This month is aimed at everyone!
Stress Awareness Month has run through April since its beginning in 1992. This year The Stress Management Society are launching a 30 Day Challenge. By raising awareness and increasing knowledge of what stress is, how it affects us as individuals and more specifically here how it can affect you significantly if you have a LTHC/Disability. Turning actions into habits to reduce stress which can put increasing amounts of pressure on our bodies.
Part One - We focused on Stress Awareness Month and the role stress plays in our lives. The effects it places on our bodies and how this month can support positive change in our mental and physical well-being. You can read it here;
Part Two - Considers in depth how psychological stress is felt through the diagnosis and management of LTHC’s and disabilities, through The Pituitary Foundation & MIND. Starting to look at coping mechanisms such as self care and rest. You can read it here;
Part Three - Is focused on the ways in which we can try to reduce our stress levels, looking specifically at hobbies which include; Exploring Positive News, Nature, Exercise and different types of Art Therapies*.
Psychological stress as we have learnt can come in many forms and affects everyone in different ways. In the way that we aren’t all ‘wired’ the same and so our interests are going to be different. With all of the uncertainty surrounding the lifting of all COVID restrictions it’s even more important to not just remember this quote posted below, but also that a little bit of calm sanctuary is actually an essential part of our lives moving forward;
Here we look at a few options that you could explore to combat psychological stress and crucially important for those with LTHC’s and Disabilities. Ways to get your fix of something special through watching, participating and taking pleasure and enjoyment from activities that help us to relax, be ourselves and offer some light relief from everyday stresses and worries.
Positive News
It can be difficult to find any news these days that includes positivity, especially in light of the raging war taking over our screens. Sometimes it’s a real challenge and can lead to a situation where people just want to switch off. However, there are solutions to this and you can still stay updated to the sad stories by creating yourself a safe haven of slightly less depressing news but not lacking in range of knowledge or stretching your imagination. The Positive News Society is a fantastic website for this. Covering all sorts of stories including successful scientific medical success, ways to help climate change, nature stories plus a ‘What went Right This Week’ section. There is a weekly newsletter, blogs on the website and a magazine that you can subscribe to.
Inspirational stories can have a detrimental effect on our already finely balanced psychological state in the same way that social media can. The ‘If I can do it, anyone can’ can be demoralising and leave us feeling negativity as we strive to be the person we are not. Without realising we are comparing ourselves to others and that is hard to do. So positive news coupled with factual news may provide a good balance. Informed, objective and interesting, equals better knowledge, understanding and interest in new things as well as a well rounded ‘impact’ of others in society. Everyone has a purpose.
Love of Nature
Something that has become more prominent during and since the pandemic is the love of nature, the sure pleasure of getting outdoors, using open spaces and improving our mental health and well being. There are so many different ways to enjoy this theme from gardening, to walking, running, trekking, cycling, researching, watching and more! One great option is Bird Watching as discussed in 7 Therapeutic Benefits Of Birdwatching by Care UK who report that birdwatching can work in different ways that include:
Embracing The Great Outdoors
Connecting With Family & Friends
Giving Time For Calm
Keeping The Mind Active And Healthy
Providing A Change Of Scenery
Connecting With Nature
It’s also something recommended by Mind member Joanna in the quote below;
You don’t have to have a big garden or large open spaces on your doorstep to enjoy the pleasure of birds and nature in general. If you look hard enough there will be some kind of birds you can find. Not only that, many people find bird song therapeutic and that could be well worth a try!
Exercise
Everyone knows the importance of exercise and it can certainly support our mental and physical well-being. Leony's Story from We Are Undefeatables who support those with LTHC’s and disabilities to keep moving is described as;
‘After having two knee replacements to help with her rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, Leony fancies herself as a ‘bionic woman’. Although she jokes that she still can’t touch her toes, she has lots of activities she can do with her family to keep her moving. Her love of music led her to join a community choir, and she’s always singing with her daughter when they go out for walks. It’s her daughter, in fact, that is Leony’s motivation for getting active as, after losing two sisters, she wants to be around for as long as possible to support her own daughter and her niece’s.(https://weareundefeatable.co.uk/our-stories/leony)
You can find her full story, a video and further stories here. We Are Undefeatables work with numerous different charities and programmes are developed through Sport England. The activities are simple but effective and have a real range of ideas and resources for any level.
Artistic Therapies
When we think of art therapy it’s easy to simply label this as drawing and painting but it’s much wider than this, incorporating these standard activities but also including things such as music, watching theatre shows, dance and more.
Art Therapy Itself
100 Art Therapy Exercises to Make Your Mind, Body and Spirit Sing is a fascinating article written by Fellowship Hall which looks at different emotions and links them to different types are art to address them in turn. This includes;
Happiness
Trauma & Unhappiness &
Gratitude
Then it also approaches art forms themselves and gives ideas of projects to try. These include;
Portraits
Collaging &
Self
Theres even a relaxation guide! (https://www.fellowshiphall.com/2018/11/100-art-therapy-exercises-to-make-your-mind-body-and-spirit-sing/)
The Arts - Cirque Du Soleil
The mix of mastery, the story, live music in native tongue, transitions between comedy, romance, artistry and acrobatic skill and endeavour. Brought together through storytelling, the calm and serenity mixed with incredible effects made to look so simple they take your breath away. Something to indulge in and enjoy. Online opportunities offer the chance to go behind the scenes, watch large proportions of the shows, follow exercise routines created by Cirque performers and of course to opportunity to actually visit a show. In any form these activities offer a great escape, find out everything you need to know on the Cirque Du Soleil Homepage.
Musical Interventions
How Does Music Therapy Work is a helpful in learning about the benefits music therapy has to offer, how to access music therapy and how it actually works. Qualified specialists can guide you through sessions that could involve listening to music, using making music as a way to communicate emotions and responding to changes in noise and sounds. Of course you don’t need a therapist for this. If music is your thing then just sitting quietly and listening to your favourite song, making your own music, learning to play an instrument or making your own instruments and using those can all be done simply and easily.
Summary
Here we have explored just a few options that are available. Some even cross over with each other. Leony’s story is a great example of this with Nature, music and exercise all combined to give a more rounded approach to managing body and mind effectively and creatively. Hopefully something here you can retain and utilise but also something that might help to spark an idea for an alternative. Through trial and error you may stumble into something you never thought was possible! So be creative, get outdoors, enjoy your home or local outdoors. Do what is right for you! Good luck and enjoy.
*As you read our blogs please remember that we are all on the same pathways as you. Sometimes we find what we convey helpful but at other times we don’t. However, we include it because everyones journey is different and we like to have this passionate perseverance to help others as much as possible. To dispose of it all would be a waste and a dis-service to our readers.
The Important Links
The Positive News Society
Care UK - 7 Therapeutic Benefits of Bird watching
We Are Undefeatables - Leony’s Story
We Are Undefeatables
Fellowship Hall - 100 Art Therapy Exercises To Make Your Mind and Body and Spirit Sing
High Speed Training - Music Therapy
Cirque Du Soleil - Homepage