Sunday 25 November 2007

Relax and let go !

To help with your breathing
http://edukayted.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

Spell out in your head 'R-E-L-A-X' as you breathe in and 'L-E-T-G-O' as you breathe out.

You could try eventually, phrases like 'Relaxing time', 'Letting things go'.

Friday 23 November 2007

Monday 19 November 2007

General advice for UK students.

General help
http://www.nusonline.co.uk/info/

but if you need urgent support contact your establishments welfare department or students union/guild welfare.

Campaign for the details to be easily accessible to all.


For general mental health guidance this could be helpful,http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/index.php
(seek professional advice if you are particularly concerned)

Tuesday 23 October 2007

LISTEN TO WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF!

If you listen to what you say to yourself, you'll be surprised what you hear

http://adjustthebalance.org.uk/cms/images/stories/5301_health_booklet_3.pdf

Einstein said

“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”


Some thought on planning http://adjustthebalance.org.uk/cms/images/stories/5442%20Top%20Tips%20Planning%20V2.pdf

Friday 19 October 2007

They say 'I feel like I have no friends!'

That word 'feel' again. I know where they are at though. We are often all guilty of 'imagineering' situations. Some also call it 'awfulising'. It really means losing or creating a false perception. This can happen when we are tired and depressed. Often results in worrying. I found this helpful(don't know the source though)
Of 100% of worries
40% Simply never happened
30% Past events - totally out of our control
12% Your health - or a 'dis-eased' imagination
10% Family qualms that are groundless
8% Worries that have a basis in conditions that can be treated.

Yourself can always be your first 'friend' !However, it is also possible to be that focused that we don't appear to need friends.

It is intersesting to examine what evidence we use to create our perceptions.There is a tension between our self-image and the image others have of us. Which do we use as our point of reaction.How many friends are required to overcome 'loneliness' ? Do we often seek company because we don't like being alone with ourselves(Does this mean we need to value ourselves more !)Does it also mean that when we meet people we demand 'positive' feedback ?

Friends often exist for 'seasons'. Some stay around, some leave, and others arrive. That doesn't mean that you are the reason for it.

Thursday 18 October 2007

Tuesday 16 October 2007

Developing Tolerance.

You may find yourself in conflict with colleagues. Try the following :-

Set up a shared journal. (A permanent, open record that can easily be duplicated)
Contributions can be made by all parties.
The 'manager' can then a set times evaluate comments with 'colleagues' to seek solutions/or responses.
Hopefully, after a while both yourself & your colleagues will feel more tolerent, in control and empowered to make positive changes

See you later fellow travellers !

REGAINING CONTROL

Communicate how you feel under the following headings (It may help to write it down or get someone to listen and write it for you):-
(a)Physical
(b)Mental
(c)Emotional
(d)Volitional(being able to choose)
(e)Social/relational
(f)Spiritual(if applicable)
You may wish to just put the words 'Responsive' or 'Reactive' next to each.(Trust the language you use, it will indicate what possible struggles are. i.e. 'I feel out of control' Shows is reactive - emotional/volitional)Then starting with (a) set a target for the next month. i.e. My first target was to take medicine regularly.

Review targets each month. Try not to change too many things at once. It is possible that reducing (d)& (e) May also give more control and allow boundaries to be re-established.

You need to learn to recognise the impact each change is having.(If it de-stabilises, move back a bit. You may also see reaction in in other areas. i.e. a mental change may have emotional/physical consequences).

Be gentle and safe in your changes. Work towards being responsive rather than reactive.

If others are aware of your 'targets' then they should be able to respond appropriately and remind of previous successes. Is there anybody else that could 'support' you at this time ?(if you are a carer and person isn't up to the above, then 'supportively' share targets with them, making sure they feel 'physically' safe first !)

Monday 15 October 2007

A useful overview from the TUC

I must admit I had to be reminded I already had this link.

http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-5771-f0.cfm

It is useful also to see the Canadian view see post for

http://edukayted.blogspot.com/2007/08/canada-is-in-lead.html


Many thanks to those contributing links !

Sunday 14 October 2007

To stop those bullys with dignity !

These have some excellent links

http://dignityatworknow.org.uk/

and
SORRY UNAVAILABLE AT PRESENT
http://www.bullyonline.org/

Expressing your work concerns

Try jotting down how you feel. You'll be surprised how the language you use gives a clue to the situation you are in and its solution.

To help the following may be handy.
'I am concerned about ...............

Culture - Change - Control
Organisation
Needs - (personal)
Communication - Relationships
Environment
Role
Nurture - Training/Support
Experience
Demands

(Keywords for H&SE -Management Standards for Work-related Stress
http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/downloads.htm)

Tuesday 9 October 2007

COULD THIS BE OF HELP TO YOU ?

Need some support
http://mhsupp0rt.proboards98.com/

Thanks to all those passing on good links.

Monday 8 October 2007

A breathe of fresh air in Scotland

Try this out and its free ! Help is finally getting through !

http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/index.php

Thursday 27 September 2007

TAKE TIME TO BREATHE

Step 1 Teach yourself to breathe to relax



(if anyone has a good visual link ?)

Step 2 Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing. Visit mentally any parts of your body that you can feel tension in. Adjust your position to allow that part of the body to be supported. At any time of agitation re-focus on your breathing.

You'll be surprised how quickly your body will re-learn its breathing technique.

Apparently to balance brain application, breathe in & out with alternatate nostrils (You will have to cover each in turn)

A WAY FORWARD

Promise yourself that all you are going to do, to yourself and others, is going to be SAFE and GENTLE. The only time to rush is an 'emergency', but even then things can still be under control.

Thursday 20 September 2007

ALWAYS SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT

http://www.akh.se/indexa.htm
LOTS OF TRACKS AVAILABLE IF YOU FOLLOW THE LINKS.

Tuesday 7 August 2007

Canadian perspective



Health links update 2012

Good Old Samuel Plimsoll !

Occasionally a person comes a long that invents something simple to help a lot of people. So was Samuel Plimsoll. Rather than sitting on the side-lines he got involved in solving the plight of the over-loaded sailor.

I wonder how many people out there would want to create a 'Plimsoll Line' for stress related illness. Some way of helping people realise, 'early' warning system, that they are getting over-loaded. In addition we could collect strategies that people have used to help themselves or others at these times.

Thursday 11 January 2007

DO THEY THINK WE'RE STUPID

Often today when 'news' is communicated 'spin' is involved. Isn't it about time we were prepared to face things as they are. I'm thinking particularly about Public Services. The recent
programme on BBC2 'Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS ? showed a public service in a different light.