Mental Illness: Institutional Stigma?

Have you seen the recent news about benefit sanctions and those most commonly affected?

Take a quick read here.

The (Unrealistic) Pursuit of Happiness

Hello guys,

After a much needed weekend to relax, I'm finally back! I was planning to post on Saturday night, but as you can see, this didn't happen. I was going to further talk about anxiety and a depressive mood and what tend to triggers mine? I identified some of my worst triggers (procrastination, how'd you guess?) but then it got me thinking, why do these make me feel this why? What set of rules or beliefs do I hold that make me beat myself up so much.

WARNING: This post asks tonnes of questions.

When the butterflies start to strangle

Good morning folks,

Still feeling very overwhelmed by the response of this blog so far! Another 250 hits yesterday, thank you everyone for taking time to make mental health awareness grow.

Today, I'd like to talk a little more about anxiety, and its power to make even positive events in your life quite stressful.

Open Up

STOP. 

This page is open for a reason. 

Someone very close to you has something they need to share with you. Someone very important needs you to read this.

Don't do it alone, Let Them Know!

Morning folks!

Thank you to everyone who has read the blog thus far. After making the bold choice to share this on my personal Facebook, I can say I am absolutely overwhelmed with smiles at the response.

Very positive, and some inspiring, powerful individuals came forward and shared their stories with me!

You know who you are.

So, the reason for my post today, was to instigate a little resource for people who may feel like they can't find the right words to let someone know around them that they are struggling to cope.

Have you let someone know how much they mean to you lately?

Check out this moving video by Champions Against Bullying. Prepare for a few sniffles.

When panic attacks

So guys, a bit of background to this story. In 2013, I was having some reoccurring troubles with my err, digestive system.

Eventually, it was decided that I had IBS. Great.

After a year or so, it had calmed down massively and I would say it was almost not a problem anymore. Almost.

The problem I've found? It's caused by anxiety.

Some unhelpful brain-pickings that tend to float around my skull and why they are irrational

So, this first exercise is to identify negative thoughts. I'll explain why I think I think these thoughts (I think). And then I will rationalize with myself as to why they are untrue.

I found this exercise very helpful when I received CBT counselling for when I was suffering from bulimia (ex-bulimic now, and the lowest weight of my adult life; it is possible).

Here's one I've grappled with today.

I found a metaphor that explains it all

Hello, my name is Laura. I started this blog to help cope with the ups and downs of, well, I'm not sure what it is sometimes. It involves existence though.