Reply #19: Journaling is good, gets shit out and works to show you progress. [View All]

Take very good care of yourself: healthy diet, relaxing exercise, listen to music which makes your soul breathe. Be as good to yourself as you are to your good friends!

Make a list of five things you like to do.
Do them.

Next month, make it a list of ten things.
Do those too.

Try something new which has sort of interested you for a long time buy you never seemed to have time for.

Volunteer. You make the world better and it makes you feel better about yourself.

Take the time to appreciate small things. Mention to others what you appreciate about them. When you dwell on good stuff, seems more of it starts showing up in your life.

Take time to really learn to enjoy some solitary pursuits.

Balance a little 'crowd time' into your schedule too.

Join an interest group or sign up for an enrichment class which interests you. You will spend energy in a new area, meet new people, challange yourself and feel good about learning.

Spend time with nature. Really be there when you do.

Breathe. Seriously, we tend to breathe faster and more shallow when sad, stressed, depressed. Take time throughout the day to pay attention to your breathing. Bring it down and make it deep. O2 is your friend.

Do not let panic attacks send you into, well, a panic. They are too common when we are really down. Learn about them now and handle them if they show up.

Sleep is good, but don't hide there. Put a pen and notebook by the bed and jot things down that you recall from dreams. As part of a journaling project, paying attention to the evolution of your dreams can help you direct your own healing and also mark your progress.

Expect occassional setbacks. It happens. They will become less sever and their numbers will decrease.

Remember that how you feel today is NOT how forever feels. You will be better than you were. You will learn and grow. You will love again.

Trust da momma. She know. ;)

Let me know how you are doin from time to time if you want. I'll hold a lamp up at the end of the tunnel. Some kind people did that for me once. I promised to pass the light along.