Mental Health and Positivty - A New Beginning

There are plenty of mental health blogs, most focusing on what can go wrong and how to fix it.  Why not focus on the positive side of the illness?  I've decided to take a different approach in how I look at not only my mental illness, but what I write about as well.  We need to see the best thing when seeking stability and a way to handle most illnesses is to focus on positivity.

 I received the diagnoses of  Bipolar Disorder with psychotic features, Anxiety and PTSD.  In the past 20 years I've tried endless medications, treatments, seen therapists and hospitalizations.  While the doctors mean well and are good at what they do, we are responsible for our health and treatment. 

Yes, I take my medication, I won’t stop that because it helps keep me stable, but I know that is not the total answer.  It is time for a new focus and a more positive way of looking at this illness many feel will take away our life.  It won’t, often it will give you more than you ever imagined.   

When the focus is on the positive and we discover our talents, our life becomes one of joy and stability. I hope you will join me on this journey of discovery and wellness.  

P is for Positivity

I am always looking for quotes or songs that stand out and put into words what I am not able to say myself.  I have recently done some research on staying positive and how it affects mental health and I was surprised to see how many studies have been done on this subject and how much I have learn.

It has been shown that negative thoughts have the ability to lower our moods, affect our actions and even our overall health.  

The goal is to become optimistic and focus on the positive things in life as much as possible. This does not mean that negative thoughts will completely go away or that we will never have them, it is simply a way to combat them and live a better life.  I have worked on this for many years and it does work, it takes time and practice but in the end the benefits are well worth it.

Some of the best ways to gain positivity in your life:

• Write!  Journaling is one of the top tools used in therapy and for people, in general, when it comes to getting thoughts out of our minds and on paper where it can make more sense to us.  By seeing the written words, we are able to absorb them and we can envision a plan or goal more clearly.
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• Exercise:  A simple walk around the block is enough to boost your energy and clear your mind.  Exercise 20 minutes a day at least a few days a week can help you feel better as well.
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• The SilverLining:  It may sound like some overused psycho-babble, but finding the positive in a negative situation, but it can show how you may have grown or changed because of a particular situation.  Ask yourself what you may be gained from the experience, not only personally, but within your relationships as well.
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• Practice Gratitude:  Practicing gratitude once again brings us to writing.  Keeping a gratitude journal can help you see the good things, whether they are big or small, that are happening in your life.  Writing letters to those who may have helped you through a tough situation, or even sharing good news with friends, helps us see the good that is in our lives.  
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•  Lastly, Avoid Negative Thinking:  This is the most difficult one to tackle, and the reason I no longer watch the news at night.  The negativity that is broadcast is enough to ruin a good day.  In a study of those taking tests, those who focused on negative thoughts had lower scores than those were more focused on the positive. 

These techniques are by no means easy and will not stop all negativity and make you an instant positive person, but it is a starting point.  I, myself, use journaling a lot in my attempt to become more positive and combat the negativity and challenges of my illness.   

There is another practice used by therapists and their patients when thoughts become overwhelming and anxiety is not controlled.  I call it the “snap method.”  Simply put, a rubber band is worn and every time an intrusive thought comes to mind or you start ruminating, you snap the band.  This is to remind you and bring you back to the present.  It may seem extreme like I said, but it works. 

How do you stay positive on a daily basis?  What tips or techniques can you share?

"P" is for Positive Thoughts #atozblogchallenge

I am always on the lookout for quotes, affirmations and songs that speak for me and put into words what I may not be able to find on my own.  I came across an article that spoke of the song  "Colors of the wind" from the movie Pocahontas. I have watched it many times, and it happens to be one of my favorite tunes from the movie, but when it is broken down as the writer of the article did, you can see how the song pertains to our lives and gives us hope by showing us the positive side of nearly everything.  

Here is my take on it.

"She goes wherever the wind takes her"  -  Kekata    

This really speaks to me and my personality; I am a wanderer by nature and long to travel the world in search of adventure, knowledge and experience.  I have a tattoo on my left forearm that says dreamer; it is who I am. I was never one to follow the pack, and this  phrase is a reminder to me when I feel I need to conform.  The words offer me the courage to stand on my own.

"He wants me to be stead like the river, but it's not steady at all." - Pocahontas

Oh, how many times I have heard this phrase spoken directly to me.  People are under the assumption that you must be what everyone else is, follow the path drawn out for you and do not create a wrinkle in the plan, or in this case do not upset the calm of the river.  Pocahontas knows that they do not see what she does, the possibilities and hope in the ever-changing  water, and in the world. 

"Listen  with your heart, you will understand" -   Grandmother Willow

Our hearts know the truth; it is the one part of us that we have a hard time following, because we do not trust it.  We look instead for more logical explanations or follow pre-written plans instead of what we feel to be right.  By not going with what we believe, we find sadness and a loss of faith in our capabilities as a person.

"You think the only people who are people, are the people ho look and think like you. But, if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew you never knew. - Pocahontas

We are taught growing up to conform; that certain people are different and therefore, should not be trusted.  There is no real rhyme or reason for this, only what has been handed from generation to generation.  If we are given the chance though, we would be surprised what is right in front of us that could not be seen before.

There are many more of these snippets of a song, but the main idea is this, no matter what is thrown at us throughout the course of a day or week, step back for a moment and try to see what is really going on.  Are you being challenged in some way?  Is what you are doing what your heart  tells you is right?  This is where the positive thinking comes into play.  It is in these moments that we must believe in ourselves, and we are capable of. 

Positive thoughts, even if found within a song, poem, or over heard in another conversation is good for us.  It brings us to the place we need to be and reminds of all that is possible, if we only believe in ourselves.