Three self-care things you did today!

[ecomama]

We can do it BBers, we can do self-care.

Sleepy21 pointed out research that shows self-care REALLY helps!

Please share what you do for self-care so we can get inspiration, ideas and motivation to do it too.

Best wishes
EM

[Guest_1643]

Hey EM - the support group was awesome. I had a great experience there. It took a lot off my shoulders 🙂 I am lucky I found this free group. It is darn hard to find good MH services!!

I am the only woman that goes usually, but this week another woman came. That was nice. They give us coffee and tea which is so nice. How nice is it when someone makes you a cup of tea?????
There is nothing else in the world.

- spoke to a friend on the phone - nice to leave the text world and speak to a human voice!

- Drank a big gulp of water

- Chatted with a gorgeous child who had just lost his first tooth! I enjoy chatting to children.

[Guest_1643]

- Basically told someone they were triggering me - I have never said that before. They didn't get it and thought I was crazy. Oh well! Practise for me in setting boundaries

- had a chai latte

- bought some snacks for the week

[ecomama]

OH WOW Sleepy!

I'm SO HAPPY you found a great MH group!

And yes I totally agree, it's really hard to find a good MH group!

lol.... love it when someone makes me a cuppa too... the simple things hey?

I'm also grateful that Victorians can now DO THESE THINGS like attend groups.

It's nice that another lady attended, hope you can make some nice connections there.
When I attended the Women's Health Centre Course it was amazing to meet other women who had been through similar.
It made a huge difference that the 2 Counsellors running the group were so good!

The members of the groups stayed in touch for a few months afterwards but one lady helped me beyond my imagination through what was to come next over the next few years.

You just never know where our positive actions may lead.

I hope your path to a beautiful life is made easier each day Sleepy.

EMxxxx

[Guest_1643]

Thank you EM

I am now looking into more women's services. Would you mind to remind me about the course you did that was so helpful?
My group is trauma sensitive. It's amazing. I do get a bit happy when women come!
I haven't met so many women on my MH journey... I don't know why, keep finding myself finding social workers, peer workers and residents in hospital at the same time as me who are male.

Girl power is needed.
Thanks for ur lovely post on Monkey's spending thread. Much love to you sunshine xx

[ecomama]

Always my pleasure sweetie thing....

The Course I did was through the local Women's Health Centre and it was called "Breaking Free".
MONUMENTOUSLY VALUABLE!! Cannot recommend this course highly ENOUGH!

It's free ofcourse.
8 weekly sessions.
2 intake sessions to deem a person's suitability but you'd fit.
If you miss more than 1 session in a row then you have to leave and re-enrol..

because the information builds on the next session.

There's also one called "The Shark Cage" which follows on from the Breaking Free one.
THIS one is to learn how to pick an abusive person (mostly potential partner) and then how to end it quickly.
I didn't get to do that one.
Probably won't be able to now that I'm FT next year.

I was going to do it this year but covid hit.

I found the group of women I was with (and some left... some completed it in a 1:1 setting because they couldn't manage a group etc) were ALL amazing.

Funnily enough the very last session was ALL on SELF-CARE lol!

waddayaknow hey?

Sure there are lots of educational courses available thru the WHCs but there are also CREATIVE Courses offered too, here at least.

Worth a look that's for sure.

Being FREE or very little cost and free tea and coffee too lol... nice to hang out in comfortable and very secure settings.

EMxxxx

[ecomama]

My self-care today included:

* asking my boss if I could go home to wash and change clothes today after an unfortunate event lol... oh and she let me, yay!

* taking fruit and a packed lunch to work

* buying healthy Vietnamese food for dinner

* getting some healing supplements from the Health Food Store to aide in the healing of my mouth.

* I am BUSTING to have a long scrub tonight in the bath and might watch a Netflix something too... am enjoying "The Detectorists" atm, it's cute, funny and a tiny bit serious.

EMxxxx

[Guest_1643]

Hi Em -
I have been set an info pack previously on the concept of the Shark Cage - so this could follow on from there!

I liked that idea.

I also just google random pyshologists chatting about narcissists. There's one who does role plays, showing a narcissistic parent, then a healthy parent, then the narcissistic parent with a child who is no longer accepting their BS. All good info to see in a visual way. But I'm ready for more.

thanks xxx

[Guest_1643]

-sat outside and watched a beautiful view

- ate some colourful salad

- Had a change of scenery hanging out at a friends house

[ecomama]

Oh that's FANTASTIC Sleepy!

Google was most definitely my friend when I was trying to work out the abusive demon etc.

I saw a Psych online who had finally gone NC with her toxic parents in her 40s... she had written a book something along those lines. But her online chats with others asking questions WE would ask were really valuable!

Seeing others treading the path we're on but ahead of us is very comforting for me.

I'm so glad you got a pack on the Shark Cage! Wow I didn't know they sent out packs.

I'm also glad you are attending a group too. I find groups very beneficial as long as the Facilitators are really good at their job.

LOVE YOUR SELF-CARE Sleepy!

I anticipate mine for today will include (lol... now I have to do it lol!!!)...

* eating well at work

* picking up my new reading glasses from the Optometrist

* saying thankyou to specific people at work for our relationship deepening... I want to use words like "trust", "reliability", "Being a confidante" etc.
I'm not close to anyone at work really and I'm fine to keep it that way.
But a few have shown these qualities or a mix of them and it has been both ways which I'm happy for.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Love EM

[pl515p1]

Gave to those who helped me, more than they know.

Talked to a lost one, a stranger once, who no longer is.

Witnessed how simple acknowledgement can cultivate, sustain, and provide foundation for the future, for one who once had none.