Tag: mental illness

D.I.Y. Therapy, Empowering Discussions

I’m Launching a FREE E-course to Help People Heal from Depression!

Impower You

Healing my depression has been my Persephone’s journey from a cold winter to a spring rebirth. After seventeen years, it had been so long since I felt any sense of pure joy, of deeply knowing myself.  If you haven’t been depressed I can’t explain with words how debilitating it is. Being depressed for so long caused me a menagerie of problems and illness that continue to affect my life to this day.

Every time I hear of someone who killed themselves by suicide because of their depression, I realize how extremely lucky I am to have found a healing path. In honor of the lives lost and all those who carry that weight, I have created a free e-course to help people start their healing journey.

If you, or someone you know is experiencing depression, please share this e-course with them. D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course.

Even if you only have a feeling that someone is depressed, you should share this with them. You just might save their life.

Statistics show us that 1 in 4 people in the USA suffer from depression. That number is too high!  I know we can lower this number f we are open to being more compassionate and less judgmental of mental illness. Let’s heal together! Are you with me?

Creating this e-course has taken years of diligent work and I’m so excited to share it with the world! I’ve spent quite a bit of time and money to get here, including becoming certified in mental health first aid, research, advocacy and outreach. If you would like to support this healing work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon. For as little as $3 a month, you can fund the program and support future creative healing projects, like my upcoming book about creating a self-love revolution.

Writing

Writing is Healing and Opening

Impower You

“Writing isn’t just being creative, it’s healing and opening.”

Writing my book wasn’t easy. Sharing what had always felt so shameful was scary. Even so, I came to a point where I stopped feeling shameful and started understanding that depression is just as important as any serious illness. Suddenly I realized I was no longer a victim. I was a survivor.

Depression can take your life. Indeed it took over 17 years of my life. People around the world don’t survive. People I love didn’t survive. We are ignoring a world of inner pain, like we ignore a lot of important aspects of our world.
One of the ways I survive is through writing. As long as I’m able, I will write. Even if I’m sitting on the sidewalk with nothing but a marker and a piece of cardboard I will write.
I’m already working on my next book, a different kind of book, but also one that will hopefully help others. Creating this book helped me and creating my new book is helping me. Writing isn’t just being creative, it’s healing and opening. Writing is good for our brains, good for our hearts. Expressing our feelings is a gift to the world. Holding in how we honestly feel is a tear in the world.
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I published through Amazon so it’s available as both an e-book and a paperback.  This is not my first book, but it is my most personal. I share my struggles and pain honestly. Openly and honestly sharing healing is my gift to the world. With 1 in 4 people in the USA suffering from mental illness I hope my story will help others to start their own journey to better health.  Unlike a broken bone which heals in a matter of weeks or months, healing mental illness takes much more time and a whole lot of self-love.

If you’re suffering from depression I strongly encourage you to seek help. If you can’t afford a therapist find a supportive mentor, teacher or healer who can help you discover inner peace. Healing is possible IF you are open and willing to commit to a self-care plan. You’re life only  has value if you decide it does.

And it’s okay to stumble and fall along the way. Healing takes time so BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF!

Peace and Hugs, Leah

Want more? Print and enjoy my FREE COLORING BOOKS!

D.I.Y. Therapy

Nature Meditation for Depression

Impower You

One of the many ways I’m healing my depression is through nature. I live in the city with lots of parks, canyons and the ocean, but it’s still mostly concrete, pollution and a constant rushing of life.  Since I don’t have many opportunities to escape into the mountains I escape into the garden where I volunteer and “ground” or “meditate”. Here is a simple meditation I’ve been using for over a year now.

Carpentier Parkway, Cardiff California, Community GardeningNature Meditation

Find a spot. Sit down or stand still.

Look at your surroundings. Is this a safe place to stop and rest?

If so, find a plant or tree to direct your focus.

Notice your thoughts and tell them that it’s time for a break. Just focus on the plant or tree you chose. Notice the shape and size. What is the color of the plant? What’s unique about it? Imagine what insects, reptiles or animals might live in it or like to nibble on it. Just allow your focus to be totally absorbed by the plant.

Every time you start thinking, bring yourself back with the word “return”. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been on a train of thought, just notice that you are out of focus. Allow yourself to release any thoughts, especially those concerned with what you need to do or what is causing you pain. Imagine all the unwanted things seeping out of you and into the soil. Let your worries dissolve into the earth.

Just be present. When you feel ready to move forward with your day then gently return to the world around you. Bring with you the felling of peace that you cultivated today.

The first time I tried this, I only lasted a few minutes, but gradually with practice I can allow myself to sit still and be present for much longer. Practicing mindfulness and meditation is a core for healing. If we don’t take time to slow down and allow ourselves to shut down we will constantly be working on ourselves and that is tiring.

 

Want more? Check out my DIY Therapy Posts or buy my book, “D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression” on Amazon. 

Have you ever wondered what you could do -what possibilities would open up- if you didn’t feel overwhelmed by depression?

“D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression” is available through Amazon; as both an e-book and a paperback.

If you’re suffering from depression I strongly encourage you to seek help. If you can’t afford a therapist find a supportive mentor, teacher or healer who can help you discover inner peace. Healing is possible IF you are open and willing to commit to a self-care plan.

Want more? Print and meditate with FREE COLORING BOOKS!

Book Reviews, D.I.Y. Therapy

My New Book is Here! “DIY Therapy: Healing Depression” is Finally Published

Impower You

For several years I have been working on healing my depression. It’s been a bumpy journey, but is slowly bringing me home to my true self. For a few years now I have been sharing my healing process through my DIY Therapy posts, which are free to read, here on my blog. I’m elated to finally share how I have healed in book form. Hopefully this will help me reach more people who are in pain.

Have you ever wondered what you could do -what possibilities would open up- if you didn’t feel overwhelmed by depression?

I published through Amazon so it’s available as both an e-book and a paperback.  This is not my first book, but it is my most personal. I share my struggles and pain honestly. Openly and honestly sharing healing is my gift to the world. With 1 in 4 people in the USA suffering from mental illness I hope my story will help others to start their own journey to better health.  Unlike a broken bone which heals in a matter of weeks or months, healing mental illness takes much more time and a whole lot of self-love.

For seventeen years I suffered in silence because the fear of a mental illness stigma is SO strong. I hid it even from my closest family and friends, “knowing” they would not understand. Well as it turns out, my family and friends and event complete strangers, care a lot about my mental health. It is with their support and encouragement that I was able to openly share my own pain and the struggles of depression.

If you’re suffering from depression I strongly encourage you to seek help. If you can’t afford a therapist find a supportive mentor, teacher or healer who can help you discover inner peace. Healing is possible IF you are open and willing to commit to a self-care plan. You’re life only  has value if you decide it does.

And it’s okay to stumble and fall along the way. Healing takes time so BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF!

Peace and Hugs, Leah

 

 

Want more? Print and enjoy my FREE COLORING BOOKS!

D.I.Y. Therapy

D.I.Y. Therapy: Is Mental Illness an Asset? MIke Veny Says YES!

Impower You

Mike Veny wants is to look at your depression as an asset not a liability. His TED Talk is about “..transforming the stigma surronding mental health into strength.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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Find my BOOKS on Amazon.com and Bookemon.com.

Purchase my ART  on Zazzle.com/OviedoStyle.

Ready to HEAL from depression? Read my D.I.Y. Therapy posts.

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