Mental health

by gentlelifehacks | Jan 20, 2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 comments

I was having a chat with a troubled friend recently when she commented that I was always postive and happy and that I did not suffer from mental health issues like she did.

She told me that she sometimes hated my positivity because she did not feel positive. She told me she hated Facebook because it made her feel lonelier.

She said she hated looking at the garden because it only reminded her how much she had to do, or how much she would have to pay somebody to do it.

I understood her feelings, because we have all been there in one way or another. She had been divorced for several years, and hated her job, and was lonely.

When I lost my husband after 22 gruelling months of watching him battle cancer, I was bereft and in fact at one stage thought I would rather die than hang around to face the many challenges put before me.

But there are many ways of dealing with our mental health. Start by thinking about the small things that you are grateful for and about the things that you have control over.

We can control our thoughts even though it is sometimes difficult. I knew I was grateful for so many things.

My sons are decent human beings married to other decent human beings. My grandchildren are beautiful little beings. I had a roof over my head and a job.

Walking with music was healing. Planting pots of flowers and herbs was healing. Walking my dog or sitting holding my dog was comforting.

Playing with my grandchildren and listening to their laughter was healing. Working and engaging my brain in stimulating and creative things was helpful.

Exercise definitely helps, so begin slowly and build up as you feel more confident. Coping with depression is different for all of us.

Endorphins are your body’s natural pain relievers, and they can boost your mood, too. A gentle walk is a great way to start. Swimming is another good way to get those endorphins going.

Learning to understand mental health issues is a complex process but we can all try and help each other by not judging each other.

Lastly, practice a little self love and have good thoughts and a positive attitude, and accept any help from family and friends with grace.

Have an achievable goal and try to move forward each day, no matter how small the step.

©2023 gentlelifehacks.com | Author| Kathryn

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A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

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by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...

Messy house or hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...

Houses built from hemp

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...

10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by gentlelifehacks | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...

10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by gentlelifehacks | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...

A wise old donkey

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...

Are you a hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...