What are you doing for your mental health?

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I’m trying to craft more crochet and knitting and just trying to breathe and slow down. I’m a huge stress head and can’t help but feel that may have added to where I currently am so really trying to work on that

I go back to my breathing meditation when my mind is whirring too much for me to sleep. Sometimes it takes an hour or so of just lying there, bringing my mind back to the breath over and over, but usually it works eventually.

Good question, @iserbrown ... Whilst not having been thru as much as many on the forum (surgery, rads & tabs) I HAVE found that  the emotional toll is much greater than I ever anticipated - and I think others would agree with this.  The whole thing 'mucks with your brain' - and just leaves you a bit 'vulnerable' at times.  It is a feeling that family & friends don't always 'get' (especially the very real fear of recurrence) - or if they DO realise you are 'fragile' - they don't always know how to deal with it!

SO - for my Mental Health ... I just try to keep myself busy for as much of the day as I can.  When you are concentrating on things - you don't tend to ponder your problems as much as if you are alone & not busy.

Running my Uke Group  keeps me REALLY busy - as we have 2 practise session a week & perform at 4-6 Nursing Homes every 6 weeks, as well as requests to perform at other gigs (like Legacy, Probus & others.)  We perform at Fund Raisers as well (our Breast Cancer FR was cancelled back in April when the heavens opened & the fields flooded!  :( )   We currently have 3 more fund raisers on our books over the next 4-6 weeks, on top of our regular stuff!

Also - I just LOVE getting out in my kayak & going kayak fishing too!   2-3 times a week would be wonderful, even once a week, to get my 'fix'!  Out in nature, you are just 100% concentrating on everything going on around you .... watching the Sea Eagles, watching the fish swimming around the shallows & leases, just trying to work out which lure to work where, to hook a fish ...... sometimes I even bring one home for a feed!! 

I know that not everyone is able to get out & do physical things - but just getting together with buddies for a coffee & a chat, or a knitting/craft circle - going to the movies - just try & make sure that you are having SOME sort of social interaction at least once a week!   Even going to the Library to read the daily papers can be fun - just try to get into some sort of new routine - join the local craft centre & try new things!  ;)   There are SO many things out there just now that we can try, see if there is something that interests YOU & give it a go!  ;)  

All the best to everyone doing it tough just now ..... hoping it gets better for you xxx