August 3, 2014
In an earlier post about preparing for times of stress or mental unwellness, I suggested creating your own emotional first aid kit. An emotional first aid kit works in a very similar way to a traditional first aid kit that you would keep in your home for treating minor injuries and physical health issues. The idea is that you create a central place where you can store the kind of items that would help you through an emotional crisis or time of stress.As this may seem a little bit of an unusual concept, I thought it may be helpful to write a separate post with details of how to create an emotional first aid kit for yourself or a loved one. Using Polyvore, I have created a kit with suggested items that you may want to include. The list is by no means exhaustive and not every item is going to be helpful to everyone. Make your kit as personal as possible and include items of significance to you.
Emotional First Aid Kit by woodledoodledandy featuring fake candles
First of all, get yourself a medium to large sized storage box or container to store your items in. It could be a shoebox which you decorate yourself or you could buy a box especially for this purpose.
- Writing paper, art materials, pens and pencils.
- Inspirational postcards, photographs, notes or pictures of loved ones, magazine clippings or pictures you find cute or uplifting to look at.
- Music - MP3 players are handy and you can wear them with headphones if you are having some troubling thoughts or experiencing auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices.
- Sweet treats, drinks, individual hot drink sachets and herbal teabags.
- Aromatherapy oils, scented candles and lavender bags can help to create a soothing living space. If you are worried about your concentration you could consider LED candles which are battery powered. They provide a similar light to candles but don't have the worry of being a fire risk.
- Special toiletries that will help to motivate you to keep on top of your personal care routines.
- A hat, sunglasses and comfortable socks. Wearing a hat or sunglasses can help if you are struggling with leaving the house and seeing people. Hats are also handy for bad hair days.
- Mints for keeping your breath fresh are especially useful for times when you have unexpected guests or appointments with professionals. Peppermint is also good for soothing an upset stomach and stimulating the appetite.
- Puzzles, books, games and jigsaw puzzles can all help to occupy the mind and fill time without being overly stressful. Puzzles can also help develop problem solving skills, which can be helpful when dealing with stress and mental illness.
- Soft toys can provide comfort and a reminder of happier times and loved ones.
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Managing Stress
July 28, 2014
Personal hygiene and self care skills are important for three reasons; they will improve your social interactions and personal relationships, they will help you to stay fit and healthy and they will help to improve your confidence and self esteem. As the British summer heat gets into full swing feeling and smelling clean and fresh is extremely important. Below are some tips for getting on top of body odour and keeping clean and fresh.
1. Daily Baths or Showers
Having a bath or shower daily i... Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Personal Grooming
July 22, 2014
According
to the charity, Anxiety UK, anxiety affects one in six adults living in
the UK. Anxiety is the term used to describe the physical and emotional sensation of fear or nervousness. You will be more prone to
it's effects at times of stress, during and after a traumatic experience or when you are in a situation that scares you or makes you fear for your safety.
Some of the
main symptoms include shortness of breath, palpitations, upset
stomach, dry mouth, sweaty palms and tense musc...
Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Managing Stress
July 13, 2014
If you are someone who has a lower threshold for stress or you suffer with an on-going mental health issue then making a plan for how you will cope with difficult periods could help a great deal. Below are a few suggestions of ideas that may help you if you know you are approaching a stressful time or event.
1. Develop Your Support Network
Build friendships with people who you can be honest about your feelings with. Look for people who can listen and who will respect your wishes and allow yo...
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Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Managing Stress
July 7, 2014
With so many students getting themselves geared up for moving away from home and going off to university it seemed like a good time to share some tips and suggestions on what to buy or acquire when moving out from home and into a shared house or halls of residence.
The Basics: Utensils for Cooking
- 1 large and 1 small saucepan with lids
- 1 non-stick frying pan
- A wooden spoon
- A knife, fork, teaspoon and tablespoon
- A sharp knife for preparing food
- A chopping board
- A fish slice - plastic is best for using...
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Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Homecare
June 30, 2014
Shopping
for food and other household products is a skill that is important to
learn if you are living independently. Below are a few tips to help get
you on your way.
1. Make a list
Preparing for a shopping trip will help you stay focused and stick to a budget. Go through your cupboards, fridge and freezer and see what needs replacing or restocking. Think about meals you enjoy and can easily prepare and check you have all the ingredients. Any you don't already have can go down on your l... Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Homecare
June 23, 2014
1. Make a List
Slowly walk around your living area with a notepad and pen. If it helps, imagine that you are at someone else's home and that you are helping them identify jobs that need doing. As you work around each room jot down every job that you can see that needs doing. Try to be as objective as possible and avoid getting into self critical conversations with yourself about what you should have done. These kind of judgements will do nothing to motivate you and will just leave you fee... Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Homecare
June 16, 2014
If you were to listen to advertisements you would find it hard to believe that you could look good on a small budget. The hair and beauty industry is big business and we are constantly being bombarded with information and advise on how we can improve the quality of our lives through using the right shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, make up, razors, shaving cream and so on. The truth is looking and feeling good doesn't need to cost and arm and a leg. Here are some tips on how to look your ...
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Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Personal Grooming
June 8, 2014
Never underestimate the value of sleep. Good quality sleep can underpin good physical and mental well being and shape how you approach the coming day. If you have slept well you are more likely to feel refreshed, motivated and ready to take on the day and any challenges it may bring. If you haven't you may feel sluggish, unmotivated and irritable. Listed below are some tips to improving your sleep patterns.
1. No Heavy Meals After 7pm
Try to avoid eating heavy meals late at night and idea...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Building Structure
June 2, 2014
Being able to effectively set and achieve goals can be enormously satisfying and can really help to build up self esteem and self confidence. If you are new to goal setting then start small with daily targets that you aim to achieve that day. Before you get started here are some points you may want to consider:1. Be SpecificBe precise about what it is you want to achieve. If one of your goals is to lose weight then state exactly how much weight you would like to lose or what your target...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Self Confidence
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I am experienced mental health worker with 15 years experience working with young people and adults with enduring mental health needs. I have set up this blog to share some of the tips and skills I have learnt along the way. If you have any suggestions or particular questions you would like me to answer feel free to email me at 
