What to Write When You Don’t Know What to Write

Posted on Posted in creative writing, personal reflection, successful failuresTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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Let’s start with the fact that I chose to:

  1. Get out of bed
  2. Breathe

Today I feel just ok. I don’t feel exceptional, gifted, or awesome in any form of the words.

I feel… ok. Normally, that would be just ok, just fine, just dandy. But, in my life, battling depression, bipolar, anxiety, and OCD on a daily basis, I might tend to think an ok day is much more than just ok.
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Yoga Review: Emotional Release Flow by O’M Yoga

Posted on Posted in healthy choices, namastéTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
om_reviewI needed something this evening. Little did I know it was this yoga practice.

Let me start by saying, Mary (the face behind O’M Yoga) didn’t ask me to review this practice in any way shape or form. This is simply my humble opinion about an awesome workout.

Let’s get to it.

5 Things that Rocked:

  1. Makes you sweat. Some yoga practices are for days when you’re looking for something softer and less aggressive. When I’m looking to sweat, I go for an O’M Yoga practice – never lets me down.
  2. Plenty of mods. I consider myself semi-intermediate in the practice of yoga, but because of my body shape, and weight, I tend to need modifications. This practice was awesome with tons of modifications to get just the right stretch in an accurate position. Mary does a great job of explaining what modifications might look like, and letting you know that… it’s ok if your shape is different, you’re on the mat, that’s what matters.
  3. Focus on the hips. I do believe that certain emotions and stress are held within certain areas of the body. This practice is great for dumping all that negative yuck from your hips. There were some great hip openers, specifically malasana, or the yogic squat. Also known as frog.
  4. Comic relief. During a tough practice like this, it’s really nice to have some smiling and laughing. It helps you fight that ‘fight or flight’ feeling. Mary does a great job of taking the focus off the pain some of her signature poses cause. No offense Mary 😉
  5. Full body workout. Yes, there’s a focus on hips, buy Mary’s great about getting core and upper body strength in as well.
2 Things I’d like to Improve in Myself:
  1. Flexibility. Mary is awesome about making me WANT to want to do that pose or flow.
  2. Consistency. The good thing is that Mary’s classes rock, and I want to get back to the mat as soon as possible.


Yogis Choice Score: 8/10

So, in my opinion, go for it! Go for the gold. Give one of Mary’s practices a shot and love yoga a little more, ok… a lot more.

Thanks O’M Yoga!

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5 Quick Fixes When Migraines Attack

Posted on Posted in mental illness awarenessTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

7c66426d633c551baea52b29af444ce1A few days ago, I experienced the worst migraine in the history of mankind… ok, maybe not mankind, but definitely within my lifetime. For a great illustrated guide to what the life of a migraine, check out this infographic. 

I’m that person who used to brush off those who suffered from migraines, (Sorry! I was stubborn, and now I know better!) thinking they were just bad headaches. I now understand the horrific pain that is a migraine.

I’ve experienced a couple before, but this one, this came with:
• flashes of light
• stiff as a board neck
• pain so bad I couldn’t sleep, or move
• extreme light sensitivity
• body aches
• vomiting

In my desperation, I was grasping for anything that eased the pain.
Here are 5 things that helped me:

  1. Complete darkness… or as close to it as possible. I’m serious. Draw the curtains, close the blinds, get your vampire on. The less light, the better. For me, light triggers my eyes to strain, which causes flashes of light, and more pain.
  2. Sunglasses… if complete darkness isn’t enough (it wasn’t for me!) I threw some sunglasses on to block out an extra radiant light. I had aviators lying around, but I would’ve gone for those old school wrap around style. The less light, the less strain.
  3. Cool wash cloth… migraines typically feel like inflammation of the brain, caused by environmental triggers, putting pressure on the skull, muscles, and nerves surrounding. Coolness helps ease the feeling of swelling and takes the focus off the pain. I held mine right over my eyeballs, which helped reduce the light as well. I also placed it on my neck to relax some of the tension.
  4. Close those laptops and shut those smartphones off… those screens are deadly to migraine sufferers. I looked at my phone for a couple seconds, WITH my sunglasses on, and had to shut it off. Your Twitter account can wait. Just say no.
  5. Peppermint and coconut oil… a gorgeous mixture of holistic healing for my migraine. Always dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil. Coconut oil wasn’t greasy and didn’t have any added scents, which can be another trigger for recurring migraines. I applied the mixture directly to my temples, gently, and put a little under my nose.

I truly appreciate the pain migraine sufferers go through. It is completely incapacitating and absolutely miserable. I hope in sharing my quick fixes, they are of some use to you. The other fix… is time. Don’t plan on doing anything while fighting a migraine, I was planted on the couch for a day and a half. Let yourself rest. Rest cures so much.

What are your quick fixes?

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*Thoughts are my own. I am definitely not a medical professional, just someone sharing what worked for me. 🙂

 

5 Ways You May be in the Gray

Posted on Posted in creative writing, mental illness awareness, personal reflectionTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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Throughout my journey with depression and bipolar, I’ve realized 2 very important things. The extremes of life are where they (depression and bipolar) want me to be, but the gray is where I strive to be. I desire to exist in the gray, because that is the balance between the high of my mania, and the low of my depression. It’s a little like doing standing ‘flys’ on a weight machine, except you never let the weight go.

So, if you’re like me, and think the gray is a good thing, here are five ways you may be in the gray:

  1. You are content in the moment. My mania wants me to plan every aspect of the future, and my depression tells me to remember all the things I’ve messed up in the past. The sweet spot is right in the middle of that. That’s where I’m humble and grateful for each and every thing in my life. (God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now. -Elisabeth Elliot)
  2. You can have fluent conversations. When I’m surviving in my mania, I literally forget words and how to put them together to form a sentence. I think it’s because I’m thinking about the future, what the other person is thinking about me, if I’m making sense, and forming words all at the same time. In the gray, it’s like the puzzle pieces fall together. (Introverts: we dislike small talk, but we are fluent in the language of ideas and dreams.)
  3. You love beyond yourself. In the gray, I am as balanced as possible which means I have room to care and love others, rather than worrying about where I am. I believe my purpose in life is to spread and share joy with others, to make them smile, and laugh – to think about the good things, and let go of the not-so-good things. When I’m in the gray, I can help others find their gray. To me, that’s the ultimate form of serving. (Proverbs 11:27 Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one who finds the gold.) 
  4. You are able to listen actively. In the gray, I am able to slow down and filter one thought at a time. Instead of wanting to speak and vomit all things in my mind out, I’m balanced, and available to listen, really listen, to people in my life. (God gave us mouths that close, and ears that don’t. That must tell us something. -anonymous)
  5. Your anxiety is low. I like to relate the idea of black and white to the amount of oxygen I’m receiving. Black, the low, is when you’re so out of air, you begin drowning – causing anxiety. White, the high, is when I’m hooked up to extra oxygen, and get anxious with all the extra energy I have. The gray is where I can stand, and just be. (1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.)

Whether the gray is a positive or negative in your mind, it’s always good to continue to ask questions and check in with yourself. I do this, constantly, every day. Eventually, even if it’s just for a moment, the fragrance of gray finds me.

Find your balance, whether it’s black, white, or gray.

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