Mental Health Awareness East London - South Africa

🌟 Welcome to Our Mental Health Community! 🌟

Dear New Members,

We're thrilled to have you join our supportive community dedicated to mental health well-being. Whether you're here seeking guidance, sharing experiences, or simply looking for a safe space to connect with others, you're in the right place.

At Mental Health Awareness EL, our mission is to foster understanding, provide resources, and offer solidarity in the journey toward mental wellness. Remember, you're not alone in this journey, and together, we can navigate the ups and downs, celebrate victories, and lend a listening ear during challenging times.

Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below! Share a bit about your journey, what brought you here, or any topics you're eager to explore. Let's build connections, support each other, and create a community where everyone feels valued and heard.

Welcome aboard, and thank you for being a part of our compassionate community!

Warm regards,
Ryan

Something of interest. Gratitude or expressing recognition from your partner is definitely beneficial in one of the few steps is managing your anxiety. The end goal though being OK with yourself as well. In general though, showing gratitude is never a bad thing.

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/one_way_your_partner_can_calm_your_attachment_anxiety

One Way Your Partner Can Calm Your Attachment Anxiety A new study suggests that a grateful partner can help heal the wounds of an insecure attachment style.

Hey Everyone!

I have had questions about this Syked promotion that I am sharing on the group and page.

Syked is a legit organization. I have spoken to the founder on numerous occasions, very nice guy I might add, and they are doing this because they can and yes exposure. It's a win for this little group no matter which way you look at it though.

This group was created for people with mental illnesses and for people who need to vent and find some common ground, a place for no one to be judged because of what they are feeling or what they are going through. It's a support group. Most importantly, this group was created to help others. With Syked running this promo, all of us have an opportunity to obtain a free session to speak to a qualified person. It's already been handed to us on a silver platter, we just have to do our part which is simply like pages. That takes five minutes of your time.

Are these sessions a long term thing? Hell, I don't know. If you like them enough it could be. However, one session with a therapist or counsellor might put you on the right road to recovery, managing your mental health or coping with stress.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?

Two winners have already been selected which means 8 more people stand the chance of claiming their sessions at no cost to you.

READ BELOW

No one should ever have to walk this journey alone, with Syked you can now have access to a personal therapist in the palm of your hands through innovative online consultation. Therapy is now convenient, Private and affordable.

Syked is giving away free therapy sessions to 10 lucky followers- All you have to do is go like their page Syked as well as like & share Mental Health Awareness East London - South Africa
T&C Apply

*Sessions need to be claimed before the 29 February
*Syked team will contact winners to allocate therapists

We can all relate :-)

Very Different from yesterday's picture but it can't always be sunshine and rainbows and to be honest, it's far and few between that I experience those happy feelings. Sadly, I'm stuck with me and I will make the best of it and manage it the way I see fit.

The pen pointing towards "organizing chaos" I found ironic because at the time that picture was taken, my mind was in disarray and it was just before I had an anxiety attack.

It's ok for a guy to cry. It does not make you less masculine. It simply means that "HEY, YOU ARE HUMAN AND HUMANS HAVE FEELINGS!"

Don't let society make you feel bad if you need to cry. I dropped my daughter off at school for the first time today and yeah I cried. I was proud and full of love.

Be who you are!

No one should ever have to walk this journey alone, with Syked you can now have access to a personal therapist in the palm of your hands through innovative online consultation. Therapy is now convenient, Private and affordable.

Syked is giving away free therapy sessions to 10 lucky followers- All you have to do is go like their page Syked as well as like & share Mental Health Awareness East London - South Africa

T&C Apply

*Sessions need to be claimed before the 29 February

*Syked team will contact winners to allocate therapists

You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.

Why did you spill the coffee?

"Because someone bumped into me!!!"

Wrong answer.

You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.

Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.

*Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.*

Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.

*So we have to ask ourselves... “what's in my cup?"*

When life gets tough, what spills over?

Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility?

Anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions?

Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.

Today let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation; and kindness, gentleness and love for others.

ADHD is not a learned behaviour
ADHD is not a discipline problem
ADHD is not a spoiled child symptom
ADHD is not a temper tantrum
ADHD is not a choice
ADHD is a medical condition
ADHD is a chemical imbalance
ADHD is a big deal
ADHD is a battle for self-confidence
ADHD is a fight to maintain focus on one thing at a time
ADHD is REAL and requires a lot more empathy from the rest of society!

Treatment includes medication and behavioural therapies for both adults and children.



Syked

It's called mental illness for a reason because it is an illness! Why can't it be accepted like any other illness? You can't just "get over it".



Syked

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/08/opinion/letters/mental-illness.html

Opinion | Don’t Blame Mental Illness A psychiatrist is troubled by statements in an Op-Ed article linking anti-Semitic violence to mental health problems. Also: Progress on public schools; tips for the hard of hearing.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-savvy-psychologist/201912/3-little-known-disorders-related-anxiety

3 Little-Known Disorders Related to Anxiety Anxiety manifests in different ways, including some little-known disorders.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/see-something-say-nothing-culture-mental-health-problems-104292

The 'See Something, Say Nothing' Culture of Mental Health Problems Many employees with mental illnesses don’t get the help they need for fear of discrimination.

A piece of advice if you are suffering from a mental health problem and know it but refuse to get help or ignore all support given. There is nothing more anyone can do.🤷‍♂️

People can suggest and encourage, support and assist where they can, but ultimately it is up to you to make that change. No one is going to do it for you.

The question you have to ask yourself ultimately is

Are you happy with your life and who you are?🧐

If yes, then don't wield your mental health condition as a weapon to manipulate. Don't use it as an excuse either. Stop your bitching if you don't want to get better. It does happen, and it gives the rest of us legitly trying to improve our lives a lousy reputation.🤬

If no, then it's time to jump. What could you possibly lose by trying to get better? Listen to advice, research mindfulness, try meditating, try meds. You have to go through a process of elimination to see what works. There is no magic pill.🤪

Put the work in. No-one is going to spoon-feed you, but there will be people to support you. Think about it. 👍❤️

Need help? DM us.👊

Everyone’s method of self care is different. Just remember to think about yourself when you feel overwhelmed and you are struggling to cope.

*FIND AN OUTLET*

Finding an outlet to manage your mental health disorder is important and I find that photography helps me in this regard. 📸

I have decided to share this here because if something else is a passion and you need encouragement to keep going, this is the page and group for you. 🙂

We don't only speak about Mental Health issues. We also support, give advice and encourage each other in all aspects of life.

That is what a community should be.❤️

World Diabetes Day 💉

In support of World Diabetes Day, we wanted to share two things with you. First, this beautiful piece of art depicting what the disorder is like from one person's perspective.

The second is a few questions that were answered by a Type 1 diabetic and sharing what they know and how they have been affected.❤️

Q1.
What is Diabetes?

A1.
Your body's inability to produce insulin.

Q2.
What type of diabetes do you have?

A2.
Type 1

Q3.
When were you diagnosed with having diabetes?

A3.
1994

Q4.
What medication are you taking for it?

A4.
Insulin

Q5.
Can you walk us through the procedure of what needs to be done in case emergency insulin is needed?

A5.
The most common emergency is lack of sugar - so giving the person a quick fix like sugar or a coke works very quickly. That's what works for me, I'm not sure about other diabetics

Q6.
When you were, first diagnosed, were you anxious about it?

A6.
No

Q7.
How has it affected your lifestyle personally?

A7.
Not at all - I still eat and drink what I like most - but I have learned what foods will affect me and use my insulin accordingly.

Q8.
How has it affected the lifestyle of people around you over time (partners, children, etc…)

A8.
At the beginning not at all - but as time goes by you start having other problems - losing sensation in my feet and legs has been challenging but we work around it. And getting older and not having a more disciplined approach causes other problems like high blood pressure. Your immune system also takes a knock and you are more prone to pick up colds and flu

Q9.
Over the course of the years, living with diabetes, has it become easier or more difficult to live with, age, of course, being a factor.

A9.
Not at all

Q10.
What do you think more people should know about diabetes and the ones who live with it?

A10.
Being diabetic does not limit you in any way - you are NOT I'll, you have a health condition



image courtesy of Tumbler: tigonxz.tumblr.com

Hello all! 👍

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! How many of you were waiting for the Sprinkboks to run through Vincent, I wonder?! 😂

There are two things that I would like to speak about. One I think I will be quiet over the weekends, that does not mean you fine folks are not allowed to post your own questions, tips or anything else related to mental health or even just to have a bit of fun. This is a group of like minded people and one of the goals is to have an open-minded, fun and engaging atmosphere. So keep that in mind. 🙂

A TIP FOR MONDAY:

Second thing, and I am noticing this time and again with my own family, is what is the intention behind someone's messages, specifically over text?🤔

How often do you read a text, and interpret what you think the senders tone is only to discover that is not how it was intended to be delivered. 🤦‍♂️

Personally, IT HAPPENS TO ME A LOT. To the extent that I even have to stop the conversation and actually ask "What is the intent of that message?"🧐

I can't read tones in text and I also know that most people won't say what they want to say over text, they hint and I don't have time for hints. Tell me what you want and we will take it from there. In my case, all my mother was asking is if she could come visit for a few days.😂

Why not just ask me that then, instead of twenty questions and getting me to "fish". 🐟

So if any of you do what my mom does, step back, don't beat around the bush, ask your question, don't hint or manipulate the conversation because for me, I get anxious and then more energy is required to reduce my anxiety within the conversation. 🥵

Don't be afraid to speak to your loved ones and share the knowledge with them on how you prefer to communicate or what might trigger you in a text conversation. 🗣

Open and honest communication is essential to recovery and management. ❤️

Are we destroying ourselves with the medication we take?

Have we become complacent in the extra assistance of what anti-depressants and other medication can do? Is it a bad thing? 🤔

I had a conversation the other day with a person who was determined to convince me to get off my medication.🗣

I believe that if a person needs it for the rest of their lives then so be it, depending on what their condition is and how severe it might be. 🤷‍♂️

I also know that there are times where using medication is simply a tool to help assist you with your progress in managing your condition. 🔧

For myself personally, I don't know yet if I will come off the meds, not any time soon anyway. I wouldn't like to be completely dependant on them for the rest of my life, however, I cannot dispute how much better I am currently with the help of medication.

Currently, 💊+🧘‍♂️=🧠👍

What are your thoughts on the topic?🤔

We found this article today and thought it might be useful to those who are in the creative spirit and have tried things to assist them in coping with their mental health. 🙂



https://www.rtor.org/2018/07/10/benefits-of-art-therapy/

Creativity and Recovery: The Mental Health Benefits of Art Therapy Art therapy is a great way to express your emotions without words, process complex feelings and find relief from anxiety, depression, PTSD and other disorders.

A MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT:⛔️

1. Imaginary. Mental illnesses are very real and very common.🧙‍♂️

2. Something to “get over.” Mental illnesses cannot be willed
away.🌬

3. A character flaw. Mental illnesses are medical conditions
that do not define us.🥴

A MENTAL ILLNESS IS:🧠

1. A medical condition disrupting a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning.

2. Common. One in four people will develop a mental illness in their lifetime. 👩🧔🧓👨‍🦰

3. Treatable. Most mental illnesses can be treated effectively with medication, therapy, diet, exercise, and support. 🚴‍♂️💊🗣

Recovery is possible.❤️

"www.makeitok.org"

Make It OK - Stop mental illness stigma It’s time to spread the word, stop the silence around mental illness, and Make It OK. Join us in stopping mental illness stigma.

We were speaking to one of our members the other day in a private session and we suggested they write things down in an attempt to let go of some feelings they might still be holding onto. ✍️

It doesn't just have to be writing though. It can be anything. If you can't express yourself verbally how do you filter some energy out?

A variety of things can be used such as, exercise, painting, walking, writing, drawing, talking with others. 👩‍🎨

Personally, we have read some incredible poetry and seen amazing art inspired by negative and positive emotions. 🤓

So if you feel you like you can't get something off your chest.

Try creating something out of what you feel🙂

Take at least ONE OR HALF DAY A WEEK for some ALONE TIME.🧘‍♀️

This is pretty important, not only for those who suffer with mental health conditions but for people who have insanely hectic lives and find themselves running up the clock every day, 7-days a week with not a single minute left to themselves, or so they believe. 🥴

It is not something that is implemented easily as most believe there is NOT ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY. To a certain extent, that may be true, however, how many times have you managed to make a plan for an emergency at work or a family situation? 🕐

The most important thing to assist you in making time for yourself requires OPEN AND HONEST COMMUNICATION with your partners, your family, your kids, even your employers. There is NO WEAKNESS IN NEEDING SOME DOWNTIME.🗣

Work wise, the image is if you don't come running when your employers call, you might look WEAK, you are not PUTTING THE COMPANY FIRST, you are NOT A TEAM-PLAYER, etc. 🧐

I SAY CRAP ON THAT. 💩

How can you be there for a company or even your family if you CAN'T BE THERE FOR YOURSELF? 🤷‍♂️

SCHEDULE A TIME AND DAY for yourself, speak openly and plainly with who it will affect directly and make sure you STICK TO IT. 📅

Then do what you want. Read? Take photos? Meditation? Watch a movie? Go for lunch? Whatever makes you happy.🙂

If you already make time for yourself, what do you do? Share your thoughts with others. 🙂👇

Good Morning Everyone! 👋

Hope you are all having a superb weekend thus far! 🙂

Our little group is doing well and we have all of you to thank, interacting, liking, sharing and inviting others will ensure that this page and group continues to grow! 👍

On that note, when inviting others, please ensure when you request to join the group THAT ALL QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED!👈

It might seem annoying however, the questions are important. We need everyone to accept the confidentiality agreement

People who don't answer these questions will not be accepted into the group. 🤷‍♂️

Please understand this🙃

Good morning, fellow mental health advocates! Friday is finally here! The weekend is upon us although to us, that does generally mean nothing. 😂

We are very happy that the page is starting strong (at least from our perspective) with 100+ new followers. 💪

People are already commenting and sharing ideas. This is a good start. Let's keep it going. Thank you❤️

One of the things we have spoken about with others is this ability to try and get enough sleep, waking up late, or really trying to sleep and your mind won't switch off. As you get in bed, your thoughts start firing. 😴

It is definitely a common thing for most people with a mental health disorder and one that also needs to be managed.

Do any of you suffer from this and what practices, if any, can you share with others? ✍️

There are times where suddenly, out of nowhere, you will become anxious, worried, jumpy, irritable and you'll have no idea why.🙄

You can take your medication everyday and yet today, you'll be anxious. You can feel your heart beating rapidly. Your palms have being in a constant state of clammy, cold, sweat, and you constantly struggle to concentrate on the task at hand.😵

Why then, even with the medication and the exercises do you feel this way? 🤔

Because it's normal. ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ARE NOT CURABLE but they are MANAGEABLE. 🧐

You are going to have good days and bad days. It's normal. Don't give up on yourself and don't be hard on yourself either. Take each moment as it comes. 😇

Let us know if you have experienced similar things like this and how you have overcome them. ❤️👇