Paying attention and Mount St. Helens — PAY ATTENTION! Pay attention! Observe! Be aware, after all, you know what they say about awareness, don’t you? Don’t worry, I didn’t either until recent years. It is said that Awareness is the Path to Change. Maybe you’ve experienced this in your life? How many world events have you paid attention to…

#1 — Manic Symptoms — Grandiosity — Did you miss the introduction to this series? If so, you can find it here. Not a very long intro, won’t take you long to read, promise! MOOD SWINGS Mood swings are normal for most people depending on circumstances and situations that they find themselves in. Most people can control their moods…

Depression symptom #1 — intense sadness and loss of interest — REVIEW Did you miss the Intro to this series? It’s really pretty short, just a three-minute read. It’s about awareness and includes a true story of Mt. Saint Helens the time it blew up in my figurative backyard while I paid no attention to it! And in case you missed Chapter…

Memory № 3– three sessions take me from feeling alone to feeling supported — Previous memory Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) EMDR is a form of therapy targeting traumatic memories. It uses bilateral stimulation which is just another way of saying ‘follow the bouncing ball.’ My therapist told me up front that some people don’t make it through the sessions. Now I know what he meant by that.

One man’s point of view — PERSPECTIVE: an individual complex of ways of thinking or feeling a complex of attitudes and inclinations — Merriam-Webster Dictionary A Boy Growing Up One day in the far far past, a baby boy was born. His parents looked at him and said, “He shall be named after his father, John.” Then since they had…

15 million people suffered from this mental illness in 2017 — My entire life has been one of upset and trauma. No, not the kind of trauma that you’d expect, but mental anguish, thoughts and beliefs about myself that persisted and troubled me continually. There would be several days in a row where severe depression to the point of extreme isolation…

A relationship is toxic when your well-being is threatened in some way — emotionally, psychologically, and even physically. — IN THE PAST May 15, 2022 was the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month. I wrote an article about toxic relationships and the effect they have on people who suffer from mental illness. There are 10 signs that your relationship is toxic. Some of them are feeling disrespected, devalued and depleted. Giving more…

As of 2019, Gaming Disorder has been classified as a mental illness — GAMING IN OUR WORLD TODAY Did you know that the global gaming industry is now worth over $173 billion? It has evolved from a single atari console in a lonely living room to a worldwide social phenomenom in just a matter of a few decades. In 2019, the World Health Organization recognized “Gaming Disorder” as…

A reminder to be content with our current circumstances — As I was reading Ray Day’s excellent article ‘Cheers to Writing and Talking to Myself Again’ this morning, I got to thinking about the circumstances that brought this person to our shores. They were excited to come but after two months became discouraged because they miss family and friends. What…

When your movie film is blank APHANTASIA TO HYPERPHANTASIA This word APHANTASIA only came into existence for me just the other day. Really didn’t mean anything just by looking at it. There wasn’t any interest in me for learning about it. Until it became personal. And isn’t that the way it goes? …

Memory № 2– Three sessions to Self-Image Recovery — Previous memory Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) EMDR is a form of therapy targeting traumatic memories. It uses bilateral stimulation which is just another way of saying ‘follow the bouncing ball.’ My therapist told me up front that some people don’t make it through the sessions. Now I know what he meant by that. №…

Interview with Nova Aurora Hi readers and welcome to this interview with my mini Australian Shepherd puppy, Nova Aurora, nine months old yesterday. The Interview: Nova: Hey, why do we have to sit this long for a dumb interview? Let’s go play frisbee or wrestle! This is boring….I’m bored! This is boring… …

Being bipolar is not an easy way of life, but it’s the only one I know — Anyone who suffers from Bipolar Disorder knows that life is just like a yoyo. Ups and downs, some ups higher than others, and some lows so low that you don’t think you’ll ever get up again. I haven’t been aware of being bipolar for very long, just about a month…

Memory № 1–Three sessions focus on one traumatic memory and evoke unexpected emotions — Trauma Have you ever felt like an alien with one eye and electrified hair? If you have, you’re not alone. Personal trauma can be a contributor to feeling like an alien what with the fear, anxiety, and depression, to name a few. …

Mindfulness Techniques to Help You Manage Through Their Daily Lives and Toward True Happiness. — There is increasing evidence that exposure to plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to mental and physical health, and so could reduce the pressure on NHS services. …

Being in your garden, out in the countryside, or maybe down on the beach. Just take some time out to have a look at the beauty that is all around you. You might be surprised to find it is more enjoyable & restful for your own mental health. — I hope that this article provides some support and ideas to those not already using Mindfulness in their daily lives. …

15th of May — A relationship is toxic when your well-being is threatened in some way — emotionally, psychologically, and even physically. — Do you remember the song that came out in 1982 by The Clash? I wonder how many of us have this very question in our minds as we think of our relationships. Should I stay or should I go? Is the relationship healthy or is it toxic? 🎶 Should I…

Terminology to know and understand — I’ve been reading a lot about neurodivergence in the past few days and I’ve noticed that the words used make a huge difference to some people. When talking about neurodivergence, a lot of people have a lot of different ideas. I myself want to understand and use the vocabulary of…

about neurodivergence, stories and articles read by Micheal Woodruff — Introducing stories read by Affect a Change on YouTube. Have you heard of the terminology of neurodivergence? It’s really a very interesting and controversial topic. This short video will take you to Micheal Woodruff’s YouTube channel where you can subscribe, like, and comment. This may look and sound like sci-fi…

Decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream mental health organizations in this country to the conclusion that homosexuality is a normal form of human sexuality. — Disclaimer: I am not qualified to write about homosexuality for several reasons. First, I’m not homosexual and don’t understand the desires or thoughts of a homosexual person. Second, I don’t know the history of homosexuality. And finally, I don’t know or understand the terminology or language. Speaking of terminology, I…