Common Thoughts

My mental illness journal

[the-daily-feminist]

Found on Pinterest

[commonthoughtsnz-blog]

Age 8

My first mental illness thought, I can vividly recall, was when I was approximately 8 years old. I went through a phase of sleeping in a 'resting' position, aka like my bed was a coffin. Now I can giggle at that because I can identify that as both a weird-as childhood phase due to watching scary movies, and a possible indicator of my manic depression diagnosis 5 years later... Thoughts? x

[commonthoughtsnz-blog]

Common ground

What's in a name? Well not much 😉, so I was reading a mental health promotion poster I had received in the mail (free of course) and it was titled 'Common Ground'. People who have a mental illness don't have common ground per say... Such as wealth, race, age, or gender play no significant part in mental illness... Rather we, nga whanau o hinengaro, share common thoughts 😊 xo

[commonthoughtsnz-blog]

Witching hour

I have had a "dun dun dunnnn" moment (because I can't spell the damn word I really want to use!...ap. ...apif....):

Someone with a mental illness who is writing a personal mental illness blog must deactivate/activate their account all the time lol.

True? 😉

[commonthoughtsnz-blog]

Feel-good factor achieved at McDonald’s Silverstream today! 😄

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

When we place more value on what other people think of us than on what we think of ourselves, it’s a formula for misery.

Suzanne Selfors (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

Truth! 🙌🙏

[yourfieldisableist]

I’m a bit tired of abled feminists writing that “cr*zy” is a thing men say to women to silence them. 

Because it is, but it’s also a thing that’s considered okay to say to someone to silence them, period.

Saying that someone is cr*zy is an insult, and invalidates what they do and say. 

I think that’s a bigger problem. 

Not just that already-marginalized people get accused of being mentally ill, but that being mentally ill is so stigmatized in the first place that it invalidates anyone’s entire statement, and I don’t see enough of these posts addressing that aspect of the slur.

[sineadrhiannon]

Recovery

Recovery is hard. Recovery is work. Recovery involves failure. Recovery is scary. Recovery is self-care. Recovery requires support. Recovery means knowing how to ask for help. Recovery means learning to be okay with being okay. Recovery is a process, not an end state. Recovery doesn’t always seem possible.

Recovery is worth it.

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

It’s Time to Respect Yourself

If you feel you don’t really respect yourself then take a quick look at the list below and try to makes some changes in your daily life.

1. Ask yourself: “What does it mean to respect someone?” We have different ideas about the qualities and traits that are worthy of recognition and respect. For example, it could include being honest and reliable, being the kind of person who will listen and be there, or being understanding and trustworthy. Now ask if you have some of these qualities and traits. If so, you deserve to give yourself respect.

2. Treat yourself with kindness and proper respect. Stop and think about the kinds of things you say about yourself (“I’m ugly; I’m a failure; I hate myself; There’s no point in trying as I’m bound to fail”). You’d never say those kinds of things to someone else you loved – so why are you insulting and putting yourself down? Stop treating yourself badly – and start showing respect.

3. When others disrespect you, stand up for yourself. When people are rude, or expect too much of you, don’t feel you have to take it – or there’s nothing you can do. Believe you deserve better and stand up for yourself.

4. Take care of you mental and physical health. Respect that you have limits and can’t do everything. Sometimes you need a break or some time on your own. Also, if you love who you are then you will treat your body well. Don’t treat it like a garbage can and or exercise!

5. Find out who you are. You’re unique – with your own gifts and personality. Don’t copy other people or be a replica. Don’t bury who you are - to get approval or be loved. Be true to yourself and try to follow your own heart.