Mental Health Mondays – Managing My Anxiety

Hi Guys this week I will be letting you know all the ways I manage my anxiety and hopefully it will help you with yours. 

The most important thing to know is there is no quick fix for your Anxiety as I described in my first post of the series anxiety is a normal human emotion which if you have an anxiety disorder is intensified to irrational thoughts.  Improving your anxiety will take time and energy but it will be worth it.

• The first and most important thing to do is reach out to someone make sure its someone your comfortable talking to tell them how you feel. Its scary talking about your emotions it took me years to finally reach out to someone and tell them how I was feeling but once people know how you are struggling they can start to support you.
• Then the next step would be talking to your doctor or a therapist if you want to get help privately. Whilst medical professionals get a bad reputation in regards to mental health they have actually had training on the issues you are facing and can help you plan a course of action. Be that counselling, medication or other forms of help.
• I personally have done CBT, counselling and I am now on a medication to control my panic attacks.

In regards to self-help at home

• I try regularly to practice mindfulness there are many books on this but the best online free resource is http://franticworld.com/free-meditations-from-mindfulness/ it teaches you to just be in the moment instead of running through crazy thoughts which I find super helpful especially if your thoughts keep you up at night but be patient with yourself though as like most meditations it takes practice.
• And honestly my most favourite thing to do is self-care look after yourself and whatever that means to if your stuck for ideas or want to know more about the importance of self-care check out The Blurt Foundation who have created a whole movement out of taking care of yourself.

I hope this post helped you out and if there’s anything you would like me to post about just let me know in the comments below!

Step into Christmas

It’s the 2nd of December which means the countdown to Christmas has officially begun. advent Calendars have been opened and Christmas decorations are going up!

I know this time of year can be difficult I am definitely struggling to get into the Christmas spirit I so dearly love. It has always been my favourite time of year so when the depression hits hard it really hurts.

I always wait for the Christmas magic to kick in but unfortunately it doesn’t cure depression but it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the Christmas season and I always try to make the most of it. 

So if your feeling down this holiday season comment below or over on one of my Instagram posts I would love to chat with you. Also remember that this is the time of year we spend with the people who love us most so they will want to help you so just reach out.

Also check out my mental health Monday posts next week I will be letting you guys know ways I manage my Anxiety. 

November Favourites

This cute little postcard from my buddy box.

My new Prada perfume – I got a sample of this with a Feel Unique Order and I instantly fell in Love with it the smell it isn’t too intense but lasts all day.

My Ebony & Oak Yankee candle it just smells like Autumn to me and I find it really soothing when I’m stressed out.

These gorgeous grey lined boots i got from just fab are super comfy and great for walking in.

Finding Carter series 2 came on MTV I had been desperately waiting since the end of series 1 when Lori kidnapped Carter again and it hasn’t disappointed so far. I would totally recommend checking it out.

And of course my most favourite thing about November is that December starts tomorrow which means Christmas!

Mental Health Mondays – Anxiety and Depression

“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.”
― Jodi Picoult, Sing You Home

I believe this quote from Jodi Picoult perfectly defines how my anxiety led to depression.

The NHS definition of depression

Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days.

Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you’re depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.

My anxiety has made me feel so low #i have spent days on end in bed, tearfulness has become second nature to me and I have lost interest in so many things I used to care about.

Having anxiety and depression at the same time can be nasty I have had days where I have wanted to go out and do something amazing but my anxiety has held me back and then the feelings of hopelessness, to feeling stupid and pathetic and pointless can kick in for weeks after.

I am underneath my anxiety a massive extrovert so my anxiety holds me back from doing so many things I would love to do and that is hard and is what causes my depression.

So if you know anyone in your life who is suffering from anxiety or depression or both go gently on them they feel a lot worse than you could imagine.

Next Week I will be talking about the ways I manage my depression so check back in for that and let me know in the comments below if there’s any subjects you would like me to cover.

My “World Famous” Brownie Recipe

My “world Famous” Brownie Recipe

Let me know in the comments if you tried it out also if you are interested in me posting more recipes.

My Everyday Make up Routine

Hi Guys,

I thought I would post my everyday make routine as I am super nosy about these things myself check out the video below and a list of the products I used underneath. Please forgive the poor editing it was my first attempt at anything like this.

• Benefits – Porefessional Primer
• Bare minerals – prime time eyelid primer
• Benefit – They’re Real big sexy eye kit
• Autograph – Sand eye-shadow
• Urban Decay – 24/7 glide on pencil in Venus and crave
• Estee Lauder – Sumptuous Bold Volume lifting mascara
• Colour couture – Pro Mascara
• Maybelline New York – #anti-ageing the eye eraser in light
• Rimmel London – Lasting Finish concealer in Ivory
• Rimmel London – BB cream Medium
• Maybelline New York – NY bricks bronzer in blondes
• Maybelline New York – Matte maker mattifying powder in classic ivory
• Laura Gellar – Pout perfection waterproof lip liner in nude
• Rimmel London Kate – nude lipstick shade 45
• Urban decay – de-slick makeup setting spray

 

Check back on Friday for my “world famous” brownie recipe!

Mental Health Mondays – Having an Anixety Disorder

Hi Guys,

I have decided to start a new series of blog posts called Mental Health Mondays this week I will be explaining what an Anxiety Disorder is as it is something I have suffered from for a long time and I believe educating people is a  way forward to break down the stigmas associated with mental health issues.

Merriam-Webster’s Definition of anxiety is fear or nervousness about what might happen.

Something everyone will feel at some moment of there lives.

The NHS describe Generalised Anxiety disorder as a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event. 

People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. As soon as one anxious thought is resolved, another may appear about a different issue.

As you can imagine there is a huge difference between anxiety the emotion and an anxiety disorder.

I can suffer from panic attack which result in me feeling as though I am about to have a heart attack or anxiety attacks where I feel anxious for seemly no reason so all my sense are on hyper alert mode and I walk around almost in a daze unable to focus as I am noticing everything around me.

On the good days I will just be worried which can be easily distracted by happy things going on around me but everyday is difficult none the less. I feel mental health issues have been romanticised these days they have almost become mainstream and whilst I think it is amazing the attention mental health is getting and that people who are suffering are getting help I would not wish this on my greatest enemy.

Do you suffer from Anxiety? Let me know in the comments below also if there’s any other topics you would like me to cover.

Next Monday I will be writing about how my Anxiety can cause depression so check back in for that.

Have a Lovely Week!`

 

Sarah’s Christmas Survival Guide

As anyone with a mental health issue knows the most magical time of year can be quite a let down. Turns out Santa’s magic doesn’t quite fix everything. So here are some of my tips to make the holiday season just a little bit easier to deal with.

1. Start your shopping ASAP Christmas shopping is stressful for anyone so don’t let it add to your bad mood I have already started mine so less stress shopping in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
2. Make time to relax the holiday season is filled with events and parties, preparation and festive cheer. Take some time out for you light a candle, make a hot chocolate and put your feet up.
3. Watch a Christmas movie the best part of Christmas is the feel good movies that put a smile on your face my personal favourite is Arthur Christmas.
4. Craft nothing can lift your spirit quite like making something for a loved one so whether you bake or make a card get busy making something special for someone you love.
5. Ignore Christmas if you have to sometimes its OK to take 5. The whole month of December can make you feel like you should be dancing on air with festive cheer so if it all gets too much just ignore it until you feel you can bear it again.

Do you have any Tips for surviving the holiday season? let me know in the comments below!

My Top Self Care Ideas

So we all have those days where we just feel awful. We don’t want to do anything or see anyone and sometimes we really just hate ourselves. So I thought I’d share with you some of the things I do on these days to perk myself up.

1. Makeup and hair – sounds so simple but when I’m having a bad day the simple act of putting my face on even if I don’t have to leave the house makes me feel less sluggish and gives me a bit of self confidence. It also means you can take some awesome selfies for Instagram!
2. Build a blanket fort I got this idea from Octobers buddy box and whilst so simple is genius so get some duvets and cushions make a fort and hide in it.
3. Binge  watch TV in bed all day – sometimes it is OK to give in to these feelings just don’t make a habit of it.
4. Have a bath
5. Talk to a friend or family member
6. Light a candle and just chill – we all have those moments sometime even days when that awful feeling makes us not want to do anything so just light a candle or put on some music and just lie there.
7. Make a to do list for when you are feeling better – when I am having a bad day my mind fills up with all the things I should have been doing so writing them all down so I don’T forget helps to clear my head and just focus on me for  a while.
8. Practice mindfulness – Frantic World have the best free meditations in my opinion and even have a chocolate one if your in a more fun loving mood.

Do you have any top self care ideas? Let me know in the comments below!