Tag: self care

#MentalHealthAwarenessDay

Today is World Mental Health Day. I could take the time to talk about my struggles but that wouldn’t help anything or change the following:

One in four people will experience a diagnosable mental health problems at some point in their life.

615 million people suffer from anxiety and depression.

Sometimes, it’s not easy to know how to be there for someone struggling with mental health. It’s not the same for everyone. But you shouldn’t let that stop you from helping someone.

❤

“What Can I Do To Make The Situation Better?”

Text, call,
Pick up the phone,
Be there however you can.

Make sure they’re safe
Ask a question,
Take a breath.

Move the pills,
Move the drink,
Move the knives.

Keep 999 on speed dial
Distract,
React,

Be appropriate,
Cool them down,
Keep them warm.

Let them be human,
Let them breathe,
Let them cry,

Remember this isn’t about you.
Hold them close, give them space,
Give them what they need that makes them feel safe.

Remind them someone is always there.
If you can’t be present, be a presence.
Let them know they’re never alone.

Craig A. Black

#PoeticAnswers 95 – When Did You Realise How Good You Are?

It’s was never exactly obvious,
It was more like the longest
Dawning of the day, except
It wasn’t a twenty-four hour
Turn-around time for it to
Come around, it was more like
Several years of night skies and
Never shining out of the darkness.
Feeling a sort of substandard
That could only be applauded
By best friends and parents.

But since starting to write
And stage these poems,
I’ve seen real people,
Rooms of strangers
Clinging onto every word,
I’ve heard them laugh,
I’ve hugged them when they’ve cried,
I have had statements from people stating
That they can relate to
The work that I’m making.
Even though it’s not anything
Particularly groundbreaking,
The fact that it can actually
Mean something to someone.

This never happened overnight,
I never expected any of this,
I never expected to find this bliss
Or happiness in performing
Poetry.
I never imagined feeling
Good about myself or
Having other people
Appreciate and listen.
It doesn’t feel real,
It doesn’t feel every day,
But in this moment of
Existential realisation,
I’ve come to realise:
I’m pretty fantastic.

Question from Megan C. from Facebook

#PoeticAnswers 39 – What Would Someone Who Loves Themself Do?

They would know that it’s okay
To love themself.
Because the lines of
Self-care and narcissism
Do not intersect.

They would give themself
What they need.
Be mindful of their own survival,
Eat, sleep, breathe and repeat,
Remember how to live their own life
And be care full.

They would give themself
Protection.
Not in the sense of fighting,
But knowing and preserving friendships
And cutting out those who seek to
Wipe the warmth and smile from your soul.

They would give themself
Forgiveness.
We don’t need to be hard on ourselves,
Between the hurt of hailstorms and gravity dragging us down,
We don’t need do any worse to ourselves.
The world is hard enough on us already.

Invest time and money in themself
And appreciate in value..
Plant seeds of positive thoughts
And let them grow.
And know that it’s all perfectly okay.

Question from Victoria T. from Facebook