Sharabelle bakes

Mental health problems are a part of me, but they don't define who I am... June 2013 - New job SAMH - Scottish Association for Mental Health This time last year (2012) I was attending Tools for Living course with   SAMH - Going Forth.  Tools for living, as the name suggests gave me the tools to live a normal live.  Like physical illnesses no one can wave a magic wand and make the hurt go away.  Through their brilliant support Iv learnt to manage my anxiety and return to paid work.    It's a group therapy course,  which was scary at first but in the end helped me alot.  Being around people, that also have mental health problems made me feel less isolated and alone.  If I told them I had a bad day there was no need to say any more,  they understood.   Go back another year to June 2011-   I still found it difficult to be in busy places or on public transport.  I would take convoluted journeys to ge...

Been a bit busy the last few days, so haven't been able to blog.   I discovered on Sunday that my Brothers planned to start my kitchen re-furb on Tuesday night.  Was slightly surprised and kind of panicked. The plan is to take down the old pantry wall and make the kitchen larger.  I've put off decorating this room since I moved in over 13 years ago.  I just couldn't handle the thought of the noise and disruption involved, however I'm finally biting the bullet.   Iv CBT (Cognitive behaviour Technique) the problem.  I'm okay getting work done in the house as long as am not there when it actually happens.  Iv had to accept that there are some anxiety triggers that will always be there.  The only solution is to work round them.   Lucky for me my brothers stepped in to help.  So while they did the first stage last night, I went to my local library book club.    Then got a call from them saying they were done.   Got a...

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 ...