#leannesaysitsallg

A blog about finding the good on the path to happiness. For a long time, I was very sad, so sad I didn't realise the extent. After a long time on medication, my brain started to right itself and armed with a more centred approach, I became determined to find the good around me. To share it when I find it and to encourage others in a variety of methods that can help you also find the good in your life. It can really be all g

[leannesaysitsallg]

#drinkcoffee #dogood love it, supporting the homeless at the grassroots. Don't think that there is one in my area. I love my coffee but don't feel like driving to orange. Maybe I can support this great iniative online? @streetsmartaust @pressdubbo Find out all about this at the Streetsmart aus website

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Great caption. Do you hate how everything these days is a journey? It's not. It's life. Good or Bad. Challenging or light. It is life. A journey is what you do on holiday. 😜 Regram from @brenebrown of @emilymcdowell_ funny greeting cards. #reallife #findthegood #itsnotajourneyitslife #cliche #itsnotajourney

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Sleep

There is a reason that sleep deprivation is a form of torture.

Because not having any is actual torture. 

It is however one of the most critical foundations to wellbeing and the elusive search for happiness.

One of the surprise packets of the Happiness and it’s Causes conference that I attended this year was the session on Sleep and Wellbeing by Dr Carmel Harrington. Her insights into the link between poor sleep, cardio vascular disease, obesity, wellbeing and depression were quite eye-opening and really rang true for me.

You can listen to Carmel here and also view her website - http://www.sleepforhealth.net.au/media.php

Essentially we as adults are not getting any where near enough sleep.

Nothing like it.

Sometimes it is almost like a competition to see who can get by on the least amount of sleep. It is rare that anyone legitimately is wired to get by on less than 6 hours a night. Those people do exist, but it is rare. 

We need between 7-8 hours a night, enough for us to cycle through 5 standard sleep cycles. You know REM sleep , deep sleep etc. No matter how fast or slow our own particular cycles are, we must cycle through all of them to ensure that we get the full restorative benefits from completing those full cycles.

According to Dr Carmel’s research between 20-30% of the adult population have sleep problems of one kind or another - either finding it hard to fall asleep or if they do, finding it hard to stay asleep all night.

We can’t function correctly and we can’t learn effectively.

In a nutshell without proper sleep these 3 things can happen

- short term we are likely to succumb to more colds and flu type infections

- long term we are more likely to succumb to type 2 diabetes, obesity and to die younger than a well slept person

- But the most recently discovered issue on sleep problems is that we are more likely to suffer mentally as a result of poor sleep - ie we are more likely to suffer from mental health issues and chronic depression

Wow.

I am a supposedly smart person and for some reason I had no idea that my lousy sleep patterns over years (and I mean years - like about 7) was actually contributing to making my depression much much worse.

We can be a little stupid at times. Stupid in that we don’t understand the signs and patterns that our bodies are screaming out for some attention, 

I have spoken about sleep before or more correctly the lack of it and I don’t mean the sleep deprived baby and toddler stage. Whilst I can appreciate how zombie like that can be, I would much prefer being up with a crying baby than any of the scenarios I found myself in.

I mean the going to bed at 10pm and then waking at 1am and being awake until about 5.45 and then crashing again for about 1 hour. And this continuing each night for months at a time

I mean waking up at 1am in a manic state and then working through the rest of the night. This of course then meant I was completely wired at work the next day and a complete cow to all concerned, 

I mean laying in bed playing endless rounds of solitaire and scrabble on my phone in a vain attempt to drop back off to sleep.

The common thread with all of these, is that I was completed fixated and stuck in the whirr in my head. 

For years I just put up with this, only periodically relishing in the simple pleasure of head hitting the pillow and then the next minute it was morning - real morning.

BLISS!

I tried heaps of things

 - Stupid games on my phone. Wrong - electronic devices like smartphones do not help sleep. In fact the blue screens are doing damage to our eyes and our sleep patterns

- Lavender on your pillow. OK this is up there with taking lavender to the hospital to help with labour. Whilst I am not adverse to essential oils, I cannot say that their application in the case of chronic sleep deprivation like in my case was actually helpful

- Sleep Remedies from the Chemist. I have tried most of these items. Things I had to have 30 mins before laying down, things I had to put under my tongue. Things I had to drink. None of these worked for me. None of them and I tried most of them

- Wine. This is not actually a tool I would recommend to get to sleep. I did however try this. ALOT

- Hot Milo/Hot Chocolate. Whilst I do like Milo/Hot Chocolate, this is is not something I would recommend long term as it kind of puts on weight, which can make you feel worse

- Staying up watching TV in an attempt to fall asleep. This is also not really a good idea, as what happens is that you do fall asleep on said lounge after watching stupid television, only to then go to bed when you wake up and then remain awake. I remember when my kids were little discouraging any kind of falling asleep in front of the TV, but rather encourage a good sleep pattern and when tired go to bed!

So in hindsight, what should I have been doing?

Well some of these things.

- A bath at night-time. We forget so many things, with all of my kids when they were babies I had a set routine to encourage them to become good sleepers. There was bath-time, bottle, quiet time with a story then bed. When they were pre-schoolers we had dinner-time, bath, quiet time/book and then bed. Why didn’t I do that for myself! The key to this one is routine. 

- A book at night-time. Yep, seems so obvious, but reading a book, as opposed to reading a screen helps you to wind down. So what was I doing for 7 years, well not enjoying the rather pleasurable pastime of reading books. I spent instead an awful amount of time focussed on work stresses and again not taking care of myself so that I could be mentally on top of my game at said work during daylight hours. 

- YOGA - any of the wind down movements. I am not sure why I was so frightened of doing this, or why I pooh poohed it. Now I find doing YOGA at nighttime so relaxing and “centering”. It allows me to take stock, be present and allow my body and mind to wind down. YogaGlo is awesome if you are struggling with sleep and could do with some wind-down tasks. I would highly recommend it, especially if you like me are quite uncoordinated and would prefer to “downward-dog” in the privacy of your loungeroom!

- Walking the DOG. My old favourite walking. In the evening, after dinner. Not a power walk to get up and sweaty, but a relaxing take in the day, meander around the neighbourhood kind of walk. Summer is magic as you can watch the sun go down..

- Meditation. Yep, get your hippy on. In all seriousness, meditation and mindfulness exercises work wonders for all manner of mental health related issues. Get an app, download it and get your Zen on. I use Smiling Mind - and it is great. 

Of course, if I had had my wits about me, I possibly should have gone to the Doctor much much sooner. Perhaps rather than just prescribing some sleeping tablets, he would have seen a person in need of something more. 

I urge you if you are in a pattern of not sleeping to see your doctor, don’t put up with it.

So even though I am on medication, I am very conscious of the need to sleep well. I am still not quite used to sleeping all night, I think I am still in the novelty phase. When I wake after sleeping all night I just pause and marvel at how amazing it is to have slept all night long.

Simple things.

[leannesaysitsallg]

I remember vividly when Monday would fill me with absolute dread. The sick feeling on Monday was only surpassed by the entirely terrifying feeling on Sunday night. But as I became better I realised Monday is just a day. It comes around every week. Every week I got through it. And it was always better with good coffee. So breathe in, smell that coffee and breathe out. #mondayitis #getmemycoffee #breatheinbreatheout #itsjustaday #findthegood

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Had to repost. Yes look up. Look out Look around we are part of an amazing world and sometimes we need to take stock and remember that.

[leannesaysitsallg]

Uni study has officially commenced. Great words to set the mind into study mode. Useful for any scenario actually. Ok old lady brain. Lets do this #matureagestudentsaresmarter #psych101 #unistudent #trainyourbrain

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I am back. Just a few days to catch up on. 😉 Day 25 #wanderlust - This place is so on my bucket list. #winterwellness #earthhq @earth_hq repost via @instarepost20 from @elquestro Enjoy dinner under the stars with someone special at El Questro Homestead - one million acres of tranquility as your backdrop... #RestaurantAustralia #instarepost20

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Do you follow @babymacbeth? Today she shared some random stuff in her dailyblog post, but this website caught my eye and made me laugh. #assholeparents . Heard of it? Do yourself a favour....especially after a week where my parenting skills have been called into question by children who say we give them too much!!! repost via @instarepost20 from @kristenhowerton Day 2 of our International Temper Tantrum Tour: this canal-side cafe has no chicken nuggets. #assholeparent #instarepost20 #findthegood #givemestrength #firstworldproblems

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Let’s pack that shit in a box

You know it is a real shit to think that your mind is broken.

I have had 24 hours of shit. 

The kind of shit that even though you have a $50 voucher to spend at Sussan - when all sales items are a further 50% off - you don’t like anything.

That kind of shit. 

The thing is this - why when everything is pared back, medication is gone, that all of that crap is still there in your head. 

Why when a few things go wrong, you run out of your medication - you then spend 24 hours back in that place you were 2 years ago - like everything you have learned and tried to implement was for nothing.

I hate that, that place is still there.

Is it always going to be there?

I have 2 half done blog posts on happier topics - but can’t be motivated to finish them. 

I have a course I need to get my teeth into

I have a little YOGA program I have started - half started...

A half done jumper I am knitting

Books I bought to read and learn from - collecting dust on the side of my bed.

A half done instagram photo challenge on #winterwellness

and I have a cold -  a head cold, to top it all off.

I am just left with this overwhelming - is this always going to be part of me  - will it always be there. I never really understood how people speak of the black dog.  Of it hanging around, always there in the shadows. I never really got that bit, really until right now.

When I am good, I just don’t second guess myself, my mind is focussed on the task at hand. I can plan, learn and deal with life as it presents itself without introspection. Dark introspection.

But when I am not - all of that baggage just returns, that box reopens and all of that sadness fills every crevice of me.

AGAIN.

I just want to remove that box, it is not enough to leave things in the box and lock it up. I want it gone.

When will that happen? Will it ever happen.

However, my script was filled and here I sit at the keyboard, so I know I am on the up. 

I have learnt something though, I managed to seek someone out and talk to them and cry. Sob in the car in the street - not a great look. It felt better after that..

Now where is that sticky tape to tape down that box. 

[leannesaysitsallg]

Day 12 #makeadifference #winterwellness #earthhq @earth_hq This is my dad , a rare shot as he is resting. Since retirement my Dad volunteers 3 days a week for his local #vinnies. He is quite involved and his social justice leanings are as strong as ever. He often sees the bad side of life for people, but he is not jaded by that, I think it helps him be positive. He has always thought of others and always been generous and open and understanding when others aren't. He does need to rest more though... #volunteers #volunteer #vinnies #bethegood #mydadiscool

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Damon is a constant source of laughs. Especially when you tickle him under the arms! Day 11 #Laughter #winterwellness #earthhq @earth_hq

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Day 10 #winterwellness #earthhq @earth_hq #faveaffirmation Ok, I am not a big fan of affirmations per se. I think as part of wellness, they can seem to be a bit band-waggony. I tend to think alot are fake. So this is just something I say and really believe as part of my personal wellness journey. I really love what I am learning about the brain. #trainyourbrain #neuroplasticity #findthegood

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Day 9 #winterwellness #workouttime @earth_hq #earthhq Just finished my yoga wind down. Just as well no one can actually see me do it in my pyjamas. Loving it though 😊

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Gotta catchup with my #winterwellness posts. Today day 8 #friends Great night and it was warm! Thanks @earth_hq . Shall get caught up.

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DAY 7 #breakfast #winterwellness #earthhq @earth_hq not a great breakfast person. Gotta do better. Granola and greek yoghurt. Yum! All caught up now 😊

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Almost caught up Day 5 #winterwellness #placeofpeace @earth_hq I have many places of peace. They tend to be when I am outside, in nature and near water This was me last year on the Murray. #magicalmurray #beautyofnature #silenceontheriver

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Day 4 #winterwellness you don't get much wiser than Socrates. #wisewords @earth_hq Pinched from my new business instagram feed @bigbluedigital (I know shameless plug ) 😉