My Best Shot Monday

Mental Health Monday Fact Sheets : Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario

I came across this fact sheet on the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario website (Copyright 1993, Mental Health Association, National Office. . Reading it makes so much sense.

Fact Sheets : Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario:

"Mental health means striking a balance in all aspects of your life: social, physical, spiritual, economic and mental. Reaching a balance is a learning process. At times, you may tip the balance too much in one direction and have to find your footing again. Your personal balance will be unique, and your challenge will be to stay mentally healthy by keeping that balance.
This pamphlet has been prepared with some suggestions to help you strike and keep your balance."

Build a Healthy Self Esteem : Take a good look at your good points. What do you do best? Where are your skills and interest areas? How would a friend describe you? Now, look at your weak points. What do you have difficulty doing? What things make you feel frustrated? Take a look at this list. Remember that all of us have our positive and negative sides. We let our strength shine and we build on our weak points to help us mature and grow.

Receive As Well As Give : The next time someone compliments you say "Thank you. I am glad you think so." Then think about other compliments you have had, and how good they made you feel.

Create Positive Parenting and Family Relationships : Make time to just be a family. Schedule time for both serious things and fun. Listen respectively without interruption to what each person has to say. Do it frequently.

Make Friends Who Count : Keep in touch - invite a friend to lunch. Encourage new friendships, as your friend to bring someone you've never met.

Figure Out Your Priorities : Write out a budget for yourself. Is it realistic? Have you planned what to do with the money left over for your "wants"? Which "wants" are most important to you?

Get Involved : Read to children at your local library; visit an elderly person in their home or in hospital; serve on a committee or board of your favorite charity; organize a clean up of a park or your local beach; help a neighbor clean out his/her garage.

Learn to Manage Stress Effectively : Each day, set aside 5 minutes for a mental health break. Close your office door or go into another room, and daydream about a place, person, or idea, or think about nothing at all! You will feel like you've been on a mini-vacation.

Cope With Changes That Affect You : Search out a support group that deals with the issues you are facing. By teaming up with people who share your problems, you may find a fresh solution. Try starting a group of your own by using the public service announcements in your local newspaper, radio station, or tv station.

Deal With Your Emotions : Find out what makes you happy, sad, joyful, or angry. What calms you down? Learn ways to deal with your moods. Share joyful news with a friend; "cry on a shoulder" when you feel blue. Physical exercise can help you deal with your anger. Keep a stack of your favorite funny cartoons, or a collection of humorous stories or video tapes for times when you feel you need to laugh.

Have a Spirituality To Call Your Own : You, Set aside quality time to be alone. Do a breathing exercise - try counting your breaths from one to four, then start at one again. Or do something you love to do, like dancing, going to a baseball game, building a bird house, whatever works for you!

Beautiful Sunday 03/10/10

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite photos I have ever taken of the girls.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

Wordless Wednesday

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things is going to the races with the girls and seeing how excited they get and how happy they are.

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins: "

1. Family is EVERYTHING!!!

2. Second guessing our decision to transfer the kids to a new school keeps my mind going back and forth.

3. I love a hot cup of coffee or an ice cold beer.

4. lots of pepper makes a good meal.

5. I've got the best thing in the whole world - my girls

6. grrr sometime he ticks me right off : wth!!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing listening to music and going on the Internet, tomorrow my plans include waking up and having a pot of coffee ... uninterrupted and Sunday, I want to just see what happens!"

Wordless Wednesday

Before & After Thursday

This is a challenge where you take the photo you posted for Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC) and you show the same photo only edited on Thursday.

Before (SOOC)

After (edited)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was visiting cousins on Loon Island with Mom & the girls.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

Before & After Thursday

This is a challenge where you take the photo you posted for Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC) and then you show the same photo only edited on the Thursday.

Before

After

Wordless Wednesday

My Best Shot Monday

Beautiful Sunday

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was celebrating Canada Day with the girls.

Thoughtful Friday

Friday Fill-Ins

1. When it's quiet and I am home alone I end up getting anxious and have to turn on music or TV, when it's quiet and the kids are home I have to go check and see what they are into.
2. Our family reunion is in what seems like a month.
3. My heart is so full of love and respect for my beautiful girls.
4. I love celebrating Canada Day in July.
5. In the town where I was born I love going there and taking pictures.
6. Honesty is something I really love about my significant other / friend.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching TV and relaxing with no kiddies, tomorrow my plans include getting my beautiful girls back home and Sunday, I want to have so much fun at the cottage, swimming, having a BBQ, visiting with amazing family & friends and having fireworks - can't wait!

Before & After Thursday

This is a challenge where you take the photo you posted for Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC) and edit it.

Before

After

a new layout

Wordless Wednesday

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things is watching the girls grow up spending summers at the cottage just like I had as a child. I hope they are making as many awesome memories as I did!!

Wordless Wednesday

Mental Health Monday

I think the biggest thing I have come to understand about my mental health is that while it is seemingly not going away (I've been struggling with mental health issues for over 10 years) I know that I am never alone. Those of you that struggle alongside me ... well you are never alone either.

Before & After Thursday

Found this new challenge here where you take the Straight Out of the Camera Saturday (SOOC) picture you posted and then you show the picture edited in a before and after post on Thursday. Right up my ally ....

So here's this weeks SOOC shot

and the edited image

Mental Health Monday

The other day I had one of thew worst panic episodes I have had in a long time. It is so hard to try to explain to those close to me what happens when I have one of these episodes. I think most people think I make it up. It is so scary and so debilitating sometimes. So hard to pout into words, but here goes ...

I feel intense

panic

my heart rate increases

I feel like I have to

run

I need to be

alone

I need to

hide

Color Combos Galore #146

The newest challenge is up over on the Color Combos Galore Blog . This week they have challenged you to use stitching and the following colors: Magnetic Grey, Ivory, Misty Lilac and Taupe.

Here's my layout:

Straight Out of the Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things is watching Peach sleep like this - makes me think of an ostrich.

Thoughtful Friday

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Splashes Of Color To Brighten Your Day!

(images courtesy of shutterstock)

Wordless Wednesday

Creative Therapy Catalyst #113 - more than just family ...

Over on the Creative Therapy Blog the newest catalyst #113 is who were your favorite relatives. Here's the layout I created about my cousins.

Color Combos Galore #145 Fall Beauty

Played along with the challenge over at Color Combos Galore again. The challenge was to use flowers and this weeks color combo.

Happy Yellow - Hydrangea - Everlasting Ivory - New Green

Here's my take:

Mental Health Monday: Warning Signs

here are some noted warning signs of possible mental illness:

• marked personality change
• inability to cope with problems and daily activities
• strange ideas or delusions
• excessive anxiety
• prolonged feelings of sadness
• marked changes in eating or sleeping patterns
• thinking about or talking about suicide
• extreme highs and lows
• abuse of alcohol or drugs
• excessive anger, hostility
• violent behavior
• irrational fears

Many people do not realize that they are ill while many others do not seek help due to the stigmas attached to mental illness. Learning about mental illness may help you or someone you care about. If you or anyone you know shows any of these warning signs please seek professional help. There really is help out there for those of us that require it.

Thoughtful Friday

Wordless Wednesday