What I Do to Get Through : How to Run, Swim, Cycle, Sew, or Sing Your Way Through Depression

"Take a moment to pause ... Breathe ... And ask yourself, what does self-care mean to you? Times are very tough-in a world that pushes us to go faster, be the best, and get ahead of others, we often forget to focus on ourselves, leaving us with anxiety, anger, burnout, stress, and trauma. In this creative workbook and journal leading mental health pioneers, Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker, provide you with the tools to begin your self-care journey and develop sustainable self-care routines and rituals that work for you. Featuring a diverse range of experiential exercises, activities, and opportunities for reflection, while drawing upon a range of practices and approaches including systemic and existential therapies, Buddhist mindfulness, Pagan ritual, trauma-informed practice, intersectional feminism and more. This book explores self-care in all its forms and covers somatic self-care, plural selves, emotions and feelings, relationships, and care for others. Empowering, illuminating and written with authenticity and honesty throughout-this is a manual for everyone and will help you look after yourself on your path towards happiness and wellbeing."--Back cover Selected for Reading Well for Mental Health: endorsed by health experts, charities and people with lived experience of managing mental health conditions.Anxiety is a crafty shapeshifter that can take on many forms: the tiger that sinks its claws in with physical symptoms and distressing thoughts, the cruel and belittling bully creating insecurity and self-doubt and, worst of all, the frenemy rewarding avoidance of social situations with no physical symptoms, no cruel thoughts... and no life beyond your sofa!This no-nonsense guide to beating social anxiety covers everything from surviving university and the workplace, through to social media and making it through parties and dates (whilst actually enjoying them!) With honest insights about her own social anxiety and a healthy dose of humour, award-winning blogger Claire Eastham describes what social anxiety is, why it happens, and how you can lessen its effects with lifestyle choices, talking therapies or even a hug from your favourite canine friend! Resilience has never been more important in helping us navigate the stresses and adversity of modern life. Resilience acts as a protective armour that helps us deal with the toughest challenges that life throws at us. The best thing about resilience? It is a skill that you can develop at any age. This book lays out 12 key skills that give you everything you need to unlock and develop your resilience, from self-esteem and self-care to emotional regulation and stress management. Each chapter supports skill development and includes exercises, activities and discussion topics as well as case studies from people who have used the programme to improve their lives. Every key skill draws on various psychological techniques including CBT, positive psychology and solution-focused interventions. The foundational skills this book teaches are ideal for anyone interested in improving their wellbeing, whether you are experiencing mental health issues or simply wish to increase your mental strength. An anthology of inspirational, heartfelt letters written by people who have recovered or are recovering from depression and addressed to those who are currently affected by it with additional resources for recovery. In 2012, The Recovery Letters was launched to host a series of letters online written by people recovering from depression, addressed to those currently affected by a mental health condition. Addressed to 'Dear You', the inspirational and heartfelt letters provided hope and support to those experiencing depression and were testament that recovery was possible. Now for the first time, these letters have been compiled into an anthology for people living with depression and are interspersed with motivating quotes and additional resources as well as new material written specifically for the book. This powerful collection of personal letters from people with first-hand experiences of depression will serve as a comforting resource for anyone on the journey to recovery Anxiety is a crafty shapeshifter that can take on many forms: the tiger that sinks its claws in with physical symptoms and distressing thoughts, the cruel and belittling bully creating insecurity and self-doubt and, worst of all, the frenemy rewarding avoidance of social situations with no physical symptoms, no cruel thoughts... and no life beyond your sofa! This complete guide to beating social anxiety covers everything from school, university and work, through to surviving social media and making it through parties and dates (whilst actually enjoying them!) With honest insights about her own social anxiety and a healthy dose of humour, popular blogger Claire Eastham describes what social anxiety is, why it happens, and how you can lessen its effects with medication, lifestyle choices, talking therapies or even a hug from your favourite canine friend! Anxiety is a crafty shapeshifter that can take on many forms: the tiger that sinks its claws in with physical symptoms and distressing thoughts, the cruel and belittling bully creating insecurity and self-doubt and, worst of all, the frenemy rewarding avoidance of social situations with no physical symptoms, no cruel thoughts... and no life beyond your sofa! This no-nonsense guide to beating social anxiety covers everything from surviving university and the workplace, through to social media and making it through parties and dates (whilst actually enjoying them!) With honest insights about her own social anxiety and a healthy dose of humour, award-winning blogger Claire Eastham describes what social anxiety is, why it happens, and how you can lessen its effects with lifestyle choices, talking therapies or even a hug from your favourite canine friend! World Book Night 2018 In 2012, The Recovery Letters was launched to host a series of letters online written by people recovering from depression, addressed to those currently affected by a mental health condition. Addressed to 'Dear You', the inspirational and heartfelt letters provided hope and support to those experiencing depression and were testament that recovery was possible. Now for the first time, these letters have been compiled into an anthology for people living with depression and are interspersed with motivating quotes and additional resources as well as new material written specifically for the book. This powerful collection of personal letters from people with first-hand experiences of depression will serve as a comforting resource for anyone on the journey to recovery. "It might sound odd, but I can honestly say knitting has saved my life." When mental illness strikes, we need tools at our side to help make things better, that give meaning, relief and dare we say...happiness. From wild swimming and mindful running, to community singing and everyday yoga, the inspiring stories in this book reveal the power of activities and hobbies to distract, exorcise and calm, helping us to heal and recover from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. From the team behind the bestselling The Recovery Letters, this honest, uplifting and motivational book will help you to discover the activity or hobby that will transform your life and make every day that much brighter.-- Provided by publisher Draws together a range of inspiring essays by individuals about an activity or hobby they took up to help them overcome their depression. The book covers activities such as running, swimming, bird-watching, meditation, singing, painting etc. and provides inspirational and engaging advice and personal stories to help support those with depression Resilience Can Act As A Protective Armour To Help Us Deal With Life's Toughest Challenges. This Book Lays Out 12 Key Areas That Cover Everything You Need To Unlock Your Resilience, Based On Therapies Including Cbt. Down-to-earth Advice And Simple Exercises Ensure Your Resilience Develops To Better Cope With The Stress Of Modern Life. Claire Eastham, a twenty-something living in London and working in her dream job, has a seemingly perfect life - except for her social anxiety. Combining honest personal insights, humour and practical advice, this book explains what anxiety is, why it happens, and how to survive it. An activity-based journal exploring self-care in all its forms. This book delves into the why and the how of self-care, examining why it is so foundational to our wellbeing and how we can implement it in our daily lives, drawing on a diverse range of approaches.