Lift My Cloud - Mind Power

https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/world-mental-health-day/

World Mental Health Day When you’re living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, access to the right information is vital.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/understanding-panic/

Get help with anxiety, fear or panic Read practical tips and advice on what to do if you're struggling with anxiety, fear or panic

We are entering into a period of increased Coronavirus lockdown measures. While this is intended to help control the spread of the virus, for many there will be an impact on their mental health.
Remember that help is available - there’s more information here:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

Mental health charities and organisations Read a list of charities, organisations and support groups run by volunteers that can help you or someone you know with their mental health.

Covid-19: Health workers 'sick' with fear at thought of second wave https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54233683

Health workers 'sick with fear' over second wave An NHS boss says staff anxiety is the highest he has seen in 30 years as Covid-19 cases rise again.

Some great advice from the NHS if your mental health is affected by the Coronavirus lockdown:

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/urgent-support/

Every Mind Matters | One You Feeling stressed, anxious, low or struggling to sleep? Every Mind Matters and One You can help with expert advice and practical tips. Start the fightback to a healthier you today.

I was chatting to an acquaintance recently and I started the conversation with “Hi, how are you?” Back came the reply,
“I’m fine thanks, you?” To which I replied “Yeah, I’m ok thanks.”

A fairly predictable exchange, but how sincere is it? It’s a standard greeting in this part of the world to ask if someone is alright, but can we trust the response? Personally, I would rarely tell anyone how I’m really feeling unless I knew them very well. A close friend perhaps, or family member. And so it is for many people with depression who, like me, have become very adept at hiding it.

So how would a conversation develop if we were a little more truthful in our response? When asked how we are, what would the reaction be if we said “Not too good actually. I’ve been feeling very depressed recently and I’m finding it really difficult to cope right now.” I would like to think that everyone would understand, at least a little bit, and want to help. But we live in the real world and an admission like that will often be met with disbelief or even derision. That would hurt, and it’s why we are rightly wary of disclosing our true feelings. So we tell people we are OK when in fact we are not, and nothing changes.

I mentioned earlier that I would only convey my true state of mind to a close friend or trusted family member. So my suggestion is that if you have someone that you trust, tell them how you really feel. Let it all out, because if they are sincere, they will do all they can to help you. Start having conversations if you are not already doing this. A problem shared is a problem halved so the saying goes, and there is a strong element of truth behind it. Just talking to someone who is prepared to listen can take a massive weight off your mind. Try to surround yourself with those people because they are worth their weight in gold in these troubled times.

If you have no-one to share your thoughts with and things are really bad, call 111 in the U.K. as they have people trained to deal with severe anxiety and depression. But please be aware that with the current Coronavirus outbreak they will be very busy indeed, so call sooner rather than later.

Is old age linked to depression?
It certainly may seem to be. It’s not that depression is a natural part of getting old, although some people may be wired that way. It’s more that as we all grow old, we sadly start losing our husbands, wives, family and friends. I know several people in their 70’s and 80’s who live alone and wish it were not so. Their spouse/partner has died, family live far away, and they may not have many friends so it’s not really surprising that depression can and does set in. I guess loss of mobility is also a factor as it would increase feelings of isolation.

Having said all that, I would argue that older people with depression or anxiety have similar needs to those of younger folks. Those needs are simple: supportive family and friends, an active social life, a good diet and as much exercise as you can comfortably do. I know from personal experience that exercise is a great antidote for depression, so as a natural couch-potato, I make myself do it and it helps a lot.

I mentioned isolation earlier and that can be tricky to address, especially for older people who, for various reasons may not want, or be able to get out and about as much as they’d like. It’s important in those cases for neighbours, friends and acquaintances to keep in touch. Just a simple “Hi, are you OK?” can make someone’s day. Of course, there is a very real danger that you will get invited in for tea and biscuits, which usually entails an awful lot of one-sided conversation. In that case a patience will be a virtue and the effect you will have on that person’s state of mind cannot be overstated.

It’s a sad fact that many people find Christmas a very lonely and unhappy time of year. If you are struggling, remember that you are not alone and that thousands of others are struggling along with you. While it may not be possible for you to connect with them, it is important to minimise the impact this season can have on your mood. You must try to keep yourself occupied. If you are fortunate enough to have friends or family with you, engage with them. If you are on good terms, explain how you are feeling and don’t be afraid to ask for help. A little support and understanding can go a long way.
If you are alone, occupy yourself by keeping busy. I know it’s Christmas, but do some housework, go for a brisk walk (if you are able), otherwise find something cheerful on tv or on the radio. If you have friends or family, reach out to them - they may not realise that you need help and support. Is there a neighbour you could have a cup of tea with? Get professional help if you need it - don’t be afraid to contact mental health support organisations. They are there to help people in need. And don’t forget local places of worship. You may not be religious, but churches, mosques etc. have a fantastic support network around them. Reach out to them and they will not hesitate to support you as a valuable member of your local community.
I hope you have a peaceful and happy Christmas, and that the new year brings you happiness.

If you are really struggling, Mind will be able to help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/donate/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInfCC7LfQ5gIVg7TtCh1XkQ3lEAAYASAAEgK8XvD_BwE

Donate Our children are facing a mental health crisis. Young people are facing huge amounts of pressure from so many different parts of their lives, and too many of them have nobody to turn to.

https://patient.info/news-and-features/what-to-do-if-youre-struggling-with-your-mental-health-at-christmas?utm_source=PA_Newsletter&utm_campaign=451050_PA%20Newsletter%2064th%20edition&utm_medium=email&utm_content=what-to-do-if-youre-struggling-with-your-mental-health-at-christmas&dm_i=4Q86,9O16,2Z8GSZ,10SPG,1

How to cope with mental illness over the Christmas period It may be a time of celebration, but the festive season can also be a stressful period for many. And if you have a mental health condition it can be even harder. We look at practical ways to cope over Christmas.

Just a shout-out to everyone suffering with depression and/or anxiety who are constantly fighting a battle that no-one knows or cares about.
You are not alone! The World Health Organisation estimates the number of depression sufferers in the world to be in the region of 300 million. Small comfort I know when you feel very much alone, but you don’t have to look very far to find others who will understand and be sympathetic to your condition. Half the problem is having the courage to talk about your issues.

As depression awareness increases generally, we see that friends, family, acquaintances, employers etc., are understanding and accepting depression more and more. So hang on in there because in the medium to long term, things are definitely improving.

https://www.facebook.com/367116489976035/posts/2880630585291267?s=1472708029&sfns=mo

People With Depression Use Language Differently - Here's How To Spot It From the way you move and sleep, to how you interact with people around you, depression changes just about everything. It is even noticeable in the way yo

It’s interesting and sometimes tragic how depression and anxiety affect different people in different ways. While some sufferers get by using a strategy (more on this later), others are driven to su***de in order to escape. I often wonder how many lives have been saved by the increasing awareness and publicity surrounding mental health, and how many haven’t, simply because the sufferer has no awareness or capability to access the support services now available.

Personally, I used medication (fluoxetine aka Prozac) for several years which had a really beneficial effect on me. However, I know that for many people with depression and/or anxiety, medication can work poorly, erratically or not at all. Counselling is an option, and I know that it can work well for some. But ultimately, I believe the best help comes from within, and we come back to strategy. Depression can be a monster in your head which has total control over your mood. But there are some simple ways to reclaim a degree of control. Here are some that have worked well for me, and also to other sufferers that I have spoken to or communicated with:

1. When feeling low, do something distracting. If you are mobile, go for a brisk walk. Go and do a bit of shopping. Exercise is a great anti-depressant and if you do this in the morning, it can improve your mood for the whole day. If you are not so mobile, try doing a bit of housework, or whatever exercise you can comfortably do.

2. Listen to uplifting music. Get some dance tracks on, or whatever invokes good memories and feelings. Rock music and electronic dance music work really well for me; it blows away a lot of mental clouds.

3. If there is anyone you can talk to, make an effort to talk to them. Family, friends, acquaintances; all are fair game and if they are good people they will listen and sympathise. Offloading in this way can help massively by simply sharing your burden. Do not underestimate the power of interaction with other people.

4. If you are feeling really anxious, use a proven technique called grounding. Focus on your breathing. For something we do most of the time without even thinking about it, when you do think about it, it takes up a lot of your awareness. Breathe in slowly, counting to four or five seconds. Hold for two seconds, and slowly breathe out. Keep doing this. While that is going on, look for five things of a certain colour. Say green, for example. Look for five green things. When you have found them, look for five things of another colour. And so on. After about five to ten minutes of this, you should have attained a measure of control over your anxiety attack. This technique works for a lot of people!

5. Try not to think negative thoughts. Do not allow them into your head. Easily said I know, but the more you think like this, the easier it becomes to do. If you practice, you can make yourself think uplifting thoughts pretty much on demand.

Laugh your way to better mental and physical health:
https://www.calmmoment.com/wellbeing/laugh-your-way-to-better-mental-and-physical-health/

Laugh your way to better mental and physical health It's no coincidence that a laugh makes you feel good, says Lisa Sturge. Here's why you should laugh more

Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow!
Sounds familiar? For me, procrastination has always been a problem. Sometimes, I feel totally opposed to doing something even though that thing may be important. In fact, the more important that thing is, the less I want to get on with it. Why is that? I know now with the advantage of many years, that it is linked to my depression. When something needs doing and I really can’t be arsed to do it, it is my state of mind at that particular time dictating to me. When I’m feeling positive, I can get so much more done, whether it’s work or play. I think this is a good example of just how debilitating depression can be. As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t any cure for depression, unless you submit to ECT. It’s just something that you learn to cope with, whether you have your own way of dealing with it, or hiding it, or if you opt for medication and/or counselling. Whatever you do, know that you aren’t alone. The World Health Organisation estimates around 300 million people worldwide have depression. Thankfully, the whole issue of mental health is becoming more open, and it does not carry the stigma that it did just a few years ago. If you need meds or counselling, then go for it. It’s the strong thing to do, and will probably help you to stop putting things off, just because your mind is telling you can’t do it.

There’s no doubt that moderate exercise is good for your mental state. Here’s an interesting article on the subject:

Exercise officially makes you happier than money, according to Yale and Oxford research https://www.businessinsider.com/exercise-makes-you-happier-than-money-says-yale-and-oxford-study-2019-4

Exercise officially makes you happier than money, according to Yale and Oxford research Yale and Oxford researchers may have just proved exercise is more important to your mental health than your economic status.

I was on a real downer yesterday. Completely random as far as I can tell, although I had been reading some depressing stuff which probably didn’t help. I kept myself busy which helped but that heavy mood was hanging over me like a lead curtain. What was interesting however, was the migraine that came on around mid afternoon. Since my early teens I have had what is called “silent migraine” where you get the visual disturbances but not so much of a bad headache. Well after my migraine episode yesterday, my mood lifted. I cannot explain this, but as the afternoon turned into evening I was definitely feeling better and better. I shall research this to see if there’s a link, and if I do find anything useful I’ll post it here.
In the meantime - keep well.
Mark

It’s so hard to cope with daily life when you suffer with anxiety and/or depression. Sometimes, you can’t even face getting out of bed in the morning, dreading what the day holds in store. Health and money worries can add to the mix.

You must try to take control and build up some self-esteem. Small, do-able goals are key here, and here are some tips that can work wonders for you:

1. If you struggle to cope at work, make sure your employer is aware of your issues. Be brave enough to ask for a chat with your supervisor or line manager and explain your situation. If they are any good, they will understand and suggest steps that you can take together to address the issues you raised. Try not to alienate yourself from your work colleagues. They will always do or say things that annoy you, but be the stronger person and don’t let them provoke a reaction!

2. If you have health issues, you must keep in contact with your healthcare professionals and be sure to follow any course of treatment they recommend. I know of several people who suffer more than they should with a medical condition simply because for various reasons they can’t (or don’t want to) deal with appointments and treatment plans. If this is you, talk to your GP and tell them your concerns. Family and friends can offer valuable moral support too - you just need to be strong enough to ask.

3. Money worries. Fulfilling financial commitments is a major part of anyone’s life. Paying bills and buying food, clothing, etc., is pretty important. If you have financial commitments and lose your means to pay like losing your job, or benefits, your first port of call is the bank. Contact them, tell them what’s happened and they will be able to offer sound advice on how best to manage the situation. You should also contact everyone you owe money to: utility companies, mortgage company or the landlord/agent if you rent. (Check your bank statement to see exactly who you are paying.) Explain your situation and most will do what they can to help. What you must not do - under any circumstance - is bury your head in the sand and ignore them! That is asking for bailiffs to turn up at your door. I know it’s a lot to deal with when you’re not running at one hundred percent, so ask friends and family to help. Citizens Advice can also help. Here’s a link to their website:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Citizens Advice Online free advice from Citizens Advice to help you find a way forward, whatever the problem. Our research enables us to campaign on issues affecting people's lives.

What if a brain scan could tell a doctor what medication will treat yourself depression?
https://apple.news/AYGC1VWs4RTuckGETqAaelQ

Meet the scientists who are training AI to diagnose mental illness — The Verge What if a brain scan could tell you what medicine treats your depression?

Curiouser and curiouser:

https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/an7n4n/gut_bacteria_may_have_impact_on_mental_health/?st=JRRGXGCI&sh=e0b80187

Gut bacteria may have impact on mental health, study says Posted in r/science by u/westerbypl • 5,643 points and 391 comments

It’s good to see that the government and the NHS are taking mental health seriously. You can check out the Every Mind Matters initiative at this link:
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

www.nhs.uk

MARS CONQURED: 101 Trailblazers: A book for young women determined to succeed their way: inspirational quotes from women whose voice and lives changed everything. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KMBNHMF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zC4bCbHRA3RQ0

MARS CONQURED: 101 Trailblazers: A book for young women determined to succeed their way: inspirational quotes from women whose voice and lives changed everything (BIG DREAM PUBLISHING 2) For every young woman that decides to conquer their individual Planet Mars. To me Mars is any dream, goal, vision or achievement that seems too big a leap for us. More often than not it is a big dream, a vision that is viewed by our current perspective and thinking as almost impossible to achieve...

The brain is essentially an organic computer. It has billions of neurons, all interconnected in a way that shapes our memories, our consciousness and our perceptions. None of these connections are permanent, as anyone in their twilight years will tell you. Memory loss becomes a thing. But those connections can be rewired regardless of age, old or young, in much the same way that a mechanical computer can be reprogrammed.
By giving your mind a new set of instructions, it will behave differently. The trick is how to reprogram your brain in an effective way. Too many people have written books on how to do just that and if you start searching you will quickly succumb to information overload and give up. So here’s a shortcut. To calm a troubled mind, try some simple guided meditation. Just search on YouTube or whatever for “guided meditation”. An example is linked below. Make yourself some quiet time, put some earphones on, and let yourself be calmed. Just go with the flow. Try to do this regularly and it will absolutely have a positive effect. Remember, you are stronger than you think, and certainly stronger than the part of your mind causing anxiety. Take control!
https://youtu.be/krKXXmnLQ80

GUIDED MEDITATION: Quiet mind for anxiety and negative thoughts Quiet your mind and relax your body with this guided meditation for ultimate relaxation. Ocean waves calm your breathing and the visualization of your body h...

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned about depression over the years, it’s to KEEP BUSY! If you just sit and do nothing, your mind starts to darken. If you can busy yourself with anything: housework, a brisk walk, a hobby... the downward spiral is broken, or at least lessened. This has worked very well for me today.

Check out this internet phenomenon. Literally millions of people find these softly spoken videos deeply relaxing. They often show subjects like brushing and cutting hair, applying make-up, drawing or painting. All slow, deliberate actions that seem to work really well at relaxing your mind:
ASMR videos 'may have health benefits', study finds http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-44533297

ASMR videos 'could have health benefits' The videos are popular on YouTube and feature people doing things like whispering or brushing hair.

Comedian Noel James is flying high on Britain’s Got Talent. But like many talented comedians, there’s a dark shadow not cast by any spotlight.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/britains-talent-comic-noel-james-12623488

BGT comic shares harrowing account of how mum's death left him mentally ill Welsh comedian, 52, who had made the semi-finals opens up on the shattering impact of losing his mum and how he almost didn't audition for BGT this series

Powerful words from Russ Meyers:
https://liftmycloud.com/no-one-can-be-ali-but-its-possible-to-shake-up-the-stiff-the-rigid-the-habitual

No-one can be Ali – but it’s possible to shake up the stiff, the rigid…the habitual. – Lift My Cloud – Depression Buster Is it simple? No. Is it easy? No. Can you do it, can you shake up the unshakeable, the world that you know and have known for so long. Unquestionably the answer is a categoric YES. Look around this site. A lot of work has gone into researching some of the best answers out there for you, a lot of int...

You are not alone!
https://liftmycloud.com/we-are-not-alone

We Are Not Alone… – Lift My Cloud – Depression Buster Back in 2012, The University of Queensland in Australia did a study in which they estimated that globally, 1 in 13 people suffer with depression and/or anxiety. (See here.) Current estimates put the global population at just under eight billion, so we could reasonably argue that 77 million people ar...

https://liftmycloud.com/down-and-up-again

Down and Up Again – Lift My Cloud – Depression Buster All that, together with my natural sh*tty depressive state of mind meant that I just wanted the day to be over despite being lucky enough to have loving support from my wife and family. To that extent, I was in bed for 8:30 pm and just wanted to go to sleep and be free from it all for a while. It is...

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/these-are-the-places-around-the-usa-with-the-highest-rates-of-depression/

These Are The Places Around The USA With The Highest Rates Of Depression For the third year in a row, major depression is on the rise in the United States. A new report looking into the mental health of Americans has found that