Friday, September 30, 2016
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Overcoming Complex PTSD "Yes, You Can!" with Athena Moberg from Trauma ...
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Motivation
Motivation. It's what makes you get out of bed in the morning
and get dressed and drive to work. It's what makes you work
through lunch and go home late and keep working when you get
home. Without motivation we would accomplish very little. That
being said, if we better understand what motivates us, we can
channel it to achieve even more. There are two types of
motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. An example of intrinsic
motivation is practicing a hobby in your free time to get better
at it. You are doing it for you. An example of extrinsic
motivation is cleaning your house because you have guests coming
over. You get the idea. Use intrinsic motivation to do creative
work. On the flip side, use extrinsic motivation to tackle
difficult tasks. Know how your work helps others and this will
motivate you to work hard. Finally, and this may seem
counter-intuitive, give yourself something to lose. We value
things when they belong to us. If there's a chance you are going
to lose something that is important to you, you will work even
harder to hold onto it
Source
-
Team HARO
http://www.facebook.com/
http://twitter.com/
and get dressed and drive to work. It's what makes you work
through lunch and go home late and keep working when you get
home. Without motivation we would accomplish very little. That
being said, if we better understand what motivates us, we can
channel it to achieve even more. There are two types of
motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. An example of intrinsic
motivation is practicing a hobby in your free time to get better
at it. You are doing it for you. An example of extrinsic
motivation is cleaning your house because you have guests coming
over. You get the idea. Use intrinsic motivation to do creative
work. On the flip side, use extrinsic motivation to tackle
difficult tasks. Know how your work helps others and this will
motivate you to work hard. Finally, and this may seem
counter-intuitive, give yourself something to lose. We value
things when they belong to us. If there's a chance you are going
to lose something that is important to you, you will work even
harder to hold onto it
Source
-
Team HARO
http://www.facebook.com/
http://twitter.com/
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Child Sexual Abuse / Assault / Violence
Child Sexual Abuse / Assault / Violence
Child Molestation Research & Prevention Institute – a national science-based, 501(c)3, nonprofit organization. CMRPI conducts research to prevent child sexual abuse and provides information to prevention organizations, agencies, professionals and families to prevent abuse. The mission is to focus scientific research on the major causes of child sexual abuse, especially in areas where early intervention can save the greatest number of children and to provide scientific information that supports the prevention actions of the field, especially prevention organizations, professionals and families, Atlanta, GA and Alameda, CA.
ChildSafe – provides services in a safe environment for child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. At the center professionals ensure that the child's needs, emotional and medical, come first. The mission of ChildSafe is to restore dignity, trust and hope to children traumatized by sexual abuse, San Antonio, TX.
Darkness to Light – the ultimate mission of D2L, to end childhood sexual abuse, can only be accomplished by sharing the solution of prevention, awareness and education with more and more people. This, in turn, builds momentum and over time, changes the way our nation and culture cares for, protects and nurtures our children. Being an active participant in the mission to end childhood sexual abuse is one of the most rewarding things we will ever do ~ and we cannot do it without you. We believe that learning the facts about childhood sexual abuse helps prevent it. Talking about it helps prevent it. Getting involved helps prevent it. The truth is, if childhood sexual abuse can be prevented, it can be stopped. That's why D2L exists ~ to empower adults through awareness and educational programs to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to childhood sexual abuse, Charleston, SC.
Enough Abuse – provides concerned adults, parents, and professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to prevent child sexual abuse in their homes and communities, Boston, MA.
Girls Education & Mentoring Services – empowers young women, ages 12-21 years, who have experienced sexual exploitation and violence to exit unsafe and abusive lifestyles and to develop their full potential. GEMS’ provides young women with empathetic, consistent support and viable opportunities for positive change, New York, NY.
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children – promotes the safety and well-being of children through activism, policy development and multinational coordination. Their programs and initiatives are uniting the world and providing international solutions to the problems of child abduction and exploitation, Alexandria, VA.
JustTell.org – mission is to reach out to youth aged 8 to 17 who are being sexually abused in order to convey, in age-appropriate language, that: they are not alone, they are not to blame for the abuse and should feel not guilt or shame, and that they need to choose a trustworthy adult in their life and tell them about the sexual abuse. The secondary mission of JustTell is to education and empower all youth around the issue of childhood sexual abuse. No one has ever used kids' media and internet sites where kids gather such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to speak to young people about this issue. Our messages reach out to molested children and teens using methods and messages they can readily access and relate to. Whether it is by tweets, blogs and bulletins, through the wallet-sized cards our ten Street Teams will hand out as Community Service Projects, or by sexually abused kids accessing our website; we are kid-friendly and as hip as the teens who are helping us. And that gives us enormous credibility with kids who are being sexually abused.
The Mama Bear Effect – seeks to empower adults to actively protect children from sexual abuse by raising awareness, and promoting conversations and behaviors that can prevent abuse. There are many misconceptions regarding this issue. The Mama Bear Effect will work diligently and endlessly to expose the reality of child sexual abuse and put an end to dangerous misconceptions. We believe that all good people have a "Mama Bear" instinct - a desire to protect innocent children from a harm greater than what they could ever imagine. A willingness to face our fears, overpower our desire to turn away from such evil, and conquer the ignorance that clouds our understanding of how child sexual abuse exists and is afflicting our nation and world. We must protect our children. We will fight back. This is The Mama Bear Effect.
Mothers Against Sexual Abuse – the mission is to heighten awareness of the hidden epidemic of child sexual abuse through educating parents, caregivers, professionals, and others with the intent to remove the veil of this horrific crime and expose the truth of its tragic impact on children and adult survivors.
National Association to Protect Children – is a national pro-child, anti-crime membership association. We are founded on the belief that our first and most sacred obligation as parents, citizens, and members of the human species is the protection of children from harm. We are committed to building a powerful, nonpartisan force for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation and neglect. We believe that this must be done through a determined single-issue focus, a meaningful mainstream agenda and the use of proven modern political strategies, Asheville, NC.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® – helps to prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; helps find missing children; and assists victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them, Alexandria, VA.
Help Emily Rico get back home
National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
Call 1-800-THE-LOST
Emily Rico
Emily Rico
Missing from:
Sacramento, CA
Since: 07/27/2016
Age now: 14 years
Previous Play/Pause Next
Click on the photo for more information
National Children’s Advocacy Center – a non-profit agency providing prevention, intervention, and treatment services to physically and sexually abused children and their families within a child-focused team approach. Since opening in 1985 as the nation’s first Children’s Advocacy Center, the NCAC has become a leader in the field of prevention and intervention of child maltreatment, Huntsville AL.
National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation – our mission is a unified effort to promote the healthy development of children & youth; and end their sexual abuse and exploitation.
Six Pillars for Prevention: Why We Need Stronger Prevention Polices, 2015. Read news release.
Parents for Megan's Law and The Crime Victims Center – a not-for-profit 501(c)3 community and victim's rights organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse through the provision of education, advocacy, counseling, victim services, policy and legislative support services. We staff the local and National (1-888-ASK-PFML) Megan's Law Help lines. PFML has recently expanded its mission to include the new Crime Victims Center, a program designed to link all victims of violent crime with crime victim compensation and multi-agency referrals for support and assistance, Stony Brook, NY.
Parents Protect – created by the child sexual abuse prevention campaign, Stop it Now! UK and Ireland and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a child protection charity which manages the campaign supported by an alliance of voluntary and statutory sector partners. The campaign aims to prevent child sexual abuse by raising awareness and encouraging early recognition and responses to the problem by abusers themselves and those close to them.
Resources for Preventing and Addressing Child Sexual Abuse, Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Silver Spring, MD.
Sexual Assault Resource Agency – provides free counseling and support services for women, children of all ages, and men who have experienced sexual assault and/or abuse, Charlottesville, VA.
SOL Reform ~ Reform the Statute of Limitations on Child Sex Abuse to Identify Hidden Predators and Increase Access to Justice, Professor Marci A. Hamilton.
Stop Abuse Campaign – we are a diverse team of survivors and supporters working together to stop abuse and alleviate its suffering. We hope you will join us. Stopping abuse starts with believing it happens. Take the pledge, become a Believer and we'll send you a prevention tip every week plus ways you can participate in freeing your family and your community from the fear and impact of abuse. We can stop abuse. Join the Believers today and working together, we will stop abuse tomorrow, New York, NY.
Stop It Now! – prevents the sexual abuse of children by mobilizing adults, families and communities to take actions that protect children before they are harmed, Northampton, MA.
Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse – the mission is to expose and stop child sexual abuse and help survivors heal worldwide. Our overarching goals are to: 1) promote healing of victims and survivors; and 2) celebrate the lives of those healed, Glenn Dale, MD.
Vision of Hope – a project of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. The campaign works to protect our children from the devastation of sexual abuse, Enola, PA.
Wellspring Living – the mission is to confront the issue of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation through awareness, training and treatment programs for women and girls, Tyrone, GA. Read Blog.
In case it is easier here here the source of the article. Happy blogging! -Deborah
http://www.ncdsv.org/ncd_linkschildsexabuse.html
Child Molestation Research & Prevention Institute – a national science-based, 501(c)3, nonprofit organization. CMRPI conducts research to prevent child sexual abuse and provides information to prevention organizations, agencies, professionals and families to prevent abuse. The mission is to focus scientific research on the major causes of child sexual abuse, especially in areas where early intervention can save the greatest number of children and to provide scientific information that supports the prevention actions of the field, especially prevention organizations, professionals and families, Atlanta, GA and Alameda, CA.
ChildSafe – provides services in a safe environment for child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. At the center professionals ensure that the child's needs, emotional and medical, come first. The mission of ChildSafe is to restore dignity, trust and hope to children traumatized by sexual abuse, San Antonio, TX.
Darkness to Light – the ultimate mission of D2L, to end childhood sexual abuse, can only be accomplished by sharing the solution of prevention, awareness and education with more and more people. This, in turn, builds momentum and over time, changes the way our nation and culture cares for, protects and nurtures our children. Being an active participant in the mission to end childhood sexual abuse is one of the most rewarding things we will ever do ~ and we cannot do it without you. We believe that learning the facts about childhood sexual abuse helps prevent it. Talking about it helps prevent it. Getting involved helps prevent it. The truth is, if childhood sexual abuse can be prevented, it can be stopped. That's why D2L exists ~ to empower adults through awareness and educational programs to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to childhood sexual abuse, Charleston, SC.
Enough Abuse – provides concerned adults, parents, and professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to prevent child sexual abuse in their homes and communities, Boston, MA.
Girls Education & Mentoring Services – empowers young women, ages 12-21 years, who have experienced sexual exploitation and violence to exit unsafe and abusive lifestyles and to develop their full potential. GEMS’ provides young women with empathetic, consistent support and viable opportunities for positive change, New York, NY.
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children – promotes the safety and well-being of children through activism, policy development and multinational coordination. Their programs and initiatives are uniting the world and providing international solutions to the problems of child abduction and exploitation, Alexandria, VA.
JustTell.org – mission is to reach out to youth aged 8 to 17 who are being sexually abused in order to convey, in age-appropriate language, that: they are not alone, they are not to blame for the abuse and should feel not guilt or shame, and that they need to choose a trustworthy adult in their life and tell them about the sexual abuse. The secondary mission of JustTell is to education and empower all youth around the issue of childhood sexual abuse. No one has ever used kids' media and internet sites where kids gather such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to speak to young people about this issue. Our messages reach out to molested children and teens using methods and messages they can readily access and relate to. Whether it is by tweets, blogs and bulletins, through the wallet-sized cards our ten Street Teams will hand out as Community Service Projects, or by sexually abused kids accessing our website; we are kid-friendly and as hip as the teens who are helping us. And that gives us enormous credibility with kids who are being sexually abused.
The Mama Bear Effect – seeks to empower adults to actively protect children from sexual abuse by raising awareness, and promoting conversations and behaviors that can prevent abuse. There are many misconceptions regarding this issue. The Mama Bear Effect will work diligently and endlessly to expose the reality of child sexual abuse and put an end to dangerous misconceptions. We believe that all good people have a "Mama Bear" instinct - a desire to protect innocent children from a harm greater than what they could ever imagine. A willingness to face our fears, overpower our desire to turn away from such evil, and conquer the ignorance that clouds our understanding of how child sexual abuse exists and is afflicting our nation and world. We must protect our children. We will fight back. This is The Mama Bear Effect.
Mothers Against Sexual Abuse – the mission is to heighten awareness of the hidden epidemic of child sexual abuse through educating parents, caregivers, professionals, and others with the intent to remove the veil of this horrific crime and expose the truth of its tragic impact on children and adult survivors.
National Association to Protect Children – is a national pro-child, anti-crime membership association. We are founded on the belief that our first and most sacred obligation as parents, citizens, and members of the human species is the protection of children from harm. We are committed to building a powerful, nonpartisan force for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation and neglect. We believe that this must be done through a determined single-issue focus, a meaningful mainstream agenda and the use of proven modern political strategies, Asheville, NC.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® – helps to prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; helps find missing children; and assists victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them, Alexandria, VA.
Help Emily Rico get back home
National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
Call 1-800-THE-LOST
Emily Rico
Emily Rico
Missing from:
Sacramento, CA
Since: 07/27/2016
Age now: 14 years
Previous Play/Pause Next
Click on the photo for more information
National Children’s Advocacy Center – a non-profit agency providing prevention, intervention, and treatment services to physically and sexually abused children and their families within a child-focused team approach. Since opening in 1985 as the nation’s first Children’s Advocacy Center, the NCAC has become a leader in the field of prevention and intervention of child maltreatment, Huntsville AL.
National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation – our mission is a unified effort to promote the healthy development of children & youth; and end their sexual abuse and exploitation.
Six Pillars for Prevention: Why We Need Stronger Prevention Polices, 2015. Read news release.
Parents for Megan's Law and The Crime Victims Center – a not-for-profit 501(c)3 community and victim's rights organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse through the provision of education, advocacy, counseling, victim services, policy and legislative support services. We staff the local and National (1-888-ASK-PFML) Megan's Law Help lines. PFML has recently expanded its mission to include the new Crime Victims Center, a program designed to link all victims of violent crime with crime victim compensation and multi-agency referrals for support and assistance, Stony Brook, NY.
Parents Protect – created by the child sexual abuse prevention campaign, Stop it Now! UK and Ireland and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a child protection charity which manages the campaign supported by an alliance of voluntary and statutory sector partners. The campaign aims to prevent child sexual abuse by raising awareness and encouraging early recognition and responses to the problem by abusers themselves and those close to them.
Resources for Preventing and Addressing Child Sexual Abuse, Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Silver Spring, MD.
Sexual Assault Resource Agency – provides free counseling and support services for women, children of all ages, and men who have experienced sexual assault and/or abuse, Charlottesville, VA.
SOL Reform ~ Reform the Statute of Limitations on Child Sex Abuse to Identify Hidden Predators and Increase Access to Justice, Professor Marci A. Hamilton.
Stop Abuse Campaign – we are a diverse team of survivors and supporters working together to stop abuse and alleviate its suffering. We hope you will join us. Stopping abuse starts with believing it happens. Take the pledge, become a Believer and we'll send you a prevention tip every week plus ways you can participate in freeing your family and your community from the fear and impact of abuse. We can stop abuse. Join the Believers today and working together, we will stop abuse tomorrow, New York, NY.
Stop It Now! – prevents the sexual abuse of children by mobilizing adults, families and communities to take actions that protect children before they are harmed, Northampton, MA.
Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse – the mission is to expose and stop child sexual abuse and help survivors heal worldwide. Our overarching goals are to: 1) promote healing of victims and survivors; and 2) celebrate the lives of those healed, Glenn Dale, MD.
Vision of Hope – a project of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. The campaign works to protect our children from the devastation of sexual abuse, Enola, PA.
Wellspring Living – the mission is to confront the issue of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation through awareness, training and treatment programs for women and girls, Tyrone, GA. Read Blog.
In case it is easier here here the source of the article. Happy blogging! -Deborah
http://www.ncdsv.org/ncd_linkschildsexabuse.html
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
A new inspirational blog for those with mental health conditions: "Hope from HealthyPlace"
How To Take Your Mind Off Problems
Mental health difficulties such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, trauma disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and more are notorious for causing people to overthink things and ruminate over problems seemingly nonstop. Thinking about problems too much can interfere in daily life. It's possible to take your mind off problems and find relief from ruminating and over-thinking. Here are ways to do it:
Do something you enjoy. When you actively engage in an activity you love, your mind has something to do. When your mind is distracted with other things, your thinking shifts away from your problems.
Get physical. Regular exercise, even a 10-minute daily walk, energizes both body and mind, and it has a positive impact on the brain that extends to the way it thinks.
Be mindful. Practicing mindfulness means being fully aware, through all of your senses, on what is going on in each moment. The brain can't think about problems and be engaged in the moment at the same time. Again and again, turn your attention to your present moment. Over time, mindfulness will be natural, and you will no longer overthink problems.
Purposefully engaging your mind in positive activities will help you take your mind off your problems—and keep it off.
Here are some more ideas to stop overthinking from our anxiety blogger, Tanya Peterson. Take a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz29PF-3SAA
Related Articles Dealing with Thoughts and Overthinking
Bipolar Thought Types
Obsessive Thoughts, Intrusive Thoughts: Have I Lost My Mind?
Free Yourself From Obsessive Thoughts
With Anxiety, are Your Thoughts Trustworthy?
Your Thoughts
Today's Question: What do you do to take your mind off problems in a healthy way? We invite you to participate by commenting and sharing your feelings, experiences and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:
Explaining Depression To A Friend
When Bipolar Medication Doesn’t Work: Disappointing Your Dr.
Eight Ways to Stop a Panic Attack in its Tracks
If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.
------------------------------------------------------------------
From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.
Some Days It’s Hard to Be a Positive Person
Recovery from a Mental Illness Trigger Event
Does the Addictive Personality Exist?
Parents Affected by Mental Health Stigma
Functionality as the Measure of Quality of Life in Bipolar
Recognize Progress in PTSD Recovery to Promote Further Healing
Going on Vacation With Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
Eight Ways to Stop a Panic Attack in its Tracks
Vacation Well With Your Spouse Despite Mental Illness
Mental Illness Stigma that Comes from Concern Hurts
Personal Growth: Flower Where You’re Planted
Depression Self-Care in Relationships Requires Communication
Unique Mental Health Coping Skills for Bad Days
Grief and Dissociative Identity Disorder: Symbolic Loss
Borderline Personality Disorder, Manipulation vs. Honesty
Release Body-Stored Emotions for Eating Disorder Recovery
Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Stand Up for Mental Health
Thousands Have Joined the Stand Up for Mental Health Campaign
But we still need you. Let others know there's no shame in having depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trichotillomania, OCD, ADHD, schizophrenia or any other mental illness.
Join the Stand Up for Mental Health campaign. Put a button on your website or blog (buttons for family members, parents, mental health professionals and organizations too). We also have covers for Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you,
Deborah
Community Partner Team
HealthyPlace.com - America's Mental Health Channel
"When you're at HealthyPlace.com, you're never alone."
http://www.healthyplace.com
HealthyPlace.com | info@healthyplace.com | HealthyPlace.com | 12951 Huebner Rd No. 780063 | San Antonio, TX 78278
Email Marketing by iContact - Try It Free!
How To Take Your Mind Off Problems
Mental health difficulties such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, trauma disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and more are notorious for causing people to overthink things and ruminate over problems seemingly nonstop. Thinking about problems too much can interfere in daily life. It's possible to take your mind off problems and find relief from ruminating and over-thinking. Here are ways to do it:
Do something you enjoy. When you actively engage in an activity you love, your mind has something to do. When your mind is distracted with other things, your thinking shifts away from your problems.
Get physical. Regular exercise, even a 10-minute daily walk, energizes both body and mind, and it has a positive impact on the brain that extends to the way it thinks.
Be mindful. Practicing mindfulness means being fully aware, through all of your senses, on what is going on in each moment. The brain can't think about problems and be engaged in the moment at the same time. Again and again, turn your attention to your present moment. Over time, mindfulness will be natural, and you will no longer overthink problems.
Purposefully engaging your mind in positive activities will help you take your mind off your problems—and keep it off.
Here are some more ideas to stop overthinking from our anxiety blogger, Tanya Peterson. Take a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz29PF-3SAA
Related Articles Dealing with Thoughts and Overthinking
Bipolar Thought Types
Obsessive Thoughts, Intrusive Thoughts: Have I Lost My Mind?
Free Yourself From Obsessive Thoughts
With Anxiety, are Your Thoughts Trustworthy?
Your Thoughts
Today's Question: What do you do to take your mind off problems in a healthy way? We invite you to participate by commenting and sharing your feelings, experiences and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:
Explaining Depression To A Friend
When Bipolar Medication Doesn’t Work: Disappointing Your Dr.
Eight Ways to Stop a Panic Attack in its Tracks
If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.
------------------------------------------------------------------
From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.
Some Days It’s Hard to Be a Positive Person
Recovery from a Mental Illness Trigger Event
Does the Addictive Personality Exist?
Parents Affected by Mental Health Stigma
Functionality as the Measure of Quality of Life in Bipolar
Recognize Progress in PTSD Recovery to Promote Further Healing
Going on Vacation With Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
Eight Ways to Stop a Panic Attack in its Tracks
Vacation Well With Your Spouse Despite Mental Illness
Mental Illness Stigma that Comes from Concern Hurts
Personal Growth: Flower Where You’re Planted
Depression Self-Care in Relationships Requires Communication
Unique Mental Health Coping Skills for Bad Days
Grief and Dissociative Identity Disorder: Symbolic Loss
Borderline Personality Disorder, Manipulation vs. Honesty
Release Body-Stored Emotions for Eating Disorder Recovery
Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Stand Up for Mental Health
Thousands Have Joined the Stand Up for Mental Health Campaign
But we still need you. Let others know there's no shame in having depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trichotillomania, OCD, ADHD, schizophrenia or any other mental illness.
Join the Stand Up for Mental Health campaign. Put a button on your website or blog (buttons for family members, parents, mental health professionals and organizations too). We also have covers for Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you,
Deborah
Community Partner Team
HealthyPlace.com - America's Mental Health Channel
"When you're at HealthyPlace.com, you're never alone."
http://www.healthyplace.com
HealthyPlace.com | info@healthyplace.com | HealthyPlace.com | 12951 Huebner Rd No. 780063 | San Antonio, TX 78278
Email Marketing by iContact - Try It Free!
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Don’t Get Mad; How Anger Disrupts Mental Health
Anger is a normal human emotion that can disrupt mental health. Anger, part of the fight-or-flight system, can serve a protective function. Feeling angry fuels aggression and motivates us to fight. Stressful situations; perceived embarrassment, humiliation, or bullying; substance use; and some mental illnesses (such as mood disorders, trauma- and stressor induced disorders, and some personality disorders) cause people to experience strong feelings of anger.
Anger, unfortunately, interferes in relationships, school, and employment. It often leads to isolation and loneliness, which can be frustrating and fuel more anger. Additionally, anger disrupts mental health by diminishing the sense of happiness and overall life satisfaction.
Controlling Anger: Think Before You Act
An effective way to prevent anger from interfering in life is to think differently about situations and people that trigger anger (how to control anger). You can't control how others act, but you can control how you react. Determine what's important to you in your relationships, and speak and act to enhance what's important. When your instinct is to lash out in anger, stop for a moment, breathe deeply, call to mind your values, and choose your actions and reactions accordingly. You'll find yourself acting on anger less and preserving what you love, including your mental health, more.
Related Articles Dealing with Anger and Mental Health
Constructive Tips to Resolve Anger and Conflict
Anger Management
Anger Management for Children
Anger Management Likely to Increase Domestic Abuse
Your Thoughts
Today's Question: What keeps you from lashing out in anger when getting mad feels natural? We invite you to participate by commenting and sharing your feelings, experiences and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page and on the HealthyPlace Google+ page.
Source http://www.healthyplace.com/
Anger is a normal human emotion that can disrupt mental health. Anger, part of the fight-or-flight system, can serve a protective function. Feeling angry fuels aggression and motivates us to fight. Stressful situations; perceived embarrassment, humiliation, or bullying; substance use; and some mental illnesses (such as mood disorders, trauma- and stressor induced disorders, and some personality disorders) cause people to experience strong feelings of anger.
Anger, unfortunately, interferes in relationships, school, and employment. It often leads to isolation and loneliness, which can be frustrating and fuel more anger. Additionally, anger disrupts mental health by diminishing the sense of happiness and overall life satisfaction.
Controlling Anger: Think Before You Act
An effective way to prevent anger from interfering in life is to think differently about situations and people that trigger anger (how to control anger). You can't control how others act, but you can control how you react. Determine what's important to you in your relationships, and speak and act to enhance what's important. When your instinct is to lash out in anger, stop for a moment, breathe deeply, call to mind your values, and choose your actions and reactions accordingly. You'll find yourself acting on anger less and preserving what you love, including your mental health, more.
Related Articles Dealing with Anger and Mental Health
Constructive Tips to Resolve Anger and Conflict
Anger Management
Anger Management for Children
Anger Management Likely to Increase Domestic Abuse
Your Thoughts
Today's Question: What keeps you from lashing out in anger when getting mad feels natural? We invite you to participate by commenting and sharing your feelings, experiences and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page and on the HealthyPlace Google+ page.
Source http://www.healthyplace.com/
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Whether it was childhood abuse or neglect, wartime trauma, or vicariously experiencing a trauma (seeing a horrible car crash or domestic violence not directed to you but witnessing it), all of us who probably take this newsletter have experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have experienced numerous traumas and have nightmares quite frequently. I also have anxiety about events that have not even happened yet. PTSD is an anxiety disorder and is expressed through numerous symptoms,
Besides child abuse and neglect, I am now experiencing PTSD from my disease process. You see, I have a chronic painful nerve disease which affects me more sometimes and less other times. I have pain in my knee and ankle joints and recently experienced non-stop itching which took over my lower legs and feet. Besides a horrendous itching, I also have muscle spasms, a terrible rash and blisters all over my lower legs and feet. The itching is so bad that it is based also on temperature so I have to have a room that is 70 degrees at all times so I wear two turtle neck tops and a sweatshirt or jacket. It has become such a traumatic event in my life, that I have nightmares about it coming on worse than it has ever been. My dermatologist has given me cortisone, antibiotic ointment for the wounds some of the itching and my scratching have caused. I have anti-itching pills and many other ointments and creams. My fiancée, who is a retired doctor, keeps track of my regime and treatment protocol.
My physical health has become traumatizing to me. We now have to slowly stop the treatment which has calmed the symptoms. I now live in fear that they will return. This is PTSD. This condition (nerve disease) has left my body, bedbound except with the help of a walker and caregivers, I can get up out of bed and use the bathroom and then return to bed. My greatest fear is that I won't be able to travel to my daughter's law school graduation two state's away next May.
PTSD is extremely difficult for our war veterans to avoid. The death and destruction that they experience in war would wear even the strongest marine, air men and soldier down. If you have not seen the movie, "American Sniper," I would highly recommend this movie as an example of how PTSD can ruin people's lives.
I'm sure many of you have experienced traumatic events that you could share with us. If you want to share your trauma's with Niki and myself, we would love to hear from you. Use the blog comments section, the home website page or email us (marshahunter2000@gmail.com) and we'll put it in the next newsletter or if you wish to share with me, Deborah Hunter-Marsh, your story, be brave and tell me, I won't reveal it to anyone unless you say it's o.k. Until next month have a good and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
UPDATE ON DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
The book will be released on November 17th But it takes two weeks to get it to Amazon so you can get it from eLectio Publishing, from our home webpage, or from Amazon by December 1st. Make it a gift to yourself this holiday season. This is the time I have waited for over the past two years. I'm thrilled to announce that by the next newsletter it will be available in many places. I have much gratitude to many people, some of them are you.
Whether it was childhood abuse or neglect, wartime trauma, or vicariously experiencing a trauma (seeing a horrible car crash or domestic violence not directed to you but witnessing it), all of us who probably take this newsletter have experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have experienced numerous traumas and have nightmares quite frequently. I also have anxiety about events that have not even happened yet. PTSD is an anxiety disorder and is expressed through numerous symptoms,
Besides child abuse and neglect, I am now experiencing PTSD from my disease process. You see, I have a chronic painful nerve disease which affects me more sometimes and less other times. I have pain in my knee and ankle joints and recently experienced non-stop itching which took over my lower legs and feet. Besides a horrendous itching, I also have muscle spasms, a terrible rash and blisters all over my lower legs and feet. The itching is so bad that it is based also on temperature so I have to have a room that is 70 degrees at all times so I wear two turtle neck tops and a sweatshirt or jacket. It has become such a traumatic event in my life, that I have nightmares about it coming on worse than it has ever been. My dermatologist has given me cortisone, antibiotic ointment for the wounds some of the itching and my scratching have caused. I have anti-itching pills and many other ointments and creams. My fiancée, who is a retired doctor, keeps track of my regime and treatment protocol.
My physical health has become traumatizing to me. We now have to slowly stop the treatment which has calmed the symptoms. I now live in fear that they will return. This is PTSD. This condition (nerve disease) has left my body, bedbound except with the help of a walker and caregivers, I can get up out of bed and use the bathroom and then return to bed. My greatest fear is that I won't be able to travel to my daughter's law school graduation two state's away next May.
PTSD is extremely difficult for our war veterans to avoid. The death and destruction that they experience in war would wear even the strongest marine, air men and soldier down. If you have not seen the movie, "American Sniper," I would highly recommend this movie as an example of how PTSD can ruin people's lives.
I'm sure many of you have experienced traumatic events that you could share with us. If you want to share your trauma's with Niki and myself, we would love to hear from you. Use the blog comments section, the home website page or email us (marshahunter2000@gmail.com) and we'll put it in the next newsletter or if you wish to share with me, Deborah Hunter-Marsh, your story, be brave and tell me, I won't reveal it to anyone unless you say it's o.k. Until next month have a good and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
UPDATE ON DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
The book will be released on November 17th But it takes two weeks to get it to Amazon so you can get it from eLectio Publishing, from our home webpage, or from Amazon by December 1st. Make it a gift to yourself this holiday season. This is the time I have waited for over the past two years. I'm thrilled to announce that by the next newsletter it will be available in many places. I have much gratitude to many people, some of them are you.
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
PTSD Recovery: Try Using Inner Child Exercises
I have received enormous benefit to my PTSD recovery from the use of inner child exercises. Inner child exercises help heal the wounded child who lived for so many years within my body. It was that damaged child who suffered the abuse that led to my posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When I was first presented the concept of inner child work, I thought it sounded silly. But in a time of great desperation, I tried it, with the most remarkable results. My PTSD recovery is greatly benefitted by using inner child exercises. Here’s how they work.
When I told him there were blank spaces in my memories of my childhood, he
suggested what he called Gestalt therapy, or empty chair exercises. He said it would be a way to access the wounded young inner child. He told me that when abuse happens, the ego gets frozen at a certain age, and that the child would be able to access those abuse memories. It sounded super psychological, and I smiled politely and dismissed the concept.
Not long after that, I began to remember traumatic incidents with my Dad, escalating in violence, which started when I was a teenager. At the same time, my world was falling apart, and I grew increasingly desperate. I sensed there was something else, even more damaging, deeply buried within my soul, but I couldn’t access it. One night I had a dream about someone chasing me with a gun, and when I turned to look, it was my Dad (PTSD And Nightmares: Dream Revision Technique. http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/traumaptsdblog/2015/10/19/the-use-of-inner-child-exercises-in-ptsd-recovery/
I have received enormous benefit to my PTSD recovery from the use of inner child exercises. Inner child exercises help heal the wounded child who lived for so many years within my body. It was that damaged child who suffered the abuse that led to my posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When I was first presented the concept of inner child work, I thought it sounded silly. But in a time of great desperation, I tried it, with the most remarkable results. My PTSD recovery is greatly benefitted by using inner child exercises. Here’s how they work.
PTSD Recovery By Accessing The Inner Child
In the late 1980s, I exhibited the symptoms of PTSD, but I couldn’t remember a traumatic event that might have happened to me. I was attending the Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) Twelve Step program, trying to figure out the effects of growing up with alcoholism. One of the great blessings of that time was to be working with a sponsor (mentor) who was also a therapist.When I told him there were blank spaces in my memories of my childhood, he
suggested what he called Gestalt therapy, or empty chair exercises. He said it would be a way to access the wounded young inner child. He told me that when abuse happens, the ego gets frozen at a certain age, and that the child would be able to access those abuse memories. It sounded super psychological, and I smiled politely and dismissed the concept.Not long after that, I began to remember traumatic incidents with my Dad, escalating in violence, which started when I was a teenager. At the same time, my world was falling apart, and I grew increasingly desperate. I sensed there was something else, even more damaging, deeply buried within my soul, but I couldn’t access it. One night I had a dream about someone chasing me with a gun, and when I turned to look, it was my Dad (PTSD And Nightmares: Dream Revision Technique. http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/traumaptsdblog/2015/10/19/the-use-of-inner-child-exercises-in-ptsd-recovery/
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Did You Know
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Stress Is The Enemy
Stress - everyone has it but no body wants it. Stress can spur one to achieve events and rewards one has never accomplished before. It can also cause poor health, it is detrimental to relationships, and can cause a complete mental break down. Since I don't know what stressors you have, I will use my stressors to illustrate what I mean:
In a book called The Body Keeps The Score, it's talks about trauma and stress and the effects these have over the body many years after they have happened. It is meant to be a textbook but I was able to glean from it the resiliency we have as human beings to go on to recover in many ways from the traumas in our lives. I would highly recommend this book if you are willing to read a heavier subject manner book than usual. Here is information from the jacket cover:
"From this profoundly humane book offers a sweeping understanding of the causes and consequences of trauma, offering hope and clarity to everyone touched by the devastation. Trauma has emerged as one of the great public health challenges of our time not only because of the well-documented effects on combat veterans and on victims of accidents and crimes but because of the hidden toll of sexual and family violence and schools devastated by abuse, neglect and addiction."
Bessell van der Kolk, M.D.
Amazon link - http://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma-ebook/dp/B00G3L1C2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443902110&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Body+Keeps+the+score
I challenge each of you to read this book and comment on it on my website comments page or on comments here on my blog. Here are the links to both website and blog
http://deliverusfromevilbook.blogspot.com/ - blog
http://www.deliverusfromevil.us/ - website home page
I hope you are able to start saying no when someone asks you to take on more than you can handle without stressing and handle only what causes you less stress.
by Deborah Hunter-Marsh
Stress - everyone has it but no body wants it. Stress can spur one to achieve events and rewards one has never accomplished before. It can also cause poor health, it is detrimental to relationships, and can cause a complete mental break down. Since I don't know what stressors you have, I will use my stressors to illustrate what I mean:
- Being mistreated or abused as a child - major stress
- Leaving home,
- Getting a bachelor and a masters degree - major stress,
- A bad marriage,
- A divorce,
- A move to another state,
- A new boyfriend and long-term relationship,
- A major health problem.
In a book called The Body Keeps The Score, it's talks about trauma and stress and the effects these have over the body many years after they have happened. It is meant to be a textbook but I was able to glean from it the resiliency we have as human beings to go on to recover in many ways from the traumas in our lives. I would highly recommend this book if you are willing to read a heavier subject manner book than usual. Here is information from the jacket cover:
"From this profoundly humane book offers a sweeping understanding of the causes and consequences of trauma, offering hope and clarity to everyone touched by the devastation. Trauma has emerged as one of the great public health challenges of our time not only because of the well-documented effects on combat veterans and on victims of accidents and crimes but because of the hidden toll of sexual and family violence and schools devastated by abuse, neglect and addiction."
Bessell van der Kolk, M.D.
Amazon link - http://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma-ebook/dp/B00G3L1C2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443902110&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Body+Keeps+the+score
I challenge each of you to read this book and comment on it on my website comments page or on comments here on my blog. Here are the links to both website and blog
http://deliverusfromevilbook.blogspot.com/ - blog
http://www.deliverusfromevil.us/ - website home page
I hope you are able to start saying no when someone asks you to take on more than you can handle without stressing and handle only what causes you less stress.
by Deborah Hunter-Marsh
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Here is a Review of Deliver Us From Evil:
Hi Deborah,
I read your manuscript. Here is the review you can use and that I will put on Amazon when the time comes. Let me know if there are any changes you would like me to make, or anything specific you would like for me to add, and if it feels right, I would be glad to make changes.
Review on Deliver Us From Evil:
This is Deborah’s honest account of horror, confusion, shame—and recovery.
For those who have been through life-shattering child abuse, Deborah is someone who understands the difficulty in sustaining healthy relationships thereafter and the arduous journey it takes to return to wholeness.
For those who fortunately escaped such experiences, she gives insight into a world of pain for those living in victimization—not only by the perpetrator(s), but also by those who act in disbelief and who wish to silence them rather than offer support. The inability to find safe confidantes, keeps them isolated, imprisoned in silence.
This material, though tragically intimate, is dealt with delicately and ultimately with hope and possibilities for a healthy future. She shares her successes and her failures with equal candor, as well as the tools she used to move out of the darkness.
Deborah gives a list of resources as support for others, as well as evidence that there can be life after trauma and deliverance from (even during) evil.
----------------------------
You were courageous to write this, and I know people who would benefit from reading it. I have a friend whose father was one of those brilliant scientist that the government recruited out of college during the cold war to design bunkers for the president and his men. They were shown horrific films about the end of the world and subliminal material to encourage them to rape their wives and daughters to repopulate the earth. She didn't recover memories for quite some time and of course her mother didn't want to deal with it. In fact, shortly after it was brought up, the mom began encapsulating into dementia.
I suspected, because of some of the things that would pop out of her mouth and the curious expression she would have after she said them, not knowing where that came from. I could keep going on...
There is so much abuse, and the self-esteem movement in the public school just exacerbated it. Now, they are saying there is an up and coming generation of narcissists (and I don't mean the sloppy way people throw that term around as "selfishness"). We are going to need more people willing to expose reality and provide safe places. I appreciate your contribution to that end.
Blessings to you!
Kelly
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
40 Things Your Soul Wants You To Know
This morning I was picking up a few grocery items at a local convenience store when an elderly man with a guide dog came in, went to the aisle with the greetings cards, picked up a card, held it up extremely close to his face, and struggled to read it. Just as I was about to walk over to help him, a big, burly truck driver asked him if he needed assistance reading, and then proceeded to read him almost every single greeting card out loud until the elderly man smiled and said, “That’s perfect! My wife will love that one!”As the elderly man checked out at the register, I walked up to the truck driver and said, “I admire your kindness.”
“Thank you, sir,” he replied with a smile. “Lately, I’ve just been letting my soul guide me. It would have been much easier to let that man struggle, or let someone else help him, but my soul knows the easy things in life aren’t always the right things.”
“That’s honestly beautiful,” I said.
“Well, all of our souls are equally beautiful,” he quickly added. “We just need to listen to what our souls want us to know more often.”
Don’t you just love that sentiment?
I’m sharing this story with you today because I think this man’s message is one we all need to be reminded of.
When it comes to living our lives, we spend too much of our time living as an egocentric avatar – overly attached to our perceived identity and societal opinions. We have an ego, a personality, a history, cultural viewpoints and experiences that overpower the intuitive messages our soul is telling us.
But our soul is timeless, eternal and infinitely wise, and it needs to be listened to. Our “intuition” is really just our soul whispering prudent insight into our ears, especially in busy, stressful or confusing times.
Here are 40 encouraging things your soul wants you to know:
- Some people talk with you in their free time, and some free their time to talk with you. Today, and every day, you can be the latter to the people you love.
- The smallest act of kindness is always worth more than the grandest intention.
- Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
http://www.marcandangel.com/2015/09/13/40-things-your-soul-wants-you-to-know/
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Monday, September 7, 2015
25 Quotes that Will Quiet the Negative Voice in Your Head
25 Quotes that Will Quiet the Negative Voice in Your Head
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Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Best Quotes For Anxious, Highly Sensitive & Creative People
“You’re not going to die. Here’s the white-hot truth: if you go bankrupt, you’ll still be okay. If you lose the gig, the lover, the house, you’ll still be okay. If you sing off-key, get beat by the competition, have your heart shattered, get fired…it’s not going to kill you. Ask anyone who’s been through it.”Daneille LaPorte
“If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another. The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.”
Deepak Chopra
“I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.”
Steve Maraboli
“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.”
Jodi Picoult
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.”
Hermann Hesse
“I’ts not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”
Hans Selye
“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”
Arthur Somers Roche
“Don’t let your mind bully your body into believing it must carry the burden of its worries.”
Astrid Alauda
“My need to solve the problem is the problem.”
Unknown
“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.”
Deepak Chopra
“Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.”
Guy Finley
“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
“Don’t try to steer the river.”
Deepak Chopra
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/hollywood-therapy/2015/08/best-quotes-for-anxious-highly-sensitive-creative-people/
“If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another. The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.”
Deepak Chopra
Steve Maraboli
“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.”
Jodi Picoult
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.”
Hermann Hesse
“I’ts not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”
Hans Selye
“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”
Arthur Somers Roche
“Don’t let your mind bully your body into believing it must carry the burden of its worries.”
Astrid Alauda
Unknown
“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.”
Deepak Chopra
“Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.”
Guy Finley
“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
“Don’t try to steer the river.”
Deepak Chopra
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/hollywood-therapy/2015/08/best-quotes-for-anxious-highly-sensitive-creative-people/
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Living the Simple Life
zen habits : breathe
‘A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.’ ~Henry David Thoreau
For almost 9 years now, I’ve been learning to live a simple life.
A life uncluttered by most of the things people fill their lives with, and left with space for what really matters. A life that isn’t constant busy-ness and rushing, but contemplation and creation, connection with people I love and time for nature and activity.
That doesn’t mean I have zero clutter and zero complications: I’m a part of the world, not a secluded monk. I have possessions, electronics, distractions, and occasional busy-ness. I just have reduced it to make space.
Today I’ve been reflecting on this simple life, and thought I’d share some of those reflections.
Some things I’ve learned about living the simple life:
zen habits : breathe
‘A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.’ ~Henry David Thoreau
For almost 9 years now, I’ve been learning to live a simple life.
A life uncluttered by most of the things people fill their lives with, and left with space for what really matters. A life that isn’t constant busy-ness and rushing, but contemplation and creation, connection with people I love and time for nature and activity.
That doesn’t mean I have zero clutter and zero complications: I’m a part of the world, not a secluded monk. I have possessions, electronics, distractions, and occasional busy-ness. I just have reduced it to make space.
Today I’ve been reflecting on this simple life, and thought I’d share some of those reflections.
Some things I’ve learned about living the simple life:
- Decluttering your home and work space can lead to a less cluttered mind. These visual distractions pull on us in more ways than we realize.
- A quiet unrushed morning is a thing to treasure. I wake early so that I have some quiet time to read, write, meditate.
- You can’t have a simple life if you’re unwilling to let go of what you’re used to.
- Letting go can be difficult, but is easier if you do a one-month challenge. Let go of something for a month and see whether you like it or not.
- Letting go of cable TV was one of the best things we did early on — no more constant television in my home, no more ads for crappy things we don’t need.
- Shopping isn’t therapy. It’s a waste of time and money.
- If you’re filling your life with distractions, its probably because you’re afraid of what life would be like without constant Internet, social media, news, TV, games, snacks.
- Simple, whole, healthy food is not only much healthier than junk food: it’s a pleasure.
- You have to make time for what’s important: time with your kids, time with your spouse, time for creating, time for exercise. Push everything else aside to make time.
- Overcommitting is the biggest sin against simple living most people make. I painfully cut out a huge number of commitments to simplify my life, and I’m glad I did. I do this every year or so because I keep forgetting.
- I keep my days mostly unstructured and unscheduled so that I have room for the little things that are so important: reading with my child, going for a walk, taking a nap.
- I have certain activities I do almost every day, though not on a schedule: writing, reading, eating healthy meals, doing a workout or playing with the kids outdoors, processing my email inbox, reading with the kids.
- It’s easy to fill up our lives because there are so many things that sound amazing. We hear about what others are doing and instantly want to add that to our lives. But it’s harder to remember that by adding so many things to our lives, we are subtracting space. And that space is important.
- By saying no to things that sound really cool, I’m saying yes to what’s truly important to me.
- Distractions are both more tempting and more destructive than we realize.
- It’s tempting to fill in every little minute of the day with productivity or distractions. Don’t. Leave some emptiness.
- We put too much emphasis on excitement. It’s temporary, and not important.
- We overemphasize productivity. Focus, priorities and effectiveness are more important. So is a nice walk with a loved one.
- If you can’t learn to sit in a quiet room alone with no distractions, you won’t be able to simplify.
- Buying things doesn’t solve our problems. Neither does food.
- It’s not how few things we own that matters. It’s whether we make those things count.
- It’s better to have six books on your shelf that you’re really going to read than a hundred you never get around to.
- When you travel lightly, you’re freer, less burdened, less tired. This applies to life, not just travel.
- Your attention is your most valuable possession. Give it as a gift to the people you love most, not a bunch of clowns on the Internet. Give it to the work that matters most, not distractions.
- Sometimes distractions are nice.
‘Let’s begin by taking a smallish nap or two.’ ~Winnie the PoohPosted by Thai Nguyaen from the book-- Zen Habits book
No comments,
Please click HERE to read or post comments.
Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Why Are Adult Coloring Books So Popular?
By Don Sebastian
The coloring books for adults have intricate patterns to color. Some say these are psychologically based patterns to relieve tension. Actually, it's the coloring we do that causes us to relax and as a result these books are extremely popular.
Years ago, I remember catching my wife coloring away with a quiet yet enthusiastic demeanor when I came home from work early around 4:00pm. She was sitting with our three children (all under 8 years at the time and all quietly coloring) in our den. I went up to give her my usual hello kiss and didn't get her attention right away as she was totally absorbed coloring.
"Oh you're home early?" she said continuing to color.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"We're just keeping out of trouble... , kids like to color... " I didn't think much about her enthusiasm at the time, and was happy she was having a break.
Remember the Wham-O's Hula Hoop rage where millions found a lot of enjoyment and fun with such a simple hoop. But coloring is different? It's more individualistic and peaceful to yourself and others around you. Adult coloring now is a rage for adults in the modern world.
I researched adult coloring and read the back and forth movement of the crayon, colored pencil, or marker does in fact have a calming effect since it requires the use of both sides of the brain causing neurons to reinforce their connections between both sides while shutting down the frontal lobe which controls organization. So, a feeling of balance occurs after a stressful day. Coloring gives relief to the daily demands of attention focusing at work, stress of everyday life, information overload, intense competition, intense play, intense everything at times.
Johanna Basford's, "Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book" seems to have started the adult coloring book rage in 2011. This book may be a collector's item someday - like an original hula hoop.
Basford, a Scottish commercial artist doing a lot of intricate black and white patterns for wallpapers, beer bottles, wine labels was originally asked to do a children's coloring book but she convinced her British publisher to have her do an adult coloring book since her clients enjoyed coloring in her patterns. Well, we all know after two million copies were sold, Johanna found a new niche for adults to enjoy worldwide.
Johanna doesn't use computers to assist her drawings as she believes computer generated works are soulless.
Her success speaks for itself as she does work for Sony, Chipotle, Absolute Vodka and other major clients from her little studio in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Her original book shows signs of the Brodick Castle Gardens on the Isla of Arran where Johanna played as a child.
You can get many free adult coloring books on the web or you may want to get the book that started this new fad, Johanna Basford's "Secret Garden:An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book." and her new one "Enchanted Forest, An Inky Quest."
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Sebastian
By Don Sebastian
The coloring books for adults have intricate patterns to color. Some say these are psychologically based patterns to relieve tension. Actually, it's the coloring we do that causes us to relax and as a result these books are extremely popular.
Years ago, I remember catching my wife coloring away with a quiet yet enthusiastic demeanor when I came home from work early around 4:00pm. She was sitting with our three children (all under 8 years at the time and all quietly coloring) in our den. I went up to give her my usual hello kiss and didn't get her attention right away as she was totally absorbed coloring.
"Oh you're home early?" she said continuing to color.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"We're just keeping out of trouble... , kids like to color... " I didn't think much about her enthusiasm at the time, and was happy she was having a break.
Remember the Wham-O's Hula Hoop rage where millions found a lot of enjoyment and fun with such a simple hoop. But coloring is different? It's more individualistic and peaceful to yourself and others around you. Adult coloring now is a rage for adults in the modern world.
I researched adult coloring and read the back and forth movement of the crayon, colored pencil, or marker does in fact have a calming effect since it requires the use of both sides of the brain causing neurons to reinforce their connections between both sides while shutting down the frontal lobe which controls organization. So, a feeling of balance occurs after a stressful day. Coloring gives relief to the daily demands of attention focusing at work, stress of everyday life, information overload, intense competition, intense play, intense everything at times.
Johanna Basford's, "Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book" seems to have started the adult coloring book rage in 2011. This book may be a collector's item someday - like an original hula hoop.
Basford, a Scottish commercial artist doing a lot of intricate black and white patterns for wallpapers, beer bottles, wine labels was originally asked to do a children's coloring book but she convinced her British publisher to have her do an adult coloring book since her clients enjoyed coloring in her patterns. Well, we all know after two million copies were sold, Johanna found a new niche for adults to enjoy worldwide.
Johanna doesn't use computers to assist her drawings as she believes computer generated works are soulless.
Her success speaks for itself as she does work for Sony, Chipotle, Absolute Vodka and other major clients from her little studio in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Her original book shows signs of the Brodick Castle Gardens on the Isla of Arran where Johanna played as a child.
You can get many free adult coloring books on the web or you may want to get the book that started this new fad, Johanna Basford's "Secret Garden:An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book." and her new one "Enchanted Forest, An Inky Quest."
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Sebastian
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
On Sunday, August 30, at 10/9 Central, the TLC channel will air the premiere of "Breaking the Silence." It has been an incredible experience participating in the development of this groundbreaking film addressing the issue of child sexual abuse. This film communicates the importance of adult responsibility and prevention. Don't forget to set your DVRs or tune in to this special commercial-free program. Join us on Twitter before and during the premiere, using the hashtag #BeTheVoice, to discuss the film and how to protect children from sexual abuse.
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
30 Quick Stories that Will Make You Think Differently
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This morning I randomly received emails from three different blog subscribers (subscribe here) that basically said the same thing about three completely different articles: “The story you shared at the beginning of the post made me think differently. Thank you.”
In light of this, I just spent an hour sifting through our blog archive and re-reading the intro stories to dozens of older posts. And I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment of our subscribers. Even when taken out of the larger context of a full blog post, these quick stories pack a thought-provoking punch. So, I figured it would be a fun to re-share them with you today. I hope you appreciate them as much as I do…
This morning, like he has every morning for the last decade, my 86-year-old grandfather picked a fresh wild flower on his morning walk and took it to my grandmother. This morning I decided to go with him to see her. And as he placed the flower on her gravestone, he looked at me and said, “I just wish I had picked her a fresh flower every morning when she was alive. She would have loved that.”
Today, on my 47th birthday, I re-read the suicide letter I wrote on my 27th birthday about two minutes before my girlfriend showed up at my apartment and told me, ‘I’m pregnant.’ She was honestly the only reason I didn’t follow through with it. Suddenly I felt I had something to live for. Today she’s my wife, and we’ve been happily married for 19 years. And my daughter, who is now a 21-year-old college student, has two younger brothers. I re-read my suicide letter every year on my birthday as a reminder to be thankful – I am thankful I got a second chance at life.
After injuring my back, losing my job because of it, being evicted from our apartment, moving in with Laura’s parents, nursing my five-year-old through a nearly fatal bout of strep throat, I was stuck in a tragic rut for far too long. And I was sitting on the front porch of my in-law’s house feeling sorry for myself, yet again, when my old college buddy called me crying and said, ‘Mel-Mel-Melissa, my baby girl, just died in a car wreck.’ And suddenly I felt like the lucky one.
http://www.marcandangel.com/2015/08/19/30-quick-stories-that-will-make-you-think-differently/
Written by
This morning I randomly received emails from three different blog subscribers (subscribe here) that basically said the same thing about three completely different articles: “The story you shared at the beginning of the post made me think differently. Thank you.”
In light of this, I just spent an hour sifting through our blog archive and re-reading the intro stories to dozens of older posts. And I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment of our subscribers. Even when taken out of the larger context of a full blog post, these quick stories pack a thought-provoking punch. So, I figured it would be a fun to re-share them with you today. I hope you appreciate them as much as I do…
This morning, like he has every morning for the last decade, my 86-year-old grandfather picked a fresh wild flower on his morning walk and took it to my grandmother. This morning I decided to go with him to see her. And as he placed the flower on her gravestone, he looked at me and said, “I just wish I had picked her a fresh flower every morning when she was alive. She would have loved that.”
Today, on my 47th birthday, I re-read the suicide letter I wrote on my 27th birthday about two minutes before my girlfriend showed up at my apartment and told me, ‘I’m pregnant.’ She was honestly the only reason I didn’t follow through with it. Suddenly I felt I had something to live for. Today she’s my wife, and we’ve been happily married for 19 years. And my daughter, who is now a 21-year-old college student, has two younger brothers. I re-read my suicide letter every year on my birthday as a reminder to be thankful – I am thankful I got a second chance at life.
After injuring my back, losing my job because of it, being evicted from our apartment, moving in with Laura’s parents, nursing my five-year-old through a nearly fatal bout of strep throat, I was stuck in a tragic rut for far too long. And I was sitting on the front porch of my in-law’s house feeling sorry for myself, yet again, when my old college buddy called me crying and said, ‘Mel-Mel-Melissa, my baby girl, just died in a car wreck.’ And suddenly I felt like the lucky one.
http://www.marcandangel.com/2015/08/19/30-quick-stories-that-will-make-you-think-differently/
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Widespread Child Sexual Abuse Case Rocks Pakistan
HUSSAIN KHAN WALA, Pakistan — Pakistani officials have initiated an investigation into allegations that a gang of men sexually abused more than 200 children and sold videos of the abuse.
The accusations have rocked the country, drawing the attention and condemnation of human rights activists and politicians in a case that involved subjects long considered taboo here.
At least 280 children under the age of 14 from three villages in eastern Punjab Province were said to have been subjected to sexual abuse by a gang of 15 men, who made videos to extort money from the children and their parents. Seven of the accused have been arrested, police officials said Sunday.
The accusations of abuse started trickling out last month as victims began to report it to the police, and last Tuesday, hundreds of residents staged a protest, accusing the police and local politicians of protecting the gang members and ignoring the accusations. Some of the protesters clashed with the police, and dozens of people were injured, including several police officers.
On Saturday, details of the abuse were carried by The
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
update on book
The book, deliver us from evil,
is now being edited by the publisher, electio publishing. When it is finished being edited and pictures
inserted, it will move into production and printing. Only 3 months until it will be available for
purchase. We are very excited about
offering it to the world on November 17TH!
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong
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“The best way out is always through.”
―Robert Frost
“Today, I’m sitting in my hospital bed waiting to have both my breasts removed. But in a strange way I feel like the lucky one. Up until now I have had no health problems. I’m a 69-year-old woman in the last room at the end of the hall before the pediatric division of the hospital begins. Over the past few hours I have watched dozens of cancer patients being wheeled by in wheelchairs and rolling beds. None of these patients could be a day older than 17.”
That’s an entry from my grandmother’s journal, dated 9/16/1977. I photocopied it and pinned it to my bulletin board about a decade ago. It’s still there today, and it continues to remind me that there is always, always, always something to be thankful for. And that no matter how good or bad I have it, I must wake up each day thankful for my life, because someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.
Truth be told, happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. Imagine all the wondrous things your mind might embrace if it weren’t wrapped so tightly around your struggles. Always look at what you have, instead of what you have lost. Because it’s not what the world takes away from you that counts; it’s what you do with what you have left.
Here are a few reminders to help motivate you when you need it most:
http://www.marcandangel.com/2014/01/08/8-things-to-remember-when-everything-goes-wrong/
Written by
“The best way out is always through.”
―Robert Frost
“Today, I’m sitting in my hospital bed waiting to have both my breasts removed. But in a strange way I feel like the lucky one. Up until now I have had no health problems. I’m a 69-year-old woman in the last room at the end of the hall before the pediatric division of the hospital begins. Over the past few hours I have watched dozens of cancer patients being wheeled by in wheelchairs and rolling beds. None of these patients could be a day older than 17.”
That’s an entry from my grandmother’s journal, dated 9/16/1977. I photocopied it and pinned it to my bulletin board about a decade ago. It’s still there today, and it continues to remind me that there is always, always, always something to be thankful for. And that no matter how good or bad I have it, I must wake up each day thankful for my life, because someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.
Truth be told, happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. Imagine all the wondrous things your mind might embrace if it weren’t wrapped so tightly around your struggles. Always look at what you have, instead of what you have lost. Because it’s not what the world takes away from you that counts; it’s what you do with what you have left.
Here are a few reminders to help motivate you when you need it most:
1. Pain is part of growing.
Sometimes life closes doors because it’s time to move forward. And that’s a good thing because we often won’t move unless circumstances force us to. When times are tough, remind yourself that no pain comes without a purpose. Move on from what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you. Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there. Good things take time. Stay patient and stay positive. Everything is going to come together; maybe not immediately, but eventuallyhttp://www.marcandangel.com/2014/01/08/8-things-to-remember-when-everything-goes-wrong/
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
5 things you don't understand about depression
The recent death of Robin Williams has brought a lot of attention to depression. It's tragic that a beautiful life of laughter such as Robin Williams' could be cut short without it being the result of an accident or chronic illness like cancer.
But the truth is, Robin Williams' death WAS the result of a chronic illness. But instead of it being a more noticeable chronic illness (like cancer) it was the result of less obvious chronic illness called depression.
Many people misunderstand depression. In fact, many people don't even know that depression can be a chronic illness. Despite that depression has been around for ages, there are still many misunderstandings and misperception about depression and those who suffer from it.
So in an effort to help you understand and help those around you who suffer from depression, here are 5 things you probably don't understand about depression:
Depression is different from regular sadness because it is debilitating. In other words, it keeps people from being able to live the life they want to live. In fact, The World Health Organization has identified depression as the fourth leading cause of disability around the world and projects it to be the second leading cause by 2020.
Aaron Anderson
But the truth is, Robin Williams' death WAS the result of a chronic illness. But instead of it being a more noticeable chronic illness (like cancer) it was the result of less obvious chronic illness called depression.
Many people misunderstand depression. In fact, many people don't even know that depression can be a chronic illness. Despite that depression has been around for ages, there are still many misunderstandings and misperception about depression and those who suffer from it.
So in an effort to help you understand and help those around you who suffer from depression, here are 5 things you probably don't understand about depression:
1. Depression is debilitating
A lot of people think that depression is just really bad sadness. And people think that because it's "just really bad sadness" you should be able to continue with life as you always have until you get over it. But depression isn't the same "everyday sadness" that comes and goes.Depression is different from regular sadness because it is debilitating. In other words, it keeps people from being able to live the life they want to live. In fact, The World Health Organization has identified depression as the fourth leading cause of disability around the world and projects it to be the second leading cause by 2020.
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Surviving Child Sexual Abuse
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Supreme Court allows child abuse disclosure to teachers as evidence
By Sam Hananel for ABC News
Statements that children make to teachers about possible abuse can be used as evidence, even if the child does not testify in court, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday. The ruling is expected to make it easier for prosecutors to convict people accused of domestic violence. The justices said that defendants don't have a constitutional right to cross-examine child accusers unless their statements to school officials were made for the primary purpose of creating evidence for prosecution. The case involves Darius Clark, a Cleveland... http://www.d2lblog.com/2015/06/30/supreme-court-allows-child-abuse-disclosure-to-teachers-as-evidence/
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
The #1 Key: How to Help a Person Dealing with Depression
Don’t look for someone who will solve all your problems. Look for someone who won’t let you face them alone.” — UnknownDepression for me is like constantly walking up a hill.
Most of the time the hill has only a one percent gradient. You can hardly even tell it’s a hill. I walk, run, jump, skip along, doing cartwheels and stopping to smell pretty flowers and listen to bird-calls; it’s sunny and warm, with clear blue skies.
Even though I have to put in a little bit of effort to walk up, times are good.
And then something happens in my life, like I lose my job, I have to move, or I’m having ongoing arguments with my partner, and my hill starts to get a bit steeper.
It’s still reasonably easy climbing, but it takes a little more effort. It gets a bit darker around me, like the sun has just gone behind the clouds. But it’s fine. I can do it.
And then some other things happen, like I’m feeling stressed out because it’s exam time, and I call my friend to hang out but she doesn’t have the time, and I injure myself and can’t do my usual activities anymore — and my hill gets even steeper.
And then all of a sudden, almost without me realizing it, I’m on hands and knees, crawling up this really steep hill.
It gets kind of dark around me, and pretty windy, like a storm is brewing. The temperature drops, I get goosebumps. But I don’t look at the darkness around and behind me. I am still aiming for the spot of brightness at the top. I know I’ll get there soon.
I struggle to make eye contact with people, go out to social events, or call friends back, because I’m so focused on just making it up the hill.
And then some other things happen, like I get a virus, or someone I love dies. And then my hill is so steep it’s like climbing a ladder, but slippery and made of grass and dirt and rocks.
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015/06/28/the-1-key-how-to-help-a-person-dealing-with-depression/
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
| Darkness2Light National Organization Dear Deborah, Summer is often a favorite time of the year for everyone, but especially for kids. Vacations, sports activities, faith-based programs, camps, and others provide a variety of ways for children to enjoy their time before heading back to school. As parents and concerned adults, it's important that we know how to keep the children in our lives safe as they participate in all the activities the summer has to offer. Important steps to planning a safe and happy summer include choosing the right programs and ensuring there are policies in place to protect your child. I hope this short video will be a useful tool to support you in that process. | ||
 | ||
| Imagine if all of the adults caring for your child were trained how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. At Darkness to Light, our goal is to educate adults on the prevention of child sexual abuse. You can help make this happen! For a donation as little as $10, we can train one person through our Stewards of Children® training. For $350, we can train one facilitator who can then start educating a community. Regardless of the amount of your gift, it will go a long way in preventing child sexual abuse. Please support our work to end child sexual abuse by giving today. Gifts from friends like you make it possible for us to train the adults that care for your child, including summer staff and volunteers serving youth. Funds received by June 30th will make an immediate impact for this summer, so please make your donation today. I’m choosing to make a difference. I hope you will too. Sincerely,  | ||
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Mission Statement: Mitigating the shame around sexual abuse, to emphasize recovery and to raise the level of mental health in society.
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