Click on the following link to see some funny animal antics on YouTube:
Roller Coaster of Life
Life's Ups and Downs
Showing posts with label relaxation therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relaxation therapy. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Time for Laugh Therapy
Laughter is very good for what ails us.
Click on the link below to see a funny YouTube movie trailer by that 'movie voice-over guy'.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Movies...my life saver
I watch one or more movies each day. I don’t care what others say about watching movies being a waste of time. For me it is my life saver. I can relax, un-stress, totally and fully enjoy, and get thoroughly LOST in a movie. It doesn’t matter what movie it is, I enjoy a lot of types.
I think perhaps the most therapeutic type of movie is a good comedy that makes me laugh till my sides ache. My view point about watching movies as a therapy measure, is that it takes my mind OFF of what is troubling me for awhile so that my mind can relax and calm down and regroup itself. So, movies are for me !
I have started another blog devoted to the movies I have seen. I give the description of each movie and offer my own opinion about it. If you are interested, here is the link to my movie blog:
Monday, March 3, 2008
Some days the roller coaster of life gets too scary
I expressed some of the following words to a friend earlier today, then decided to use them on this blog to maybe help others who feel the same way. When we know we are not alone in our feelings, it somehow helps.
Many times when something rocks my emotional and depression levels.....I can’t function like normal for awhile. I can't take care of what needs to be done...and I can't think clearly or even FEEL like doing the normal (whatever that is, anymore) stuff.
Any changes mentally and emotionally is a scary thing for me. It is like I can't get a handle on it. When anything happens....I go into slow motion mode and try very hard to get a grip on things. By relaxing myself and getting away for awhile from the "thing" that rocked my stable levels, I am slowly but surely able to get back into my somewhat norm again. And if we end up landing back on our feet once more, isn't that a good thing?
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Music Therapy
We all have our favorite types of music. Stress, anxiety and depression are greatly soothed by the quiet, relaxing, and more calmer music.
If I can do something, anything, that will take my mind away from the sad, melancholy thoughts, and have it wash over me like a healing balm....music is just such a therapy.
This time of year we have such beautiful Christmas music with its powerful uplifting words and melody. Do we REALLY listen and ponder the words? Do we let the words of the song permeate our soul with hope and peace?
I have a good friend just recently tell me to try not to give in to the depression...to fight it off. Yes, I know sometimes it is more easily said, than done. But her statement is true, so true. So, play some of your favorite Christmas music or other type of relaxing music, lay on the couch with a soft pillow and warm blanket, close and rest your eyes for a bit, relax the muscles of your body, and just float along with the music. Such therapy!
If I can do something, anything, that will take my mind away from the sad, melancholy thoughts, and have it wash over me like a healing balm....music is just such a therapy.
This time of year we have such beautiful Christmas music with its powerful uplifting words and melody. Do we REALLY listen and ponder the words? Do we let the words of the song permeate our soul with hope and peace?
I have a good friend just recently tell me to try not to give in to the depression...to fight it off. Yes, I know sometimes it is more easily said, than done. But her statement is true, so true. So, play some of your favorite Christmas music or other type of relaxing music, lay on the couch with a soft pillow and warm blanket, close and rest your eyes for a bit, relax the muscles of your body, and just float along with the music. Such therapy!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
What a beautiful day!
Here in St. George, Utah, we have the most gorgeous fall and winter weather. At 3:30 this afternoon the temperature was 72 degrees! The air was fresh and clean smelling with a slight hint of a breeze. The sun was a welcomed warmth against my skin. It was the kind of afternoon where you delighted in sitting out in the midst of this pleasure, and deep breathing of its magic. Oh what great therapy for the stressed and depressed soul!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Hanging out in la-la land....aka the internet!
In actuality my depression is always a part of me...but in the fall and winter season it manifests itself more and even within this season I have my good and bad days. So I do various things to help that, as stated in these previous blog posts.
I have discovered that it helps me to go to la-la land for awhile when I am very down. I try to talk myself out of my sad feelings but sometimes I just need to go somewhere with my mind for awhile. For me, getting away or diverting my thoughts to something else usually helps a great deal.
Not everything works for me. When I am sad and melancholy, I have a hard time getting interested in books, organizing my surroundings, doing household tasks, working on projects, and the such.
I have a new found ability, or talent if you want to call it that. I love to write. That helps me. I love to watch movies. I love to get on the internet. We are all different and so we all have to find what helps and works for us.
Hanging out in la-la-land...aka the internet, is not all that bad. Some more healthy people will think it a big waste of time and that it will bring evil spirits. But the internet is chock full of helpful, interesting, fun, educational, and healthy information. It is a great learning place...and I am thinking only of the good, clean uplifting stuff. Educationally...the internet is unending in it’s resources. Whatever you want to know and learn about can be found in this form of la-la land...a temporary vacation spot for the sad, melancholy mind.
I have discovered that it helps me to go to la-la land for awhile when I am very down. I try to talk myself out of my sad feelings but sometimes I just need to go somewhere with my mind for awhile. For me, getting away or diverting my thoughts to something else usually helps a great deal.
Not everything works for me. When I am sad and melancholy, I have a hard time getting interested in books, organizing my surroundings, doing household tasks, working on projects, and the such.
I have a new found ability, or talent if you want to call it that. I love to write. That helps me. I love to watch movies. I love to get on the internet. We are all different and so we all have to find what helps and works for us.
Hanging out in la-la-land...aka the internet, is not all that bad. Some more healthy people will think it a big waste of time and that it will bring evil spirits. But the internet is chock full of helpful, interesting, fun, educational, and healthy information. It is a great learning place...and I am thinking only of the good, clean uplifting stuff. Educationally...the internet is unending in it’s resources. Whatever you want to know and learn about can be found in this form of la-la land...a temporary vacation spot for the sad, melancholy mind.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Can't Sleep?
When I am depressed I sometimes do and sometimes don’t have trouble falling asleep....once I get to bed, that is. There are some people I know that DO constantly have somewhat chronic trouble sleeping. And it sometimes is because of the depression medications they are on. On top of all those medications, now they have to take another one to help them to sleep.
Then maybe we can’t sleep because we are wound tighter than a drum from all the heavy stress we are under. And when we lay there trying to fall off to sleep our mind will just not calm down long enough…it keeps thinking and thinking about this, that, and the other.
We need to find a way to relax the body enough (along with the mind) to enable us to drift off. I have tried many different herbal products to relax my nerves and they have all helped somewhat. But this one product beats them all. I don’t know if I will get in trouble or not for mentioning the brand. But the name of the product is “Knock-out” by Schiff. I bought it at a health food store. It has Valerian, B vitamins and L-Theanine to help calm and relax the body so it can drift off to sleep….then it has Melatonin (made by the brain) to maintain normal sleep patterns. Once we can get our sleep patterns back to normal, we can stop taking Knock-out. Then if we should fall into the same non-sleep problems again….we just start taking the Knock-out again. A friend of mine was truly amazed at how well the tablets worked for her the first night she took them!
Another thing that helps me is to play some "sleep music" and leave it playing all night long. You can find special sleep music CD's that promote sleep by using Delta Waves to create prolonged states of tranquility. Delta Waves emulate brain waves in deep sleep, and can assist those who have trouble falling asleep. This kind of music is "different" but very, very effective.
Then maybe we can’t sleep because we are wound tighter than a drum from all the heavy stress we are under. And when we lay there trying to fall off to sleep our mind will just not calm down long enough…it keeps thinking and thinking about this, that, and the other.
We need to find a way to relax the body enough (along with the mind) to enable us to drift off. I have tried many different herbal products to relax my nerves and they have all helped somewhat. But this one product beats them all. I don’t know if I will get in trouble or not for mentioning the brand. But the name of the product is “Knock-out” by Schiff. I bought it at a health food store. It has Valerian, B vitamins and L-Theanine to help calm and relax the body so it can drift off to sleep….then it has Melatonin (made by the brain) to maintain normal sleep patterns. Once we can get our sleep patterns back to normal, we can stop taking Knock-out. Then if we should fall into the same non-sleep problems again….we just start taking the Knock-out again. A friend of mine was truly amazed at how well the tablets worked for her the first night she took them!
Another thing that helps me is to play some "sleep music" and leave it playing all night long. You can find special sleep music CD's that promote sleep by using Delta Waves to create prolonged states of tranquility. Delta Waves emulate brain waves in deep sleep, and can assist those who have trouble falling asleep. This kind of music is "different" but very, very effective.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Different Types of Depression and Disorders
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Bi-Polar
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
.......and more
There are so many different types of depression and other mind disorders that have been diagnosed and treated. I have family members and friends that have gone to specialists about their depression and have been told that they have a certain type. Most of them are on medications for it.
I have never gone to a doctor about it...I do not take medications, nor do I want to. I have always seemed to find a way to deal with it myself. I have used prayer, concentrated effort, herbal formulas, and my self-discovered relaxation therapies that I share in this blog.
My form of depression appears to be Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Though depression can hit me at any time of the year, it mostly occurs at the beginning of Fall and ends in Spring. During this time of year my exposure to sunlight is diminished, causing my biological clock to run slower. Our biological clock regulates our mood, sleep, and hormones. The biggest cause of SAD is lack of sunlight.
I understand the common signs of this and other forms of depression to be somewhat similar: Sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in usual activities, withdrawal from social activities, inability to concentrate. Other symptoms might include extreme fatigue and lack of energy, increased need for sleep, craving carbs, and increased appetite and weight gain.
Most people have many windows in their house and so they receive some light from the outdoors. The studio size place where I live does not have windows and so I need a better source of light other than regular ceiling lighting and table lamps.
I have remedied the lack of natural light in several ways. I have purchased several full-spectrum lights. These lights are what they call white light....they mimic closely the light that comes from the sun. Some of these lights are table lamps, and some are floor lamps. I have several of them distributed around my living area, and I use these special lights along with my regular lighting.
Another way which is important in gaining extra natural light is to go outdoors and spend some time out in the sun and fresh air. Take in good deep breaths of fresh air through the nose and let it out slowly through the mouth. This clears the system and brings in fresh oxygen. The longer spent outdoors, the better.
Exercise is also important to help tone down and ease depression and stress. It clears the mind and also brings in more oxygen to the body. Going for a good walk outdoors can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.
Bi-Polar
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
.......and more
There are so many different types of depression and other mind disorders that have been diagnosed and treated. I have family members and friends that have gone to specialists about their depression and have been told that they have a certain type. Most of them are on medications for it.
I have never gone to a doctor about it...I do not take medications, nor do I want to. I have always seemed to find a way to deal with it myself. I have used prayer, concentrated effort, herbal formulas, and my self-discovered relaxation therapies that I share in this blog.
My form of depression appears to be Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Though depression can hit me at any time of the year, it mostly occurs at the beginning of Fall and ends in Spring. During this time of year my exposure to sunlight is diminished, causing my biological clock to run slower. Our biological clock regulates our mood, sleep, and hormones. The biggest cause of SAD is lack of sunlight.
I understand the common signs of this and other forms of depression to be somewhat similar: Sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in usual activities, withdrawal from social activities, inability to concentrate. Other symptoms might include extreme fatigue and lack of energy, increased need for sleep, craving carbs, and increased appetite and weight gain.
Most people have many windows in their house and so they receive some light from the outdoors. The studio size place where I live does not have windows and so I need a better source of light other than regular ceiling lighting and table lamps.
I have remedied the lack of natural light in several ways. I have purchased several full-spectrum lights. These lights are what they call white light....they mimic closely the light that comes from the sun. Some of these lights are table lamps, and some are floor lamps. I have several of them distributed around my living area, and I use these special lights along with my regular lighting.
Another way which is important in gaining extra natural light is to go outdoors and spend some time out in the sun and fresh air. Take in good deep breaths of fresh air through the nose and let it out slowly through the mouth. This clears the system and brings in fresh oxygen. The longer spent outdoors, the better.
Exercise is also important to help tone down and ease depression and stress. It clears the mind and also brings in more oxygen to the body. Going for a good walk outdoors can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.
Monday, October 29, 2007
A Mind Retreat...taking your mind somewhere else for awhile so it can relax and heal.
Try to take little mind retreats as often as you need them and for as long (time wise) as you can. This is so good for when you feel overwhelmed with life and even at depressions doorstep. Even more so, when you are rooming in depressions house. Find something you enjoy doing and that will hold your attention without having to think much....even if it is a big time waster. AND DON'T YOU DARE FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT!
The idea is to bring your mind temporarily to a place where it does not have to tax itself by thinking too much. In this way, your mind gets a chance to truly relax, so it can begin to heal a little. But don't forget to come back into the world again!!! You will then be refreshed and strengthened in mind and body, have a better outlook, and be ready to make any necessary eliminations of things to your time schedule, if that is what needs to be done.
My favorite mind retreat is to watch movies. I am truly a MOVIE LOVER. Sometimes I watch one movie right after another and I have been known to do this for a couple of days at a time. But it REALLY works for me. If I don't do this for myself, then my mind keeps dwelling on the problem and I stress myself out more and more and I go deeper and deeper into despair.
The idea is to bring your mind temporarily to a place where it does not have to tax itself by thinking too much. In this way, your mind gets a chance to truly relax, so it can begin to heal a little. But don't forget to come back into the world again!!! You will then be refreshed and strengthened in mind and body, have a better outlook, and be ready to make any necessary eliminations of things to your time schedule, if that is what needs to be done.
My favorite mind retreat is to watch movies. I am truly a MOVIE LOVER. Sometimes I watch one movie right after another and I have been known to do this for a couple of days at a time. But it REALLY works for me. If I don't do this for myself, then my mind keeps dwelling on the problem and I stress myself out more and more and I go deeper and deeper into despair.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Rest and Heal Your Mind and Soul
When those times come when I have dark, overwhelmingly sad days or seasons...I find comfort, relaxation, and a sort of therapy by doing certain things and activities that will take my mind off of what is bothering me and take it to a different place for a short while....so that I can heal.
Some of those places are.....watching good movies, doing my personal writings, working on my websites, calling or visiting a good friend, siting quietly and meditating on sacred things, going outdoors for a nice leisurely walk, reading the scriptures, deep breathing exercises, sitting out in the yard to get sunlight and fresh air, laying on the couch or bed with my legs elevated and with a cool cloth over my eyes and listening to some soft music, and many more things.
Some of those places are.....watching good movies, doing my personal writings, working on my websites, calling or visiting a good friend, siting quietly and meditating on sacred things, going outdoors for a nice leisurely walk, reading the scriptures, deep breathing exercises, sitting out in the yard to get sunlight and fresh air, laying on the couch or bed with my legs elevated and with a cool cloth over my eyes and listening to some soft music, and many more things.
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