You can chose to create a healthy life. It is your choice even if you feel your depression is just something you have to live with. Well, you don't. Here are some ways that you can improve your general health and well being:
1. GRATITUDE. Keep a gratitude journal in which every day, you write at least 5 things that you are grateful for. This helps with allowing the brain to recognize the beauty in your life.
2. ENVIRONMENT. Surround yourself with open spaces, organization, flowers, beauty and your life will reflect that. If you surround yourself with clutter, dead plants, and chaos, your life will reflect ill health and chaos. You choose.
3.POLLUTION. Stop polluting your mind with visual images of depressing things. Limit television viewing, loud music, loud social environments. Allow there to be times of peace and tranquility and then your life will reflect this.
4.ASSOCIATION. Check on who you associate with and make sure it is with people who you really like and who reciprocate these feelings. The association must be a positive one for you. Sometimes we associate with people who don't bring out the best in us, be aware of this and change it.
5.LOVE. Always try to do the things that you love, that way, you will always love what you're doing!! If there is love involved, your life will always be a happy place.
6.RELAX. Take time out to relax your entire body including the mind. You could practise meditation or do an activity that brings about profound peace and relaxation to you.
7. BALANCE. Work out your priorities and balance your work, home and health into one. I include health in this as it involves exercise which needs to be scheduled into your balance. Whatever you rate as the most important will be what your focus is currently on. What is that for you? You can change that today by taking some steps to re-prioritize.
I hope this gives you something to think about. I'd like to suggest that you copy and paste this list , print it out and stick it somewhere that you look at every day. This will remind you that you have choices and you will then make the right ones if you are always aware.
Have a great week making healthy choices !
Take care
Deb
23 February 2011
09 February 2011
Post Natal Depression
After the birth of a baby, everyone is very excited and it is such a wondrous event. Why then, do you feel like you just want to leave this life? Why do you feel like you don't like your baby?
It is a time when you feel guilty and abnormal. You know that you 'should' love your baby, you know that you 'should' feel elated. This kind of depression is often hidden as the new mother feels very ashamed that she doesn't 'love ' her baby as she 'should'.
There is no shame in depression. It is merely a state of mind, an imbalance in your system, one that you need to acknowledge. It is important to acknowledge these feelings and discuss them with a counsellor or a very good friend or your husband/partner. PND is usually a temporary depression, but if left unchecked, as in my case, serious depression can result.
There are still things you can do to assist yourself in creating a balance in your life and aiding your body into wellness.
1. Admit your feelings to someone and acknowledge that this is PND.
2. Each day, try to find something about your baby that you love. This will help you to see the beauty. I know this may seem like a silly suggestion, but it is necessary to bring about acceptance.
3. Instead of resenting the baby for waking you up for a feed, realize that this is what the babe will do and try to accept it instead of fighting against it.
4 Make a plan to have someone pop over during the day to allow you to have a good 2 hours or so sleep to help you. When you are sleep deprived, this can really take depression to an all time low. If you don't have someone to help, be very strict on allowing yourself to get sleep when your baby sleeps. Don't worry about the state of the house - care more about the state of you!!
This is a very complex time and so much more can be said about this, but in the efforts to remain brief, I'll stop here!
If you or someone you care about is showing signs of PND, lend them a hand, even if they don't appear to want it. Sometimes we need to force our way in and help to allow them to heal.
I hope the week ahead is filled with joyous moments.
Take care
Deb
It is a time when you feel guilty and abnormal. You know that you 'should' love your baby, you know that you 'should' feel elated. This kind of depression is often hidden as the new mother feels very ashamed that she doesn't 'love ' her baby as she 'should'.
There is no shame in depression. It is merely a state of mind, an imbalance in your system, one that you need to acknowledge. It is important to acknowledge these feelings and discuss them with a counsellor or a very good friend or your husband/partner. PND is usually a temporary depression, but if left unchecked, as in my case, serious depression can result.
There are still things you can do to assist yourself in creating a balance in your life and aiding your body into wellness.
1. Admit your feelings to someone and acknowledge that this is PND.
2. Each day, try to find something about your baby that you love. This will help you to see the beauty. I know this may seem like a silly suggestion, but it is necessary to bring about acceptance.
3. Instead of resenting the baby for waking you up for a feed, realize that this is what the babe will do and try to accept it instead of fighting against it.
4 Make a plan to have someone pop over during the day to allow you to have a good 2 hours or so sleep to help you. When you are sleep deprived, this can really take depression to an all time low. If you don't have someone to help, be very strict on allowing yourself to get sleep when your baby sleeps. Don't worry about the state of the house - care more about the state of you!!
This is a very complex time and so much more can be said about this, but in the efforts to remain brief, I'll stop here!
If you or someone you care about is showing signs of PND, lend them a hand, even if they don't appear to want it. Sometimes we need to force our way in and help to allow them to heal.
I hope the week ahead is filled with joyous moments.
Take care
Deb
02 February 2011
Depression and hospital stays
Recently I received an email regarding Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). I was astounded to realize how many people become infected after their treatments! When someone develops an infection at a hospital or patient care facility that they did not have prior to treatment, this is referred to as a Healthcare Associated Infection.
This is a Global crisis affecting both patients and healthcare workers alike. HAIs often lead to lengthened hospital stays or even readmission. This obviously not only takes its toll on your physical health but on your emotional wellbeing.
So , how do you cope with longer than expected stays in hospital? Well, as with everything, it's in the attitude. Now, your attitude is great when you're healthy, but what about when you're sick and in pain? This is a vey difficult time to try to keep depression at bay. You can do it though with a few strategies and some help from kind friends and family. Here are a few suggestions :
1. Get an ipod or similar device with music on that lifts your spirit.
2. On your ipod, also put some motivational talk and meditation music. These are great for lifting you and calming you too.
3. Get some loved items from home to have around you . Nothing heals the soul and body quicker than the feeling of home and peace. So, the next best thing is to bring some of the home to you!! (eg of things could be a favourite blanket, pillow, photoframe etc)
Now I know that some of this might prove to be impossible to you, which is why you get family and friends involved. People want to help, so let them. Now, it's very important for your physical pain and emotional state to practise a little meditation during this time. It is this which will help to restore the balance back into your life and get you well again.( of course coupled with medication if required.)
So, don't wait for hospital stays to start doing this, but if you are looking at entering hospital or a care facility, then consider going in armed with these things to facilitate your wellness.
Forwarned is forearmed so hop onto the HAI website to find out more.
http://www.haiwatch.com/
Let's help ourselves in all situations this week and bring about abundant wellness!!
Take care till next time.
Deb
This is a Global crisis affecting both patients and healthcare workers alike. HAIs often lead to lengthened hospital stays or even readmission. This obviously not only takes its toll on your physical health but on your emotional wellbeing.
So , how do you cope with longer than expected stays in hospital? Well, as with everything, it's in the attitude. Now, your attitude is great when you're healthy, but what about when you're sick and in pain? This is a vey difficult time to try to keep depression at bay. You can do it though with a few strategies and some help from kind friends and family. Here are a few suggestions :
1. Get an ipod or similar device with music on that lifts your spirit.
2. On your ipod, also put some motivational talk and meditation music. These are great for lifting you and calming you too.
3. Get some loved items from home to have around you . Nothing heals the soul and body quicker than the feeling of home and peace. So, the next best thing is to bring some of the home to you!! (eg of things could be a favourite blanket, pillow, photoframe etc)
Now I know that some of this might prove to be impossible to you, which is why you get family and friends involved. People want to help, so let them. Now, it's very important for your physical pain and emotional state to practise a little meditation during this time. It is this which will help to restore the balance back into your life and get you well again.( of course coupled with medication if required.)
So, don't wait for hospital stays to start doing this, but if you are looking at entering hospital or a care facility, then consider going in armed with these things to facilitate your wellness.
Forwarned is forearmed so hop onto the HAI website to find out more.
http://www.haiwatch.com/
Let's help ourselves in all situations this week and bring about abundant wellness!!
Take care till next time.
Deb
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