Collaborative / Partnered Post - Self Care And Self Healing - How To Deal With Stress And Trauma*

Coping with the negative emotions that come after experiencing some kind of stress or trauma can be really difficult. Whilst physical pain can often be controlled quite quickly, dealing with your emotions takes time, and whilst some feelings, especially those you experience after bereavement, never truly go away, the first step towards any sort of healing is to properly acknowledge and deal with what's happened. If you’ve recently found yourself in a distressing or stressful situation and are looking for ways to achieve a more confident and positive outlook, here are a few tips and ideas to help you deal with what ever the world throws at you.

Image Source - Pexels

Professional Support Through Therapy

One of the biggest ways I've always found to deal with stressful and traumatic events is to talk about it -  I'm lucky to have supportive family and friend but sometimes that either isn't possible or it isn't appropriate. If the stress and emotion that you feel is getting out of hand and you feel as though you simply cannot deal with it alone, then it may be an idea to seek professional support through therapy with a counsellor or psychologist. There is so much stigma around seeking medical help for mental health issues, but there shouldn't be. Don't be frightened to consider seeking professional help - I've had CBT, and bereavement counselling in the past and for me it really was a lifesaver. Talking to a someone openly and without judgement can really help you to deal with any problems that you may have - it really helped me put things into perspective and it helped me to find way to manage and deal with my issues. Even if you do have family and peer support around you having a therapist will also add another friendly, helpful and unbiased face to your support network, and even things like attending appointments can play an important role in establishing a routine, which is something that can often go out the window after a bereavement or any other traumatic incident .

Try Your Hand At Meditation

Life is so busy now, and so stressful that it's important that we all take a bit of time out and do something to help us switch off from the world. From having a nap, to having a nice long bath, to even going to the gym there are so many ways in which individuals distress, but probably the most popular worldwide has to be the practise of meditation. Meditation can help you to pull yourself away from the past and live more in the present moment, which can improve the way you deal with your trauma and stress dramatically. It can also really help just to take your mind off things, as the main point of the experience is to clear your head of all thoughts to focus on calm and tranquillity. Though mastering the practise may be a little difficult, having something else that's so positive to focus on and put your efforts into can lift your mood noticeably. There are lots of apps and so on to help you meditate now, so it's worth having a look around to see what you can find. Many years ago now, when I was fit and healthy I used to practise yoga, and a key part of that was meditation. Meditation can be as simple as emptying your mind and staring into a candle flame (one of my favourite methods), or using your mind to take you to your happy place - control your breathing, imagine yourself on that tropical island and you can literally feel the tension melt away.

Research Alternative Ideas

When you stressed out or hurting emotionally there are lots of different methods and things that you can try, just to make life that little bit better. Depending on the kind of stress or trauma you experienced and the emotions that you feel, there are many different alternative methods that you can try. From psychic readings to guide you spiritually and to try and set your mind at rest, to special diets that are said to eliminate ‘negative’ foods that may cause more emotional pain, the possibilities are endless when it comes to seeking out something less traditional to help you deal with your troubles.  If something helps, then it’s worth doing, and that’s really the bottom line. If you find you are more stressed after reading, and shop for new glasses online, then if it works it is a good thing. Some of it might sound a little bit cranky or a bit left field but it's all about what works for you and what makes you feel better x From crystal healing, to yoga, to art therapy, and aromatherapy, whatever method you choose, just make sure that you are completely comfortable throughout the process, if you find something too distressing then try something else, the aim of whatever you do is to make you feel better not worse.

Whilst some things and emotions never truly go way, there are ways and means to make them more manageable, and to help you cope better with what lies ahead. Believe me I've been in some pretty dark places throughout my life, and I just want all of you to know that things can get better, they don't get better overnight but lots of self care, and lots of talking can certainly help you along the way. If you don’t think you can handle it all on your own don't worry, there is no shame in talking to a stranger and asking for help, there are lots of people out there who can offer you all of the support that you need, no matter what the issue x Always remember that you are not alone x

*Collaborative / Partnered Post

Weight Loss Update - 1 Month In - 16 lbs Down

The photos probably mean that I could make this pretty much a world less first weight loss update post but that really wouldn't be the whole story.

In my first month back using my Slim Pod and being super careful, watching what I'm eating I've lost a huge 16 lbs, yes 1 stone and 2 lbs. I can't quite believe I've lost that much in such a short period of time but it only goes to show that I was probably eating way than I should be and way more naughty things than I should be.

I haven't denied myself anything I've just made a serious effort to limit the naughty things. Apart from that the only real changes I've made are making sure that I always eat breakfast - a big one it really sets you up for the day, eating at least 5 different portions of fruit and vegetables a day - very important especially if your a vegetarian and drinking at least two litres of water a day - which keeps you hydrated and keeps you feeling full.

It's amazing how being a bit more careful can yield such great results. It's even more surprising when you consider that I haven't done any real exercise yet instead all I've tried to is up my physical activity a bit. Every movement we make is exercise and can help us to burn calories, so when the body has been willing I've done a bit more housework, a bit more physical work when I've been cooking and of course don't forget that a little look round the shops counts as exercise too, and I've done that a couple of times over the last 4 or so weeks too.

I've also being using the Thinking Slimmer Slim, Chill and Fit Pods again as part of my nightly routine. They've really helped to keep my motivation up and keep my thinking positive when I've felt as though I'm wobbling a bit. As I said once before they've also helped me to establish a better, and more relaxed nighttime routine.

So after a successful January I'm feeling more motivated than ever that I can achieve the results that I want. If I was doing Slimming World this week would be classed as my Star week, I'm sure all you ladies have an idea of what means, so I'm trying to deal with cravings and bloating but trying to cut down my salt intake and by keeping up my water intake - hopefully it shouldn't effect this week to much but even if I gain on Monday I can deal with that.

Looking forward to the rest of February, I'm just planning exactly what I've been doing, watching, what I eat, and listening to my Slim Pod. I'm feeling a bit rubbish at the moment but when I start feeling a bit better I'm hoping to do a little bit of gentle yoga and stretching exercises using an fabulous DVD which is especially for people with CFS.

Thanks to all of you for your support both on Twitter and on Instagram I really do appreciate it. If you want to find out more about my weight loss journey before next months updates please follow me on either of these platforms or check out my Weight Tracker page xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

The Rest Of My Resolutions

Well apart from the obvious I have also made the following New Years Resolutions

• Lose Weight
• Try and do a bit of yoga for fatigue
• Try and keep things a bit tidier and more organised
• Stick to my skincare routine
• Keep my eyebrows groomed
• Try and be an all round nicer person
• Try and be more positive about my illness
• Keep in touch with friends and family more

Ears, Photos, Nasty Letters and Hummus !!!!

I don't think I ever have a week which doesn't involve some sort of drama.

All my plans for last week pretty much disappeared. I felt yucky pretty much all week... By Saturday I felt bleurghhhhhhh forcing me to cancel my opticians appointment and to cancel my trip to the Newcastle / Wigan game (Sorry Again Dawn!) Typical the game in the game I miss Newcastle win their first home game since February! (Which reminds me good luck at West Ham Nobby we will miss you x)

Anyways I had a doctors appointment for today anyways and it only turns out I have an ear infection!!!!!!! Cue the nice pic of me with cotton wool and ear drops in which I have decided to treat you all too - fan bleedin tastic!!

It always seems to be the way when your feeling yucky things go wrong and you end up having to rush round and do things you never expected too and this week has been no different. My new passport photos were rejected because I was wearing glasses!!!! so I had to shell out £3.50 to get another set done - fingers crossed my new set are OK - I am rapidly running out of time!!!! Then today I got a rubbishy letter from the bank cue more running around and stress! Least said about this the better really but its all sorted now!!!

On a positive note I got some super dooper Yankee candles this week, in Jasmine, Baby Powder, Sheer Gardenia, and Pineapple Citrus - I love my smelly candles! Also made some lovely hummus today too which is yummy so very pleased about that! I also found out that my mate Helen (of Prospero the bear fame) is definitely coming up this month so that is something to look forward too!

Plans for the rest of the week plenty of rest, card making and making my mums birthday meal on Friday :) - I am also taking the kitties for their injections, planning on doing some ebay listing, some blogging and maybe a bit of light yoga, hmmm - I think though I will take each day as it comes my life never seems to go as planned