Hello everyone! Have you listened to this week’s podcast yet? Angela sits down with Shelly, a friend and mother. Shelly’s son encountered some difficulties with school after falling into a depression. Listen to the podcast to listen how Shelly and her son were able to make changes to help him succeed after being diagnosed with a mood disorder.
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I started medication at the age of six for anxiety, depression and OCD, and I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 17. After searching for answers, following many bouts of depression and hopelessness, I decided to escape the emotional jail built for me. About eighteen months ago, I did a complete 180. Below are a few things from my “toolbox” that have helped me live a life I never thought possible. I spent all those years looking for someone or something to save me, all I needed was to look within myself.
Doing some sort of gentle movement with deep breathing is essential for me. Yoga or Thai chi are some great examples. Vigorous exercise works well too, but I find doing slow controlled movements creates a stillness in mind and my body. Taking care of your body is the first step into taking care of your mental well-being.
Everyone should practice meditation even if it’s just several minutes a few times a week. By meditating daily I am able to give my mind a break. I still find it hard to focus during the meditation, that is ok. Even if I can only get to that place of stillness for one second of the whole meditation, my brain still experienced that one moment of being quiet. The more I practice it the more my thoughts slow down.
Essential oils have been one of the biggest factors that have helped me go from sick to well. I only use Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils because I ingest them for medicinal purposes. The most important oil for me is Frankincense which acts as a natural chemical to help balance my moods. A close second is lavender. I frequently roll lavender oil over my heart, behind my ears and under my nose to help soothe me whenever I get into an anxious situation. It works magic. It’s crazy that something natural can change my state so quickly. There’s an oil for everything!
Something so small like stopping for a moment to take a deep breath can change our moods. As an example, when I have my cup of coffee in the morning, I stop and take a sip and say out loud, “I am grateful for that delicious coffee”. When I am stopped at a traffic light, I will look up at the sky and take a deep breath and just acknowledge how beautiful the sky is. Those tiny moments are where I feel grateful to be alive. The more I put them into practice the more my attitude changes. When I focus on being grateful, I feel grateful.
Affirm yourself every day. At the end of the day, I used to lay in bed and analyze everything I did that day and tear myself apart for it. I would criticize and beat myself all the imagined missteps I did that day (as I’m sure a lot of you understand). This was where affirmations changed my life. When I find myself in a negative headspace I place my hand on my chest and say, “I love you,” and, “You are enough”. It sounds silly and so simple, but the effects are incredible. If my best friend were getting verbally beat up, I would comfort them. I had to stop judging myself and to learn to comfort myself.
I want to mention: what works for me might not work for you. Whatever you decide to try, if it doesn’t work the first time, please don’t give up. I tried all of the above things once or twice and they didn’t work so I believed that they wouldn’t help me. It wasn’t until I committed to not letting this be my story that things changed. It’s not just one thing that is going to fix everything, it’s about creating a tool box that is loaded with tools you can pull out whenever you need them. Find what makes you feel good and just keep doing it. With some faith and some hard work your “life sentence” can become your biggest opportunity.
This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition Angela introduces Elizabeth. They discuss the issues that Elizabeth’s daughter has faced with addiction and ADHD, how she hit rock bottom and finally realized that she needed to change her life. Elizabeth’s candid account highlights that mental health is not a life sentence and that through compassion she was able to help her daughter.
Click on the links to listen to the latest podcast on iTunes or Player.FM and leave us some feedback! And, have you checked out the Sneak Peak of Angela’s upcoming book, Different from the Other Kids: Natural Alternatives Edtion? It launches November 11, 2016!
Click on the picture and fill in the form to get a free SNEAK PEAK at Angela Tsounis’ latest book, Different from the Other Kids: Natural Alternatives Edition which launches November 11, 2016. Angela and the DFTOK team are very excited for the latest book in the Different from the Other Kids series, which aims to reduce stigma and further the conversation surrounding children and mental health. Different from the Other Kids: Natural Alternatives Edition is based on Angela’s interviews with naturopathic doctors, fascial stretch therapists, as well as individuals who have managed to overcome daily medication use through more natural means. Check out the sneak peak for the foreword and introduction from the latest book, and don’t forget… Different from the Other Kids: Natural Alternatives Edition launches November 11, 2016, and will be available on Amazon.
Hello everyone! We are back from Thanksgiving with another interview with Jacquie on Different from the Other Kids. Angela sits down with Jacquie once more as they discuss youth engagement and the power of giving young people a voice. Things as simple as giving input on meals and participating in group activities can have a major impact on how young people come to view themselves and the world they inhabit. Listen now at http://bit.ly/ListenDFTOK!
Hello everyone! We are very happy to announce that our latest season of our weekly podcast has begun, entitled “Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition,” featuring all new guests and interviews, along with some returning parents. We focus on the justice and education systems this time around, talking to those who have issues dealing with the “system” and how they progressed past it…
This week, we begin our series with Tash, a manager of Mental Health and Justice Programs in the city of Toronto. Tash talks about the work that she does with some of the most vulnerable members of our communities and how she brings her training in mindfulness and meditation into the workplace. Angela also explores Tash’s journey and asks how parents can work towards remaining centered in their daily lives on the “front line”. Click HERE to check out the links to the podcast! Thanks again for all your support, don’t forget to leave us a review!
Different from the Other Kids 