Jobs that contribute to depression

It was a beautiful day out, the sun was shining and I woke up feeling ready to take on the day. That is until I got to work. I did not realize this at first, but almost immediately my mood changed. As the day dragged on I noticed that my emotions were not improving, in fact, I was feeling worse than before.

My coworker, who is a sexist ass, by the way, decided that it would make him feel better to 'call me out' on the things he felt that I was doing wrong. Over the past week he created a list of complaints he had against me. Some of the things that he mentioned were so ridiculous and false that it was almost funny, except the fact that there was nothing funny about the way that this made me feel. This all seemed so petty, and he was getting off on being mean. I do not and will not ever understand why people feel the need to put others down. The biggest issue he had against me was the way that I talked to him in front of peers. I have always given him more respect than he has ever shown me, so this came as a surprise.

During the meeting I was able to keep it together despite the attack against me. After the meeting, I was not in control anymore. My eyes started to water uncontrollably and I could not focus on anything. I went home that night feeling the same as I always do after work, sad, alone and hurt. It really did not click that my job was causing these episodes. Depression can be so random that trying to break it down and make sense of it all seems impossible at times. I began researching this and found that I am not alone and that this is common. I found several articles that supported this and as I was reading through these I started to see a pattern. I then started to look into other industries that have high reports of employee depression. Below is a list of jobs that frequently contribute to depression and anxiety. 

Nursing home and child care workers

Food service staff

Social workers

Health care workers

Artists, writers and entertainers

Teachers

Administrative support staff

Maintenance and ground workers

Financial advisers and accountants

Sales people

So my advice for all my 'Mad Hatters' out there is to get out and get happy, what I mean by this is getting out of the job that you are in and get into one that will make you happy. I know that there are several reasons why people cannot up and quit their job but if your job is contributing to your panic attacks, anxiety or depression then the best avenue is to get out and be on your way to a happier you. 

It Does Not Always Pour After It Rains. Seeing The Light On A Bad Day.

Sometimes in life bad things happen in life. Unexpected events that seem so big at the time, they make you want to lock yourself in your room and scream. These usually come at the worst time, proving that when it rains, it pours. So the question is, how can you defeat the negative thoughts that start running through your mind? There is no easy answer and I wish that there was. I hate to think that there are people out there that are going through some tough times. It can be difficult figuring out a way to tame the monsters in your head. Here are some tips that have helped me, and hopefully will help you to. 

Always remember that you are not alone. Even though it feels like you are all alone, and you feel that no one could possibly understand your pain, please remember that there are billions of people in the world and there are others that feel your pain and can relate. 

Stop thinking about what you can't change. Always easier said than done, but in reality shit happens. The best thing that you can do is learn from this experience and move on.

Stop looking in the past. Instead, focus on the present and the future. Do something today that will have a positive impact on tomorrow. 

Think of this hardship as a challenge. It helps to think of this as an opportunity to move forward with your dreams and goals. For example, if you lose your job, try to change the way you are thinking about it. Maybe that job was stressful, maybe you did not get along with coworkers, maybe your schedule was holding you back from whatever it is that you truly want. 

Now go out and make a difference in your life, for the better. Stay positive and be yourself, who knows you could be the next person that will change a person, a community or even the world. Never give up on what makes you happy. 

Sorry for the delay

Hey all so sorry for the delay in this post. I am revamping my site for the better, I can't wait for you all to see it! With that said I will be changing when I post, hopefully the site is up, and running quickly.

I would be on facebook and twitter for those who would like to reach out!

Stay happy, and remember a random dance party or act of kindness can truly change your day for the better.

Another way to combat stress, anxiety and depression

Another way to combat stress, anxiety and depression. Volunteer work! It is hard to see the value in this when you are looking in from the outside, but I can personally vouch, that this works. Here are the facts;

Getting involved, and staying active in your community is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety.

Getting involved gives you a voice and a chance to make a difference. This give you a natural high which can turn a bad day into a good day.

Focusing on local issues, and doing your part to contribute can be a great distraction from your mind.

The benefits can positively impact you, your friends, family, neighbors and your community.

This is a great opportunity to meet new people and develop new friendships. As you do this you are building a support system that can help fight stress and depression.

This can help you learn new skills, and can even become a resume builder.

Doing good increases self confidence, by a natural sense of acomplishment and a purpose.

With the 2016 Elections coming up I would encourage all of you to go out, get involved and vote.

Do something today that will make a difference in your future and the furture of our children. 

How To Avoid Stressful Triggers

Sorry for the late post. This week has been hard on me mentally and physically.

Here are common triggers for those who suffer from anxiety and depression and some ways to help avoid those triggers.

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed?! These are common, every day struggles that can leave you feeling down in the dumps. You can't always avoid stress but you can attempt to limit the amount of overwhelming stress that you are feeling. 

• Let's say that you have several tasks that need to be done in a day, this can be overwhelming. I have noticed that when this happens I don’t know where to begin, which stresses me out even more. Try to break them out. Start with the easy things, it will feel good to check items off of your list, and you will start to feel the weight being lifted as you continue to complete your tasks.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help can feel like admitting defeat, but how will you ever feel better if you do not ask for the help that you need? You may be surprised who is in your corner.
• Know your limits, if there is something that you can't complete by a deadline, let your supervisor, or whomever, know right away. Ask them to prioritize the items that you are working on so that you can focus on what is the most important and go from there.
• Do not be afraid to say no and be assertive when you need to be.

Medical Issues. Personally, we have been through the ringer with medical and health conditions. My husband has a condition that will follow him around for the rest of his life, last month I had surgery and next month my husband will be having surgery, so as you can see medical is a huge stress for us right now. My best advice is to not ignore it. 

• If there is something that you need to do to get your health on track, then do so. Take care of any immediate needs then schedule regular follow ups for the rest. This doesn’t solve the problem but I have noticed that when we take care of the issue head on we feel so much better. 
• Do what you can to remain active and let your endorphin's keep you happy.

Does your job stress you out?! Mine sure does! So, what can you do to help get you through the day? 

• Try not to let the actions of others bother you. This can be challenging but why let them win? Stand tall, be true to yourself and try to forget the rest. 
• When you need to start updating your resume. This alone can provide you with the hope of a better situation and may be just the thing that you need to get you through the day. Sign up for continuing education, maybe you just need a refresher in Microsoft to keep you confident. 
• If all else fails then have a random dance party. I have adopted this method for stress relief after watching 'Grey's Anatomy'. You put on a song and start jumping, dancing and moving around. By song number two you wont want to stop! Again, let your endorphin's make you smile.

  

Money. This one can be very difficult, when bills are piling up, and you are feeling overwhelmed. Having money issues can be the hardest to face head on, especially if you have no idea on how to correct these issues. 

• Take control where you can and try not to stress what is outside of your control. I know, easier said than done. 
• Create a budget and review it weekly, to ensure that you are on track. If you need help budgeting reach out to your local bank, they are usually willing to help go over your financial needs to help prepare you for the future. 
• Check out local community events that are free or cost very little to attend. 
• Use cash where you can, actually seeing the money deplete from your wallet makes it easier to say no to the extras we may be attempted to buy. 
• Pay yourself first. This does not have to be a lot, but allowing yourself an extra $10 a paycheck you feel as if you are allowed to 'spoil' yourself. This can be used for anything, a coffee that you would normally pass up or a new movie to watch, it doesn’t really matter what you decide to spoil yourself with, as long as you remember to do it and not regret it. 
• Don't allow a lack of spending money keep you locked away at home, making it easier for your mind to run. Go to a park for a picnic lunch, or go on a hike and explore something new.

Bath Time

After a long stressful day, or when you feel like you can't catch your breath, remember to take a time out. I have found that the perfect time out is a bath. According to http://www.easy-aromatherapy-recipes.com/bath-salt-recipe.html, here is the best recipe for a stress free bath.

Ingredients

2 cups Epsom Salt OR Dead Sea Salt

1 cup Sea Salt

1/2 cup Baking Soda

6 drops Bergamot essential oil

6 drops Sweet Orange essential oil

3 drops Lavender essential oil

Optional: 6 drops red, 4 drops yellow food coloring

Directions

Mix salt and baking soda together in a bowl using a metal spoon (a wooden spoon will absorb the essential oils and be ruined.)
Drop in the essential oils and food coloring, placing each drop in its own little spot on top of the salts. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
Store mixture in a dark glass or PET plastic jar. Let cure at least 24 hours before using.
Use about one cup of salts per bath. This bath salt recipe makes enough for three baths. Click here for tips on making your bath magical.

Caution: Bergamot and sweet orange can cause photo-sensitivity and sunburn. Do not use before sun exposure

Wondering why? The article notes that "Bergamot and sweet orange are extensively used in aromatherapy for depression because they lift mood and ease tension, stress, anxiety, fear and anger. Lavender soothes and calms the nerves, relieving tension, panic and nervous exhaustion."

Remember to take a time out and enjoy!

Sexy, Spicy and Sweet - Natural Aphrodisiacs

We are huge advocates for sex! Sex is great for many reasons, and has been proven to reduce stress and help with anxiety. So today we thought we would provide you with a list of natural aphrodisiacs to get you in the mood! Some spicy, some sweet but all delicious!

Almonds

Avacados

Celery

Cherries

Chia Tea

Chili Peppers

Chocolate

Cinnamon

Garlic

Honey

Pomegranate

Pumpkin Seeds

Red Wine

Strawberries

 Whipped Cream

Enjoy!

Mantras to get you through the day

Sometimes we need a push, just a little extra motivation to get up and going in the mornings. I have decided to use daily mantras and/or quotes to help get me up and going. What is a mantra? A mantra is a word or statement that is repeated frequently to aid concentration in meditation. The Veterans Administration, San Diego Healthcare System conducted a study regarding this matter, results were pulled from www.prevention.com. In it, 66 volunteers were taught to repeat a mantra. The mantra could be any they chose and they were asked to repeat it as often as they wanted. Six months later, 83% had employed their mantras to help them stay calm, and 75% were able to ease stress, frustration, and tension. "Mantras are a Jacuzzi for the mind," says lead researcher Jill Bormann, PhD, RN. "And unlike many stress-reduction techniques, you can literally use this anywhere, anytime.". So there you have it! Here are a few of my favorites to get you started. I would love to hear your mantras, please comment or write to me in the Ask Alice section of this blog.

"Keep calm and carry on"

"You got this"

"This is temporary"

"Every little thing gonna be alright"

"Just get through today, that is all you have to do"

"Hakuna Matata"

"It will all work out"

Get Your Best Night's Sleep

Studies have shown that not getting enough sleep can have effects on your mood, and overall health, so for all you insomniacs out there here is your guide to a better nights sleep.

Go for a walk. You don’t want to do this right before bed since the endorphin's will kick in and keep you awake. Instead, try to go for a walk after work, when you get home.

Cut out caffeine and alcohol before bed. Caffeine is known to cause sleep issues and alcohol is known for putting you to sleep, but then interferes with your sleep throughout the night.

Turn down the temp. If you are like me then you know that it is impossible to get to sleep when you feel all hot and sticky. I suggest turning down the temp (ideal temp should be about 65° F or 18° C). During the summer months, to keep utility costs down, we use a portable swamp cooler in our room. It works perfect and take just a few minutes to cool down the room.

Take a hot bath. Taking a hot bath can help calm your mind before drifting off to sleep.

Making your bed. Make sure that you make your bed as comfortable as possible. We occasionally put our sheets and pillow cases in the freezer, then we make the bed right before we're ready to turn in for the night.

Keep your bedroom dark. Turn off the electronics, instead try to read for a few minutes (I will recommend a book below) and pull down the blinds. We use blackout sheets that we hung from the top rod. These block out all light coming from our windows.

Try to have a system. What I mean by this is having a set time that you want to be in bed by each night and a set time that you want to get up in the morning. According to www.helpguide.org , sticking to a consistent sleep-wake schedule helps set your body’s internal clock and optimize the quality of your sleep.

I hope you all have enjoyed and these tips help you. And, as promised, I recommend the following . . 

Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Manbach

  

Valentines Day Guide - Gifts, Sex and More!

Valentines Day 101:

With Valentines Day right around the corner we thought that we would create the ultimate guide for a relaxing and sensual night. Here are the basics of having a great Valentines Day!

Gifts: I love love love giving people gifts, especially my husband. I am very good at it and it makes me happy when I can spoil someone else and make their day. However, I have to admit that handmade gifts are my absolute favorite. For me it really is the thought that counts. I would love nothing more than a simple I LOVE YOU written in the snow. That being said a simple love letter is the perfect gift this Valentines.

If you have ever written a love letter to your crush then you know that is a simple yet effective way to communicate. Writing a love letter can make you giddy and give you the opportunity to express your feelings to those that you care about. There are several ways to go about a love letter and you have to decide what will be the best for you. Here are some ideas to get you started!

Love Letter Themes:

All the reasons you make me happy

The reasons we are compatible with one another

The little things that you do

15 Things I know and love about you

The 5 things you do in bed that drive me wild

How I see our future

Food: There is a false sense of food when it comes to the holidays. Everything needs to be planned and perfect, the meal needs to coordinate with the night and so on…Why is this? The last thing that I want to do on Sunday is spend the day cooking when I could be out enjoying. So here is my list of food to keep it simple. And don’t forget, Dessert First, Always.

Desserts:

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ice Cream

Pudding

Smoothies

Dinner:

Pizza

Sandwiches

Chinese

Sushi

The Date: It does not always have to be dinner and a movie. The date does not need to be magical and elaborate like on TV, get real. Instead, spend some time appreciating all the little things together. Need ideas? Be sure to check out the list below!

Go to a special place together, one that brings back the happy memories

Go on a hike

Take a shower or bath together, light some candles, turn on some tunes or just talk and let the steam, relax your muscles after that long hard week (pun intended).

Stay home and play games. One of my personal favorites is called strangers. You and your 'person' meet up, this can be anywhere, it can be at home or at the grocery store or anywhere you choose. The freakier the better. Pretend that you do not know each other and then get your flirt on. You have 10 min to convince the other person to go home with you, so work your magic!

If all else fails, there is always strip pong a sexy twist on beer pong, if you drink you loose one article of clothing until there is nothing left. This is such a fun game and it can be played with two or more people. Trust me, once you start drinking, no one will care if it's couples vs couples.  

Drinking and Smoking: Sure, you can have a good time without smoking or drinking, but do you really want to? Don’t you want to lose you inhibitions and let loose?! If you are like me then that answer is most definitely a YES. So without further ado, I bring to you the cocktail menu.

Signature Drinks:

His - 204

                2 oz. Gin

                3 oz. Ginger Ale

                Cucumber slices

               

Hers - Rooftop Lemonade

                2 oz. Vodka

                3 oz. Fresh squeezed lemonade

                Cucumber slices

                Lemon wedges

Signature Bud: Northern Lights - If you can get your hands on some for Valentines day this is the perfect Indica for that no care relaxed feeling.

Sex: This is what the night has been building up for, you both want it and have been craving this all day. Weather you choose to dress up or dress down, yeah, you know what we mean (wink), prepare yourself for a wonderful night of bliss. Turn the lights on or off, insert personal preferences here, chose the location, turn on some music, let your hair down, and let's get it on. Here are a list of our favorite sex positions and songs to make love to.

The Kama Sutra:

Doggy Style

Missionary

The Cat

The Waterfall

Girl On Top

Songs:

Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On

Cisco - Thong Song

Trey Songz - The Neighbors Know My Name

Usher - Climax

Pretty Ricky - Grind On Me

R. Kelly - Bump N Grind

The Lonely Island - I Just Had Sex (Great song for the shower after)

After sex, what's next? How about more sex? You can also put on your favorite show to binge watch or play some video games, but whatever you do make the night yours!  

Music is my escape

I woke up feeling very overwhelmed and stressed. It was 5 AM and I was already on the verge of having a breakdown. I kept telling myself that today will be a good day and that I can handle this. I was still feeling this way when my husband woke up. He gave me a hug and told me that everything will be alright. He turned on some tunes and we got in the shower.

On our way in to work we listened to the radio, chiming in on the comments and questions from the DJ. We talked and sang along to the songs on the radio. By the time we got to work I was feeling just a little bit better, but it was not enough to last me all day. I got to work and tried to figure out what more I could do to ensure that the rest of my day got better. I put on my headphones and started working. A song came on my Pandora radio station that I hadn't heard in a long while. This made me smile. The song brought up some memories of when I was younger. I remembered the stress that I felt as a child and how I felt with it back when. I would sit up in my room and just listen to my favorite CD's and try to remember all of the lyrics in a song. I started to notice a trend and decided to keep at it.

When I am feeling very stressed and anxious I tend to avoid as much as possible. I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to work. I don’t want to listen to music. I don’t want to do much of anything, let alone be productive in any way, and this was how I was feeling. I knew that I needed to do something to help ease my mind and get me back on the right track. I turned off my Pandora, and pulled up my YouTube then searched. I searched for all the songs that I used to listen to when I was younger, the songs that helped me get through my teenage years. This did not stop until well after I came home, and was ready for bed. I was feeling much better. When we got home, we prepared for the night, we fed our pets and made the bed. We sat up for over an hour taking turns playing old songs that we could sing and dance to, songs that had meaning and made a difference in both our lives. I did it! I successfully changed the day around and had a great night, not to mention I had the best nights sleep.

If you are wondering why this is, here are some things that you may want to know. Music has a unique connection to our emotions through the brain. Listening to music causes the brain to release what is referred to as 'Dopamine', which is just a fancy word for the feel good chemical that your brain releases to the rest of your body. Dopamine motivates you in many ways, and rewards you with the release that your body needs. Still not convinced? There are other physical benefits of listening to music. Music has been known to reduce stress, anxiety, lower blood pressure, and positively affect your mood. Listening to music can help with memory as well. The university of California at Irvine found that students, test scores significantly improved after listening to music, specifically Mozart in this study. This is called 'The Mozart Effect'.

So what are some ways that you can introduce music into your daily life? It is such an easy thing to do, but as I mentioned earlier, sometimes you simply don’t want to do anything. Try to start easier, and put on a song that you love to sing and dance to. Start off by playing music in the morning when you wake up. Listen to music in the car and at work. Don’t be afraid to belt it out and sing along. Who knows you may be headlining the next karaoke night!

Peace of Mind

For those who have read my blog on the past you know that staying healthy is a great way to reduce stress. There are easy ways to be more healthy and there are hard ways. Let's start with something easy, this is something that I personally have done and that has helped me. Set up a doctors appointment, just a regular check up. Check up's are usually covered under preventative care programs but call your insurance to double check for any co-pays. I did not realize how easy but also how freeing this is. For me, mentally this is a big step but comes with a big reward. One of two things can happen. One - your doctor tells you that you are fit as a fiddle. This is awesome you can now continue on with your life knowing that you have one less thing to worry about. Two - Your doctor catches something that needs to be corrected, yeah this sucks but on the bright side you caught a potential issue. The next step would be to get this - whatever it may, be fixed. You should feel such relief from not only setting the appointments but following through with them. You have a problem that comes with a solution. Sometimes peace of mind is all that you need to start the day off right.

Be a healthier you

If you have read my blog in the past you know that being healthy is a great way to de stress and take a load off of your mind. I feel that when you are being active you simply feel better over all. This is easier said than done. Here are a few things that are easy baby steps to a healthier you.

Go for a night or morning walk - This is can be done alone, with someone or with a pet and is actually an enjoyable way to break up the day/night.

Drink less soda - I know that this is hard to do especially when your addicted to sugar like myself. My friend and her husband started making fruit infused water. This is a tasty way to encourage you to drink more water. There are dozens of ways to do this refer to Pinterest.

Do small exercises - For example randomly do 5 push ups then stop, then later do 15 jumping jacks and stop. By stopping this will not increase your heart rate but it will give you the refreshing break that you may need. Do this randomly throughout each night this will help you get back on track to craving exercise.

Lift - Do a small lift session with either weights, books or whatever is laying around. This is perfect because you can do this while you watch some TV.

I would love to hear what works for you! 

Building Confidence

Studies show that when you are feeling blue this can impact your confidence. I have personally experienced this and have found a way to cheer up. Have you ever bought a new pair of jeans that made your ass look incredible or a shirt that compliments your eyes? I know I have. I am proposing a FAKEOVER, this is not a makeover, you are beautiful just as you are but if you are in need of a confidence boost here are some ways to get it back.

Go buy or try on a new outfit. Take some selfies in the dressing room mirror and gain some confidence back. If you are not able to get a new outfit go for something a little less costly, such as a new shade of lipstick. Take off all your other make up, apply lipstick, smile and take a photo. My new shade is a bright red, I tried it out for a day and posted pictures to Facebook. I was surprised at all the likes that I got and this made me smile even more! You can try this method with a number of things, here are some more ideas.

Nail polish color change

A new bra and pantie set

New hair color - try pink, purple or blue, these are my personal favorites

New shoes, this can be as simple as sandals from the dollar store paired with some toe polish

and again TAKE PICTURES of what you decide to do, one good picture could change your day

This may not work every time and I am not suggesting that you spend rent on new clothes, keep it simple and smile. Again I am not a doctor this is just what works for me. I would love to hear what you decided to do and see your pictures! 

Just a thought

Happiness can be hard to find but that doesn’t mean that you have to go your life without happiness. With all the violence and hate in the world today, we could all use a little more happy in our life. Find something that you love to do and get out there an do it, then do it again and again. Find joy in the little things and learn to smile more. This can be anything you want it to be. It can be something small such as hiking more or it can be something big such as redefining your life. If you are not happy with doing something don’t do it and if you have something that makes you happy then do that all the time. I know, I know easier said than done. This will take hard work and good habits but will be worth it in the end. Do what you can now for a better tomorrow. Stop focusing on negative things or things that upset you, for example I have stopped watching the news. The news upsets me and I don’t want to see all that is going wrong and bad in the world first thing in the morning so I have cut that out of my life. This is not to say that I wont keep up on current events but I will do so on my own time in my own way. Say what you want to say and speak your mind. Stay true to yourself and live your life. 2016 is your year! 

2016

As 2016 approaches everyone will be deciding what goals or 'New Years Resolutions' they want to work on in the new year. I have decided that I am going to keep my goals as simple as possible. I am going to work on me and nothing else. Specifically, my mental health and trying to eliminate the number of bad days throughout the year. I know that there is no sure way to fix anything and everything all at once so this will be a work in progress. Here is where I am going to start. Self Love, I am going to focus more on loving myself and being who I am 24-7, this means I am going to say what I want when I want, for the most part obviously keeping it professional when need be. I am going to be more active than I was this past year. I enjoy hiking and biking so time to do more of it. I am going to drink more water, mostly this will help with me get healthier but in turn that will help me mentally. I am going to do things that I love a lot more which includes but not limited to the following;

Play video games

Read

Write

Sing

Hike

Bike

Walk and talk

I hope that you all have a great and happy new year! I would love to hear what your goals will be! Message me or feel free to post on my blog/wall.

The most important thing to remember is the one thing we forget

Yesterday, I was sitting on my bed in tears trying to explain to my husband how I was feeling and explain that i'm on the edge and have no idea why. He was very understanding and admitted that he too has felt the same way from time to time. He offered to go grab me a Zanex to help ease my mind. I told him that I wanted to hold off so his response was that he was going to cheer me up the old fashioned way. He started by letting my dogs in the room, which if you read my blogs then you know that my dogs are my emotional support animals and that they always know how to make me smile. I was passed the bong and took a hit of weed, which kicks in instantly and the more I hit it the better I started to feel. I guess that is technically not the old fashioned way of things but it is our way and has helped me tremendously. He then turned on our latest addition on Netflix, he instantly hit pause. We stayed up for hours just talking about live and our future and our goals and I was able to open up a bit more about what my wants and needs are for the future. He helped me focus and plan what we needed to do to work towards our goals. We then hit play and enjoyed the rest of the night. As anxiety started to hit this morning when I got to work I decided to turn on some music. Music is my soul, without it I would feel lost. The music was on shuffle when I heard the most beautiful lyrics to help me get through the day. I looked to see what the song was and it was Human by Christina Perri. This made so much sense and I recommend that everyone takes a listen.

When you feel overwhelmed, overloaded, like you are on the edge and about to break try to remember this . . . Your only human. I think that sometimes we forget that. Our minds can only handle so much and too much stress can actually cause changes in the brain.

According to research found, (https://blog.bufferapp.com/10-surprising-facts-about-how-our-brain-works), these changes can affect your attention, perception, short term memory, learning and word finding. As a human you will make mistakes, you will fall on hard times, you will stress and you will be okay. The most important thing to remember is the one thing we forget. We are not robots, witches, vampires or wizards, and even though I would love for my husband and I to be vampires we are not. Simple as that. WERE ONLY HUMAN. Shit will happen, things will get fucked up, however, tomorrow is always another day and presents us with another chance to work towards changing for the better. As hard as things may seem right now, this is not the end of the world. This may be the end of a sentence or a chapter but not the end of life.

Again I am not a doctor and these are just my thoughts and what helps me. If you need help and are struggling with depression I suggest seeking help from a licensed medical professional.

Have a better day!  

The Little Things . . .

My last post was about writing and challenging everyone to get out and write to help clear the mind. I took this as a challenge and am currently on page 5 of my short story. They story I am writing is definitely bizarre but writing it has made me very happy, when I am writing down my thoughts and forming stories that is my only focus and the rest follows. The only time I feel sad is when I am at a stopping point and don't have enough time in the day to just write more.

Today I am going opposite, I am recommending a movie night. Get together with a friend, family member or your partner in crime, grab some candy and popcorn and settled down for a nice movie, or any movie for that fact! Sometimes we forget about the little things in life that we enjoy, like watching a movie, tonight it's time to enjoy! I would love to see your posts on what movie you decided to watch!

Have a great day! 

Day 15 Results and Today's Post on Writing

Welcome back! I hope that you all enjoyed the holidays and hopefully took some time off to spend with your loved ones! I am so happy to be back on here.

First things first, the final day 15 results! So for the last day I decided that I was going to make a list of everything that I was grateful for to cheer me up. It turns out that when I actually think about all the little things I realize that I have so much to be grateful for! This made me so happy knowing that through it all I still have a pretty damn good life.

Now for today's post;

Writing to calm anxiety and stress I decided to make this post on writing for a few reasons;

1. When I am writing I get lost into my own world, the stress seems to disappear.

2. Writing is a great way to vent. You can keep a journal and write down all of your frustrations then you can recycle that piece of paper and literally 'throw your stress away'

3. Writing helps me focus on one thing, the story. This helps clear my mind and helps me to have a better day. Sometimes I write non fiction and other times fiction. I am hoping to branch out and get into more fantasy.

I challenge all of you to go and write, the possibilities are endless and you can write down whatever you want. There are some writing contests that are going on write now, submit your entry and good luck! If you want more info or to leave a comment please feel free to do so!

And remember have a great day today! 

Day 14 Results

Day 14 Results:

Breathing

All day I was focused on my deep breathing. I have read articles that state breathing helps reduce stress and calm the mind. I wanted to try this for myself. Several times throughout the day as I was feeling overwhelmed I stopped to take a deep breathe. I would breath in through my nose and out through my mouth. And repeat. For me this helped me temporarily clear my mind and focus only on my breathing. In that moment my stress was gone. The stress came back, as it always does, shortly after. I found that for me the breathing feels good and calms me. I plan to use this in the future when I need just a moment to chill.

The Last Day: In the spirit of Thanksgiving I would like to make day 15 my day of gratitude. Today when I start to feel stressed or overwhelmed I am going to make a list of everything that I am grateful for.