Sharabelle bakes

Weird Stuff If something strange or unusual is going to happen, it will happen to my mother or me!!!!   I spent the first day of my holiday in Tenerife stuck in the hotel, due to a tropical storm.  Then the plane back was delayed due to mechanical fault, so didn't land in Glasgow till 6am in the morning. 12 hrs later than planned.   Got the first bus back home, only the journey took 8 hours due to the snow and traffic jams.   It normally only takes 1 hr 30 Min's!!!! A few months ago I accidentally cut my ankle while shaving my legs and developed a skin tag infection.  Very itchy and annoying. The more I itched the more it spread...... Spent a night in a Edinburgh Travelodge for my birthday 5 years ago. Then had to spent the rest of my 2 week holiday stuck in my house, because I'd been bitten by bed bugs.  There were so many bites I thought I had chicken pox's!!!   The list goes on..........   Having an anxiety disorder,...

Voodoo doll pin cushion hand knitted by Sharabelle What do a voodoo doll pin cushion and the UK government work program have to do with each other? Quite a lot actually, since one inspired me to do the other.  Or I should say the sub contracted supplier of the work program inspired me to knit one, after one of my twice monthly meetings with them.   As Julia Andrews sang in Sound of Music - Lets start at the very beginning it's a very good place to start. I haven't been able to work for a few years due to my mental health problems. Iv also had medical problems linked to my IBS and food intolerance's.  Iv had a single goal to improve both my physical and mental health.  .  I have over a 10 year history of mental health problems.  Putting a sticky plaster on, and ignoring the problem doesn't help.  Not working allows me the time to work at making myself better Forget the usual story's of benefits cheats that you...

This blog isn't just my own baking diary, noting my edible successes and disaster.   I started it because I wanted to be totally honest about my IBS and especially my mental health problems.  For me the 2 are linked, problems with one usually set off problems with the other.  My aim was to help reduce the stigma attached to having a mental health problem.  If I want to be totally open and honest, I really need to talk about my bad days. Bad Days       I didn't blog yesterday because it was one of my bad days.  A bad day for me means.... - Disconnected from what's going on around me. - Mentally and physically tired - Poor short term memory - The feeling that I'm about to burst out in tears any minute - Clumsy, accident prone Basically really low and depressed.  I like to joke that it's like a Dementor from Harry Potter, has sucked all my joy and happiness.  Leaving nothing but de...

 YEAR END REVIEW 2012  Living with IBS and mental health problems End of 2010 I had to admit I was getting worse again and take the decision to stop work.  My new goal was to work on facing my mental health problems and finally doing something about it.   Previously Id only really put a sticky plaster on the problem and pretended everything was OK.  Along with my on-going mental health problems, I also have IBS.  I'd had digestive problems as a teenager, but the problem really got worse after I picked up the e-coli food poisoning bug.  As I get older my IBS gets worse, I'm now dairy free, yeast free, meat & poultry free and also follow a low sugar and low fat diet.  Iv found that people seem to have the impression that people living on benefits don't actually do anything.  That they do nothing to help themselves,  so to dispel this myth I got out last years calender so you could see what I did and a...

Weather for wellies Today started yet again with torrential rain, another downpour is forecast for tomorrow morning. When you  live in Scotland, Random extreme weather is pretty much the norm.  There are 2 routes you can take with this knowledge.  You can ignore it's happening and wear inappropriate clothing for the weather.  Or like me, be prepared for all eventualities.  For today that meant wearing....... Tights, leggings, socks and Wellies.  Along with a thick jumper and waterproof jacket.  Lol, there is method in my madness.  The layer of tights, leggings and socks keep me warm  While the Leggings and wellies keep me dry, as they leave less surface for the rain to soak.  Being fashionably dressed at all times, just isn't worth getting a cold for!!!!  I think dressing appropriately for the weather is a sign of maturity.  Or possibly my age,  as it's a lot nearer Forty than...

Baking with Cognitive behaviour therapy When I started therapy to help  my mental health problems I never thought Id be using it Bake!!! It helped identify 2 of my most negative thought patterns, I was self critical of myself and had control issues.  I'm not going to lie and say I'm cured and I that don't have the same problems. However knowing your problems and being willing to admit to them, is part of the process of managing them.  In a way this blog started because of my therapy. The stigma associated with having a mental health condition is one of the main problems.  It makes it harder for individuals to ask for help. But If no one talks about mental health problems how are people that haven't experienced it start to understand? Meaning the stigma will always remain.  (this made perfect sense in my head, not sure if it translate well to the written word!!!!)  A few years ago I agreed to bake 100 cookies ...

Chocolate dessert and cafe con leche You may be thinking what makes me qualified to dish out stress management tips for travelling.  Especially since I'v mentioned in previous blogs that I have mental health problems.  Lol, basically my whole day revolves around reducing stress and avoiding panic attacks. Over the past few years as part of my therapy Iv had both anxiety management and relaxation classes.  (Relaxation takes a lot of hard work!!) So why not take advise from someone that deals with anxiety on a daily basis? Iv been going on winter sun holidays to the Canary's for a few years now, I find travelling by plane for a few hours a lot less stressful then getting on a 20 min bus journey.  Iv tried out a few tricks and tips over those years and these are the ones that work best. Plan ahead Book a room to stay in an Airport hotel the night before your flight, if your flying in the morning.  Make the experience a part of your...

EAT WELL PLATE I don't discuss it in every blog post but If you've read my  -About Me page you will know I have a mental health problem.  It's been over 10 years since I was diagnosed with depression and only in the past few years, with an anxiety disorder.  Due to some great therapy and supportive friends and family I try my best to control my mental health problem, and not let the mental health problem control me. What's this got to do with food?  Well a lot...... I also have IBS and Food intolerance's, which can reduce the amount of nutrients absorbed through my digestive system.   People with depression and other mental health problems have been found to have low levels of essential nutrients and vitamins.  It was okay for my Doctor to say my low moods can set off my IBS and vice versa, but it helps more to know why.  It's easy to start eating healthy, when you become intolerant to most bad foods.  Pain ha...