Mental Health Moments
What is a Mental Health Moment?
A Mental Health Moment is when you take time out for you. What a concept... We have become so busy we don't take time out for us. It is no longer socially acceptable to take care of ourselves and this is what makes us as American's, unhealthy. One of my favorite lines in the movie "Eat, Pray, Love" is when Luca Spaghetti tells Elizabeth "you American's, you get a six pack of beer and sit in front of the TV and drink the whole thing and feel guilty about it." It is the truth too.
The commercials say, "you deserve a break today", and we feel guilty about it. Why do we feel so guilty about taking a break? We are conditioned to work, work and more work? I am just as guilty as you are. Right now my good friend is in Taos fulfilling a 'check' on her bucket list. Why do we not have a bucket list? And if you have a bucket list, why are you not checking off that bucket list? I want to spend some time on Canyon Road in Santa Fe. It's AN HOUR AWAY!!! Why have I not done it? I intend to take a couple of hours and spend it on Canyon Road very soon!!
Your mental health is a very important component of your physical health. Take good care of it.
And this is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT
Danni Andrew, DTM
(c)copyright 2018
www.danniandrew.com
Friday, May 25, 2018
The Art of Moving Forward
I have been contemplating the year just past of 2017 and while I call it a “bad” year it was so much more than that. It was a learning process, a purging of sorts which has brought me to a place of peace. Too many times we look at these times with anger and even rage when in reality they are necessary for our survival. Getting rid of what doesn’t work or what is no longer serving you is necessary in my life and your life. We cannot move forward with the baggage of yesterday and it has to be removed. While this is a painful process it is a necessary process, this amputation of activities and sometimes even friends that will not go with us into the next chapter of our lives.
The longer we try to hold onto these reminders of the past the more time it will take to transition to a new and better life. It feels like grasping onto a twig during a hurricane and the process is just as futile, we might as well let go early in the game and let ourselves transition into the next stage of growth as this will allow change to happen more quickly and smoothly. It is a lesson I did not learn well the first time I went through a major change but it has become easier with time as I want to see what happens next. I want to embrace the changes in my life and grow as a person more quickly. May your journey be fruitful and less painful.
And that is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT
Danni Andrew
(c)copyright 2018
Originally posted on my Facebook Page Mental Health Moments: May 15, 2018
Who Am I?
I am in your face sometimes and sometimes I am quiet as a church mouse quietly slinking into the shadows hoping not to be seen. I am loud and I am brash and I am quiet and unseen. I am the healer listening to what hurts you the most, hopefully offering a kind word or two to help you out of a tight spot. I am the broken child sitting alone in the darkness wishing the phone would ring but not daring to pick it up and making a phone call.
I am broken with cracks that will never quite heal but it is through those cracks that a morning sun can shine the brightest. Because-of that brokenness I understand the loss of others and I understand grief and depression. I have walked the road of solitude and I have felt the pain of loss. But I kept walking and I never gave up because there is a strength buried deep inside of me that believes in the goodness of this world and knows that somewhere out there is another person who is just as quirky as I am. People are typically busy not mean. If they are mean then they do not belong in my circle of friends and I will quietly remove them.
Life is too short to dwell on the hurt and the drama of yesterday. Even though I may not have every moment filled with love and bliss, I am me and I love who I am.
And this is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT
Danni Andrew
(C)copyright 2018
(C)copyright 2018
This Post was originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: April 28, 2018
Doing things extremely well. I am an artist, an author and a speaker. I write well and I paint well and yes I can bring you to tears with my speaking. Those are my gifts. I am a good friend and a good mom, I will fight for my children.
There is an opposite side to this equation and I suppose this comes from my bipolar OCD side. I will not do something if I cannot do it well or should I say, extremely well. I suck at relationships and staying married so I have pretty much given up. My plants in my apartment struggle to stay alive and my finances are always a mess. While I am good at painting, writing and cooking I also cannot promote myself. So I struggle in poverty while I sit on a gold mine of wisdom and masterpieces which I hesitate to share with the world because I cannot blow my own horn. It’s just too exhausting. But, I can promote YOU! I can tell you how fabulous you are.
And that is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT
Danni Andrew
(C)copyright 2018
(C)copyright 2018
This was originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: April 25, 2018
My Perfect Life?
Life happens!! No one grows up in a perfect life! You can’t just decide everything is wonderful and what went wrong in your life isn’t going to affect you anymore because it does! Someday it all comes out somehow. You snap at a friend and you don’t mean to or your stomach starts to bother you or you develop health problems and the doctors can’t tell you what’s wrong with you... All because of internalized anger and sadness. How do you fix it? You work through it! The key word is “through”! You can’t pretend it doesn’t exist or it doesn’t matter. No matter how much you tell yourself it doesn’t matter, it does... walk through the pain! Dig it out by talking to a therapist or your pastor or... someone. Just deal with it so it doesn’t affect your life anymore. Because YOU are worth it!! It’s time!
And this is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT
Danni Andrew
(C)copyright 2018
(C)copyright 2018
Originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments:
Let’s Talk Food
I recently posted someone else’s picture showing Cheetos made up like rice crispy treats. The collective comment was “eww gross”, which I agree. Several years ago my curiosity would have gotten the better of me and I would have made a batch just to see if they were good or not. My son actually thought they looked interesting which coming from the Cheeto kid, well I expected that.
I posted another picture comment about what would you give up? Wine, coffee, chocolate or cheese. Most people said wine or coffee. Most people who answered were self-proclaimed Christians who probably don’t drink wine or don’t want you to think they do. Let’s be honest we don’t post who we really are on Facebook.
The truth of the matter is what we put into our body is going to define so much about us that it should take more time to decide what to eat. I asked one lady who constantly talks about eating powdered sugar covered donuts if she might consider giving those up instead of the occasional glass of wine and she said “no”. The truth is sugar is bad for you for many reasons but it is also addictive. See number eight. https://www.healthline.com/…/10-disturbing-reasons-why-suga…
What you put into your body can cause depression, anxiety, pain and a host of other health problems. Please think about your health before you reach for another powdered sugar donut. January of this year when my Papa passed away I was forced to start eating better even though I thought I was. I have lost thirty pounds and my pain levels are going down. Next post, I’ll tell you what I did.
And that is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT
Danni Andrew, DTM
(C)copyright 2018
(C)copyright 2018
Originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: April 10, 2018
Trust
I am not the most trusting person. Trust is earned and my distrust of people is not exactly unfounded. When I meet someone who displays trustworthy characteristics it shocks me and I find that a little bit sad. Not that the person is trustworthy, but that more people are not trustworthy themselves. I want to trust more and I have met one such person who has displayed trustworthy characteristics. I am grateful and I am intrigued to know more about this person. Why are not more people like this? Or have I just not met them? I try to be a trustworthy person and am glad to have found someone worthy of my trust. I can count on one hand the people I trust! What a joy! Trust is such an important commodity to have. I have not always been the most trustworthy person and in my younger years my word was not gold. I worked hard to change that part of my life. Trust is very important to me. It’s been an interesting afternoon to say the least.
And that is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT
Danni Andrew
(C)copyright 2018
(C)copyright 2018
Originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: April 2, 2018
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