[Mari]

Hi,


http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/11...ref=rss_health

A UK neurosurgeon was dx'd w/ bipolar when she was 28. Now she is a tdoc and off meds.

Here's something that sounds useful:

I worked out that there are five main areas of life which affect a person's mood that can be changed. The five keys are your surroundings; your physical health; your relationships; what you know are your strategies for life; and being yourself.

Recent studies have shown how important surroundings are. Looking at trees and being in natural surroundings as opposed to being in city environments helps people feel better. Physical health is equally important; diet and exercise are fundamental. Even if someone has a disability he or she can still be healthy.

I'm still working on that. Tdoc wants me to find a place within my own home that is MY place -- kind of like Isis's thread "Wouldn't it be Lovely?" http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread107786.html
Tdoc has talking about that for a while and wants me to think about it some more for next month. I think I am supposed to find a spot that is mine and that I can use for relaxation / thinking / breathing.

Also

Good life coping strategies are important, for example how we talk to ourselves. Too many people beat themselves up, rather than give themselves the healthy balanced encouragement they naturally give their friends. I believe that first we have to be our own best friend. This goes with the skill of thinking rationally and compassionately about even the most emotional issues.

I'm working on the own best friend part.

And occassionally I think about nature -- but it does not come naturally (). I have to work on that.

Do any of you have surroundings that are good for your moods?

I googled for pictures of quiet rooms / quiet spaces and didn't find anything that seemed quiet for me.

I have no idea what I would put in my quiet room. I'm so out of touch with myself. I'd have to hire someone to do that job for me.

M.

[bizi]

I find it comforting to lie on my guest bed and pet my cats. it is very quiet and peaceful and a comfortable bed and the cats are so rewarding, one of them is very loving so she is my favorite, so I lavish attention upon her.
That bed room is a combination, office storage area, guest bed, queen size, I have many pictures on the walls that I love, it is a catch all room.
even though the room is very cluttered the actual bed is free from stuff so I can lie there in peace. I find my own bed very comforting and spend as much time in it as possible. I am thinking that perhaps she is wanting you to create a comfy chair sitting area that you can curl up and read a book? do you have an extra space that you could do that?
maybe part of your bed room or off the living room?
did yoiu friend come over to help with some of your boxes? maybe she could help you create some sacred space.
Your therapist sounds helpful?
bizi

[Isis]

Lovely thread and article Mari!
Very sleepy, so I'll post in the morning.

[Mari]

Originally Posted by bizi

maybe she could help you create some sacred space.
Your therapist sounds helpful?
bizi

Dear Bizi,

Your guest room with your cats sounds like a good place.

I like your phrase "sacred space."

M.

[bizi]

When we first moved into the house we painted, I picked a pretty lavender color, very pastel and comforting. My bed spread is a copy of a monet painting, called water lillies it is a brass bed, in the room I have paintings that are bright and vibrant yet also comforting. one of my prints is a georgia okeef print another is a woman with open arms spread out to catch hearts falling from a tree like apples. (melissa Harris, queen of hearts) I have a small quited wall piece with very unusal maching quilting using small strips of fabric and very exciting, full of colors purples, lttle blues and other quilted pieces, there is a print that I have hanging above the bed that is only on foam core, less expensive to hang that way that is all huge tulips pastel oranges and teal colors. There is an old wind up clock that i like to hear the sound of ....off and on some times I forget to wind it and it stops then stays that way until I miss the sound of the clock and start it back up again.
the parimeter of the room is cluttered with book shelves and stuff in bags that I have neglected for years even so , jumping on the bedwith the cats is very comforting.

[DiMarie]

Oh Mari,
Thank you for sharing, I have this whole huge house, and have no space that is mine! I need to make a space, a room. The entire downstairs has been storage for my son and dil. That is not fair. There is unheated storage at the trailer, for them to move things there. Then the downstairs of the bilevel, 4th bedroom could be my office/space.

I am so disorganized with no place to have me. Bits and pieces of me are everywhere!
Time to ditch the junk....if only I physically were able.

Oh, you motivated me, mega mega thanks sweetie,
di

[Mari]

Dear Di,
Wow.
I hope that those folks can get their stuff out of your way.
M.

[Dmom3005]

Originally Posted by Mari

Dear Di,
Wow.
I hope that those folks can get their stuff out of your way.
M.

Hmmm, were you at my house today. Mari

Weird my husband started laying the carpet in Derrick's new room.
And talking about getting my office and his office redone.

Heehee

Donna

[BlueMajo]

Love the thread.

I defineteñy need to work on the 5 points listed....

Gosh....

How I wish I had a little garden

[Mari]

Hi,

I looked around on google images to find pictures that might do because I have no idea.
This chair and foot stool is a start. What else should go in a corner of a room?


I could see this going in an area that is reserved for me.
That is the future when I get rid of some other stuff.

What would you put in your room?


M.