Tag: Mental health

Good Clean Fun!

It’s amazing how important fun is to you mental health. I always hear, make sure you exercise, it will make you feel better. And it does. But the thing about depression and anxiety is, it tends to rob you of joy, of fun. I forget what it is to enjoy things. When I walk or run it stops being fun and it only becomes function. A thing I do to clear my brain. Don’t get me wrong, that is important too. But the fun!

Yesterday I had the pleasure to participate in the Denver Bubble Run. It’s not fast, you’re never gonna PR, but it’s just good clean fun. But the best part? I had the pleasure to watch my favorite almost 6 hear old tackle it on her own two feet, for the first time. We’ve been doing this for 4 years now, every year she’s been in the stroller. Not this year! And watching her joy made me remember why I started this to begin with.

When I turned 30 I decided to take up running. It just felt like something I needed to do. I wanted needed a challenge. I needed a kick to clean up my life.

I had always envied people who ran Disney races. I wanted to be a part of their world. There were so many different choices, it seemed like a fun community, and the best part was I didn’t have to look like a runner to do it! So I bit the financial bullet and signed up.

The first year I convinced my friend Kelly to do the Neverland 5k with me at Disneyland. I was ready, but I wasn’t half marathon ready. But as soon as we got there I regretted it. I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to say I was a half marathoner. I wanted that big shiny medal.

The next year, my 31st year, I completed my 1st half. It was slow and a little painful, but the most remarkable experience. Tinkerbell was a blast, RunDisney sure knows how to do it right.

What I learned, though, is the running community is an amazing place. If you do the distance, you are in! It didn’t matter that I was over weight or slow, it didn’t matter if it was 1 mile or 26. I finished MY race and that was all that mattered! No where else are the terms that simple.

After 7 half marathons, numerous 5 and 10ks, 2 stress fractures, and a torn calf muscle, I am taking the next couple seasons off from big numbers. Initially that decision wreaked havoc on my mentality. I realized I was putting too much emphasis on my identity through the numbers, not how those numbers helped me mentally.

This year I have been focusing on fun. Fun runs, 5ks, running with my sister from another mister and her mini. And guess what? I’m ok. I’m probably more than ok. There’s zero pressure. We are just there to support local charities, be healthy, and most of all have fun!

What do you do purely for joy? Take a minute. I think we forget whatpure, unadulterated joy and happiness looks like. Depression steals that, but so does adulthood. I challenge you all to go out and find something that just makes you smile. A smile like this.

Shine your light. Fly your flag.

Rooting Yourself

Its a cool and rainy afternoon here in rural Colorado. An oddity for late July. It is also a beautiful afternoon to do a little grounding exercise. For those of you unfamiliar with the practice, grounding is technique to help keep someone in the present. Grounding can help to re-orient someone to the present and back into reality. It has been found to be helpful in managing overwhelming feelings and intense anxiety.

I have used grounding in some form on and off for a few years. I most likely have done some form of it, unknowingly, for much longer. I find that an exercise like this is extremely helpful not just during an episode of intense emotional stress, but also as a common practice to help prevent some of the more frequent symptoms of my anxiety.

Grounding Exercises

There are 6 basic grounding exercises; observing, self soothing, breathing, distraction, using your 5 senses, or using your body. Not every exercise works for every person. Not every exercise works for every situation. That is the beauty of adding this to your coping toolbox, its versatile. Most of these exercises are simple, they can be conducted anywhere and without anyone knowing you’re doing them.

Here is a link to a post that has some more information about the various practices. http://www.tothegrowlery.com/blog/2017/4/18/six-different-types-of-grounding-exercises-for-anxiety-intense-emotions

six-ways-to-practice-grounding4698895321481060913.png

Today I had some practice with my 5 senses. I took advantage of the rain and the cool weather. I made a cup of tea and sat on the porch. I took time to feel the warmth of the mug in my hands, the cool and the wet of the rain on my legs and feet. I closed my eyes and scanned my body, visualizing the temperature differences. Using temperature extremes can help to shift the brain quickly back into reality. I also spent time breathing deeply the cool, clean, fresh scent of rain in the air. Listening to the sounds of the rain hitting the earth, the birds chittering and watching them swoop through the drops. There is something visceral about engaging all 5 senses deliberately. Dare I say, it brought me peace.

In a world that praises speed and is consistently chaotic, loud, and overwhelming, it can be a daunting task to find even a shred of peace or calm. It can be doubly hard when you are also battling the chaos of your own brain. I challenge you, my dear friends, to take a minute or two this week and try out a grounding technique. Try to find one that works for you. It doesn’t have to be big or showy. I keep a rock in my purse for when I feel overly anxious or overwhelmed in a crowded place. I can discretely reach for this solid, tangible object, feel its shape, texture, and weight. This simple act can bring me back to a state of normalcy when I feel like nothing is ok.

Shine your light. Fly your Flag.