mental health warriors? What’s in mine and how can you go about creating your own?
We are living in a time where that which is supposed to connect us, can make us feel more disconnected than ever. Technology makes being confined to our homes more bearable with platforms such as Netflix and social media keeping us occupied and distracted. However, when overloaded with different ways to connect with literally thousands of connections, it can frankly feel rather overwhelming. So what can you do to stay soulfully, meaningfully, mindfully connected to those you care about during lockdown? Here are a few ideas…
Last week I received a message from a really good friend of mine who has been struggling with some panic attacks. She had been listening to the podcast and reading some of our recent posts and asked me what a mental health trigger is. I don’t think we have ever actually gone into the definition before, what they do and how we manage them.
I’m Maddie, an advocacy artist who is here to give you hope for mental health recovery, walking you toward worthiness so you can build, create and live a life you really desire.
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