In today’s post, I thought I would share with you guys resources that I am currently using to get on top of my mental health and emotional wellbeing. As some of you may know, I haven’t really been my best emotionally of late and my depression has come up to rear its ugly head yet again. This has led to me spiralling into a web of negative and self-destructive behaviour and so in order to try and manage it, I have been using a couple of resources every day that I’ve found to be pretty incredible.
MIND: PACIFICA – (iOS, Android and Web)
I’ve used a lot of self-help apps in my time, but nothing quite like Pacifica. Pacifica is a free app with deals with Anxiety, Stress and Depression relief. The programme is split into different categories, depending on your needs and works to help manage your thoughts and feelings day by day, using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy exercises created by accredited psychotherapists.
Exercises include setting daily goals which can be as small as taking a shower, or as large as talking to a stranger on a train. There is also a health and mood tracker to track your mood throughout the day and audio lessons designed to explain our different thoughts and behaviours and why we do and feel certain things.
There is also a mindfulness section which contains several different meditation exercises designed to put you at ease and focus your mind on the here and now – I’ve found this extremely effective when i’m commuting home especially – I can just log in and drift away! The app is free, however, it works on a subscription basis starting from £2.99 a month and it’s definitely worth the money.
Mind: HEADSPACE (iOS, Android and web)
Headspace is a very popular mindfulness app created in 2010 by Andy Puddicombe, a medication and mindfulness expert. The app is devoted to practicing the art of meditation, through small, easy to follow steps that can be done at the same time either before you sleep, when you first wake up or when travelling. This app is INCREDIBLE for people who suffer from anxiety, as it helps you listen to your mind/thoughts and encourages you to focus on nothing but the here and now.
The app is split into a series of several 10-minute audio tapes narrated by Andy, who has a deeply calming and friendly voice. There are 3 levels to complete, comprising of 10 audio tapes each, which will eventually help deepen your understanding of what it means to completely switch your mind off. As tranquil as it sounds, I did find it difficult during the first few sessions as it’s so hard to just ‘switch off’ when your mind is full of so many thoughts, however throughout the time, it gets a lot easier.
The app also has different types of meditation that focuses on things such as public speaking, to sports events or even talking at a public event. Before downloading this, I didn’t think I could ever get into the whole meditation thing, but 24 days later, this is the method that I use in order to get to sleep and I honestly don’t know where I would be without it.
This app also works on a subscription basis and at £7.99 a month it is a bit dear, but oh is it worth it.
SOUL: POETRY
Poetry has always been my first love and one of my favourite creative outlets to express how I feel. During this traumatic period, I found myself retreating back to it and picking up some books that talk in depth about the same issues I am currently going through. The books I have here mostly focus on love; relationships, heartbreak, femininity, identity, and healing. I would definitely recommend all four.
The main themes of this book revolve around love, heartbreak, healing, and womanhood. It’s an incredibly powerful book with each poem resonating heavily with me. The book is split into four chapters and takes the readers on a journey through the bitterness of life and coming through the over end.
This book is a mixture of story-telling and poetry and is so unbelievably gripping, honest and raw. It includes themes of sex, mental health, death and family within the African community so it may not resonate with everyone, but it makes for an emotional and compelling read, which has challenged me to look at my own past.
Questions for Ada – Ijeoma Umebinyuo
Questions for Ada is a beautifully written book which embodies the pain, the passion and the power of love rising from the depths of our souls. It is a bold celebration of womanhood and celebrating our worth and is a great book to read if you are feeling pretty broken.
Because You Deserve love – Osayi Osar-Emokpae
This book kinda does what it says on the tin; it is a book for the brokenhearted. For those who feel lost, alone, traumatised and low on self worth. It is written honestly and beautifully and I would definitely recommend it to those looking to get their sass back.
Using the above, coupled with other resources such as the Mind Charity and the Guild of Psychotherapists has definitely helped with my mental health over the last 4 weeks. I am now able to see someone professionally regarding recent events and I can’t begin to say how much this has helped me.
I hope the above can go some way in helping one of you guys out there, the same way it has helped me!