Who else has a chopped up jelly head?
Most of us at some stage in our lives.
I believe that humans can be good at putting on a brave face and we can be great actors when it comes to chatting about our true feelings!
We have mental blockers, and these are formed within us, by the unique life experiences which have shaped us so far. Or, we lead such busy lifestyles, that we tend to overlook our own mental wellbeing.
Yet, it’s not healthy or sustainable to be a lone wolf, and why practicing daily gratitude is essential. It lifts the mind’s eye out of the cement of mental health problems. It is the starting point for which mindfulness and mediation can take root…
Additionally, it’s often the little things: that we read about or hear, which can give us eureka moments… they can even feel like an epiphany.
We are back in our conscious minds, and we feel fuelled with energy and inspiration.
Below is a growing list of people, who have kindly shared their advice, tips, and little things they do to help manage living with chopped–up jelly heads.
Enjoy reading, and do feel free to email me with your coping strategies – to share with the wider community…
How people help their Chopped-Up Jelly Heads:
Emma Andrews – Writer
“When I’m feeling sad, I find the sea helps me to reset my frame of mind – I jot ideas down on the notebook I keep in my handbag.”
Hil Brooker – Collectable model car restorer
“When I’m feeling low, I take my dog out for a walk in the forest.”
Su Gregory – Artist / Designer
“When I’m feeling down, I just paint” www.suzannegregoryartist.com
Debbie Beck
“I book a holiday! I love to travel and I really enjoy exploring new countries”
Amy Batley
“I talk to my friends and family for advice and support”
Luke Tester
“I like to listen to music and go on bike rides”
Jodie Gough
“I like to lose myself in books. I also watch my favourite comedy TV show which is both funny and comforting. I also surround myself with my friends and family”
Clodagh Leonard
“I like to listen to my favourite songs, watch my favourite films and read my favourite books. I also like to sit down with a cup of tea and have a good chat with a best friend. And I love going on long walks!”
Harriet Murray
“I like to write down all my thoughts and feelings before bed so I don’t sleep on them. A good night’s sleep always helps and getting outside and having fresh air also cheers me up!”
Aje Roberts
“When I’m sad I like to get comfy at home and chill with my family and friend, watch a cracking TV show, read a great book or do some retail therapy”
Charlotte Davies
“I try and plan things to look forward to, put my headphones in and go for a walk, and eat my body weight in ice cream”
Olly Bartlett
“I go out for a walk, or go to the gym and do some exercise. I also chat to my friends and share my feelings”
Khadija Mahmood
“I take a warm bath and read a book, and arrange to see friends and family”
Lina Campbell
“I love doing crafty stuff – the results are bad but I just love losing myself in it”
Sam Fenlon
“I like to snuggle up with a good book (usually Harry Potter) or spend an evening with my family or friends eating good food and catching up”
Paul Heathfield – Jones – Nurse
“I start the day with a smile. If I believe it – then it’ll spread to others too!”
Tim
“I try to keep in touch with friends as much as possible, whether getting together locally or messaging those over seas. Often the conversations revolve around funny shared experiences or music. I like to have music playing as often as possible and enjoy finding new tracks as much as playing the anthems that have been the soundtrack to my life. I’ve always enjoyed playing board games, as you can lose yourself in the strategy”
June Loadsman
“I never remember my loved ones on the day they passed. Instead, I celebrate their birthdays with flowers which are special to them. I buy Shamrock for my Dad and wild violets for my Mum ”
Jo Kilinder- Smith
“I love trees so I enjoy walks in the forest. The giant branches somehow feel as though they are protecting me.”
Rachael Martin
“When I’m feeling sad I get out of my head by thinking of three things I’m grateful for—even if one is that I am breathing right now. To stay happy, I paint my nails. It makes me feel pretty and its creative! Plus it’s my excuse for two hours of “Sorry, can’t help—nails are drying!” Pure me time!”
Sarah Smith
Top tip:
Write down 3 good things each day that has been good. This supports neuroplasticity to build positive thought pathways in the brain and helps us feel better. If we think positive we feel positive. Give it a try each day, even if you feel a bit low.
Not the same 3 things, they need to be different.
And make sure they are good things, this is not a gratitude list. Sometimes when we are experiencing low mood, it’s a huge task to feel grateful. So we look for a small good thing each day instead.
Janet Roland – Artist
“I set myself tasks and projects and become totally absorbed in their execution. In between time, I like walking in the countryside. It’s all therapeutic!”
Nicola Lock
“To help my depression I’m setting up a companionship business to help the elderly. I was inspired to do this because I cook dinner for a lady who I take out three times a week, just for coffee chats and nice walks and on a Friday we enjoy dinner together.”
Hayley B
“I put on some suitable loud music for my mood. Sometimes metal is a good release, reggae is good for when I need to calm down and find peace and inner calm as it is usually uplifting music. Once the music is going I’ll lose myself in gardening, various crafts or a bit of housework. If all else fails, a nice hot bath with essential oil and more music.”
Karen B
“I have a few different ways to cope. I love to make food and share with friends, meditation, yoga and music are good all year. I love to walk in nature, spend time with my amazing daughter and friends, go for a paddle, just watch the sun rise and set or stargaze. I lose myself gardening and enjoying the flowers and produce. When the weather is awful I have craft projects on the go. I enjoy fixing things and get a real buzz out of restoring them. Just managed to restore a vintage manual sewing machine, which will enable me to make and fix more things. I write things down too. It helps me park them until I have time to deal with them (and not forget to do them). Most importantly recognise when you need to take that break, and have plans in place for when you reach a low ebb!”
Ashley Pearce
“When I’m stressed or depressed I find baking helps take my mind off things or having a warm bath to relax in”
April May
“Cut out all the people from your life that drain your happiness and hold dear those who love you for who you are.”
Fearless Mindset
Suf’s tips “Motivation will fire the engine… at first. Discipline will keep you going when you think it’s out of fuel .” www.afearlessmindset
Anna
“I’ve learnt how much I trained myself over my lifetime to either repress or escape from emotions such as sadness and anger. Going through a process of unlearning cultural conditioning, developing sensitivity and training my neurology in a new way has been life changing for me. Now I radically accept sadness and anger when they arise and feel them as deeply as I can, not to act from that place, but simply to allow the emotion to be felt. I have discovered this form of radical acceptance provides great insight and allows the sensations that we label emotion to move through the body more freely and quickly. It’s counter-intuitive, but if you don’t want to feel sad, don’t run away from sadness!”
Lisa R
“I like to lay in the dark reading my Kindle”
Hayley P
“When I’m feeling low, I take my dog for a long walk to clear my head. I also find comfort talking to my family and friends. But to relieve the tension, I love to sing and dance and that clears all the cobwebs away.”
Leah
“I find routine is very helpful. Even if it is just waking up, and getting dressed, – it gives you a starting point for the day ahead. What others’ might consider as small achievements’, they are big achievements’ for some! Also, creating something whether that is a picture, cake, poem, song. It can help us see that we’ve achieved something.”
Ian Williams
“I have lived for years on the edge of anxiety and depression. I know those imposters are there but overtime I have learned how to deal with them. You’ve probably heard the word ‘mindfulness’ – and that is something I can recommend you explore in whatever way you can. Learn to live in the now and not worry about the past – you can’t change it. Don’t fret about the future – it’s not here right now. Yes, that’s easy for me to say but persevere and you will find a way through.”
Dr. Kati Adeseko-Pourseied
“Realising the power within ourselves to initiate a positive cycle of behaviour, feelings, and thoughts will nourish our mental health & emotional wellbeing. ”
Adam
“My life is made up of daily habits, from the moment I wake to the moment I sleep. If I don’t keep my mind active, I slip mentally. I started with just 2 new habits, then I added a few more once they become second nature, and then a few more – over time, those habits have built into daily self-care routine which has transformed my life. ”
Jackie K
“I like going shopping and treat myself now and again.”
Julia
“When I had to go through the toughest time in my life the single helpful advice I got was to take one day as it comes. Literally, just today, just now. No travelling to the past with all those shoulda/coulda, no stressing out about the future, no one knows it. With time I learned how to appreciate what I’ve got and find even the tiniest positive thing in the pool of negativity. Walking in nature and yoga brings me a lot of joy and healing”
CR Allen & Sons
How to deal with mental health from the C R Allen’s team
- Circulate around positive people
- Avoid people who have brought you down previously
- Exercise as it clears your mind – specially being out in the cold
- Taking yourself out of any negative situations
- Talking to people who you trust about situations getting you down
- Distracting yourself – reading, doing a puzzle or cooking
Sue – Suicide Grief Support
I am a psychotherapist and final year doctoral psychology student. I lost my eldest brother to suicide over 4 years ago and have spent that time researching suicide grief as part of my Phd. I have learnt so much about life and death. I have learnt to be grateful for the smallest things whilst helping anyone else who has suffered a suicide loss. We are most definitely stronger together.
Jean – Friendship Bench
“When we truly connect with people and listen empathically to their story without feeling the need to fix them or judge them for their experiences, but rather just be present as an anchor in that moment, lives can be changed. We can all practice being an anchor to help people float.”
Sharon Savage
“I like to sit in the Buddha area of my garden with my dog where I find peace and serenity”
Kibbi Linga
“I will die creating beauty out of my disgusting pain” www.kibbispillsart.com
Alex
“To get our mindset ready for each day, we say out loud, three people we feel blessed to have in our lives. Then three things we are grateful for. Feeling this gratitude makes you smile” www.wearesuperbird.com
If Only Charity
Sadly I have taken these ways of coping with me into adulthood and still use them now. Self harm helps to saves us but it is also very damaging.
Limiting what I eat allows me to take back the control that was taken from me.
Cutting myself allows some of the terrible pain I carry inside to pour out from me which gives me some relief. Suicidal thoughts are constantly in my mind, they are my life jacket which allows me to keep going.