100 Days of Healthy Healing

I have, ashamedly, yet to commit to making significant changes to my diet in the attempt to boost my mental resilience. Save for the obvious culprits such as caffeine, sugar and on occasion - alcohol, I really can say, hand on heart, that I have made no effort to change my eating habits. It's been sausage rolls, crisps, cheese and takeaways all the way. This really is a crime as we all know that diet is the one thing that we can control and something that has a naturally positive effect on our mood.

Healthy home cooking - chickpea burgers and salad

Snapshots of Summer 2014

Am having a pretty enjoyable summer so far and surprisingly the weather has been decent!

Destructive behaviours

It's been a while since my last post - I suppose it has given me time to think and generally get on with life. Right now I'm on a high - I've just gotten a year long extension on my work contract (no financial worries for at least another year is a win), college is finished, I'm just on the cusp of finally knuckling down to assignments and the sun comes out a lot more than it used to - life feels good right now. It has given me food for thought though, reflection on the triggers of down periods or up periods that I have. Do you know that we can be quite prone to self-sabotage?

A Few of My Favourite Things

Do you remember that song? From the Sound of Music? The little ditty you sing when you feel bad things, "dog bits, bee stings, feeling sad". Well I'm simply going to remember my favourite things and then I might not feel so bad. (Doctor visit/dosage tweaking/counselling assessment/mindfulness and reflection all to take place on Monday, I don't really need to bore you with any further details other than to say, I'm slipping a little)

"Rub my head and tell me I'm pretty..."

One thing that I have failed to do on this blog is be 100% honest with you all. I tend to advise and relate more than I moan and whinge (can you tell what is about to come?), I am positive and try to offer empathy and insight. I am conscious that a positive outlook is key. But today, ladies and gentlemen, is the day that I bring the honesty full circle and admit here and now that having a mental illness really sucks. During, for obvious reasons, and after for how it makes you constantly vigilant.

Update/Valentine's Day Wishes

I have discovered that the art of baking is incredibly soothing! I find myself looking out for cake stands and icing utensils and cute, colourful edible sprinkles to embellish my creations ever since my tea party fundraiser (which by the way, has surpassed all my expectations and has gone on to raise just over €400! Thank you all!) Finding a new hobby is the best way to get over a low period, is what I've been told and I can't help believe that it's true! Red velvet cupcakes, I have no idea how I've gone this long without knowing of your existence. Those and Instagram, my new social media of choice and I'm not even remotely ashamed at the constant flow of filtered-snaps I post on a daily basis!

Feeling Feelings

I read over my posts from the last few months at the weekend. It struck me how open and optimistic and almost “all-knowing” and confident they sounded. Did those words really come from me? It’s quite heartening to know that I had that strength and yet, disheartening now that I've had a little setback.