I’m usually solving some complex puzzle that doesn’t exist. Putting numbers and words together until I’ve cracked the code. My name is a month. I wasn’t born in August, but my name is August. You were born in August. That must mean you’re special. Or am I special? Maybe we have a special mission. Maybe... Continue Reading →
Tricks for Slowing Down Your Mind
Anxiety and bipolar mania can cause someone’s mind to ‘speed up’, leading to panicked activities and rushed decisions. It is important to learn how to shift gears, and take things down a notch. Below are some things you can do mindfully slow down your mind and reduce stress. Read a book and focus on every... Continue Reading →
Let’s Talk About the Fidget Spinner Craze
This week I check out my first fidget spinner, in an attempt to figure out what all the fuss is about. Some of us were fidgeting long before the revolving metal discs came whirling into the picture. All of the sudden fidget toys and spinners are everywhere. As I pick up the small black tool... Continue Reading →
Music: ‘Fantastic Butterflies’ by Lu Quade
Lu Quade is a Newcastle based educator, artist, musician and storyteller. He was inspired to write a song about the 'fantastic butterflies' that come with anxiety. Have a listen and check out the lyrics and illustration above.
Mental health: A closed door policy
AUSTRALIA HAS been in the spotlight for its failing human rights record for many years — it continues to deny the basic freedoms of minority groups, including asylum seekers and our indigenous population. What makes a society disengage with others that appear different from them? And how do we ensure that these people can safely... Continue Reading →
A Neurodivergent View of Netflix’s ‘Atypical’
I did it! On a long car ride across Texas, David at the wheel, I managed to sit through the entire first, 38-minute episode, of Atypical, titled Antartica. Let me start by saying that Atypical is a show about autism. It is not made to be a show for autistic people, despite autism being the... Continue Reading →
Recovery: Dear 2014 Julia
Dear 2014 Julia, I miss you. A lot of the time, I wish I were still you. But three years have gone by and we are not the same person anymore. I think about you a lot. I talk and write about you here and there. And I often do it in a snobby way...... Continue Reading →
Round Up: 3 Books That Can Help You Face Adversity and Mental Health Challenges
We all face some forms of adversity in our lives. We all lose jobs, get sick, break-ups, and deal with the deals of people we love. For neurodivergent or mentally ill folk, adversity can be an everyday experience. Just getting up in the morning can be a real struggle. Something that really helps me when... Continue Reading →
4 Personal Finance Tips for Hard Times
Money management is difficult, even more so when a mental condition is thrown into the mix. Maybe you can only work part time, or you need to afford expensive therapies. Maybe you have a condition that affects your spending habits, like bipolar disorder. Due to a mental condition, I have had my share of financial... Continue Reading →
Making a Mindfulness Map to Form New Habits
Currently, I am reading ‘Be Mindful & Simplify Your Life.’ The book was written by Kate James, a coach, meditation teacher, speaker and writer. The book is a collection of fifty tips about mindfulness and simplification of one’s life. One of the tips really struck a chord with me; creating a visual reminder of mindful... Continue Reading →