Tag Archives: Art

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It has been an uneventful week. I do have to say as difficult as therapy is, I am grateful for the suggested homework my therapist gave me this week. My therapist suggested I make a coping skills box and have it be an art project for me so I did. I got a shoe box and decorated it. I had fun making it. I am looking forward to showing it to my therapist.

Something else that I did this week is read. I have been reading a great deal. It has been quite helpful for me to be reading. I am hoping to finish my book soon.

Like I said, I had an uneventful week. Thank you for reading. Peace Out, Word!!!

A Relaxing Saturday

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I have been having a relaxing Saturday. I have been watching movies pretty much all day. Movies on Netflix and Hulu. Movies that helped me get into a creative space.

A creative space to be able to paint. I painted while listening to music. I attempted to paint a squirrel. It didn’t turn out as planned but that is okay because the paintings that didn’t turn out as planned are the most original and unique paintings out there. The music playing the background is what helped me keep with the flow of painting.

Now I am going to go take a nap as I am tired. I have only had three hours of sleep in the last two days . Have a great rest of your Saturday. Peace Out, World!!!

It’s the Weekend; Time to Relax

Posted on by Gertie

Goo Morning, World!!! After my last post at five o’clock this morning, I finally got some sleep. I only got about three hours of sleep because I woke about about eight o’clock my time but I am okay with only three hours. At least I got some sleep.

Now that it is nine thirty in the morning in my neck of the woods, I am trying to figure out what I am going to do with my day as I need to make sure I am busy. One of the things I’ll be doing is listening to podcast. Specifically, Philosophize This which is about philosophy. Listening to podcast appears to be of help to me.

Another way I will keep myself busy today is by doing art. Not sure what type of art I’ll be doing today but I will be doing something today. Art is relaxing to me and helps me express my emotions when I am unable to identify them.

I, of course will be watching movies as well. I have chosen a handful of movies to watch on Hulu and Netflix. I do this so I have options on what movies I want watch. Since I don’t have cable anymore I have chosen the route of Hulu and Netflix. Having both is about fifty dollars cheaper for me to have.

I think I am going to get going and start off my weekend. Have a great weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Got Sleep?!?!

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Right now I am dealing with a major case of insomnia. Insomnia that meds won’t even work for. I took my Ambien right after my last post and well here I am still wide awake. Normally, taking the Ambien works but apparently it is not working tonight and it is frustrating as hell.

As frustrating as it is to not sleep at least I have been able to use my coping skills. Coping skills to help me through the night. The coping skills that I have been doing are art and reading. I have been painting as well as reading The Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb. At least my coping skills have been helpful to me tonight.

Thank you for reading. I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Peace Out, World!!!

Hoping For Some Sleep Tonight

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is just after midnight in my neck of the woods and I am tired as hell. I didn’t sleep last night and I am hoping that I get some sleep tonight. For me sleep is important to maintain good mental health.

Something that I have been doing to help myself is art work. I have been painting most of tonight and it appears that it is helping me contain my emotions.

Another thing that has been helping is watching television. I am watching the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. For me laughter helps me be able to get into a good head space to be able to get some sleep.

I think I will get going and continue to watch Jimmy Fallon. Have a goodnight and peace out world!!!

More Ramblings From Me, Gertie

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! The workshop I was suppose to attend got cancelled. I am okay with that as I was able to do something else. I was still able to have lunch with my friend and hang out with her for an hour. It was good company to be with a fellow peer who has a Masters in Social Work. (MSW). My friend thinks I would make a great social worker and would love me to get my education. Hell, I would love me to get my education. My friend and I discussed a great deal on on how Peer Support and Social Work have a lot in common.

Speaking of social work, my therapist is a social worker. We did our fifteen minute check in over the phone today. We discussed the disappointment I had with the workshop being cancelled. We also talked about the joy I had spending time with my friend. Before we ended our conversation we talked about what I was going to do for the weekend. I informed my therapist that I would most likely be working on one of my workbooks. He asked which one and I said probably the three that I am currently working on. I informed him I’ll try to do a chapter in all of them and that one of them is almost done and if I finish before my session with him on Tuesday that I would like to discuss it with him. He likes the idea of discussing the workbooks I do.

I think I am going to do a painting for my friend as she requested me to do one for her. She doesn’t care of what. She is going to be paying me for it which I told her she didn’t need to do so.

After painting, I think I am going to read. I love reading as it helps me a great deal.

Thanks for reading. Happy Friday. Peace Out, World!!!

Midnight Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I have trouble comprehending why I have such a difficult time at night. Not just with sleep but with the symptoms of anxiety and depression. I am struggling a little bit with depression and anxiety relating to PTSD. Dealing with symptoms this time of night when your natural supports are unavailable for whatever reason can be difficult and challenging for me.

As challenging as it is for me right now, I know what I can do to help myself. I can turn to my coping skills. Coping skills that have helped me a great deal throughout my recovery. Coping skills that will continue to help me even in this moment in time.

One of the things I will do is color. As any type of art has helped me a great deal. In fact I’ll probably end doing some collaging as well because it helps me put words to my emotions.

Another thing I will be doing is a mindfulness and meditation practice as this helps quiet my mind. It puts me in a better head space. A head space that is at least in neutral gear.

Thanks for reading. Peace Out, World!!!

Thursday Evening Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Today, has been a relatively good day despite dealing with anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression that hasn’t been as bad as it has in recent days and weeks. I owe that to the sunny weather here in Seattle. Sunny weather always helps with the symptoms of my mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Art also has helped with my anxiety and depression lifting. For example creating my coping skills box was an awesome art project for me. Having a specific art project to focus appears to be of help to me even though doing any art is helpful.

Something I think I am going to do after blogging is reading. As I have mentioned before I enjoy reading. Reading has been helpful for me as well to reduce the symptoms of my depression and anxiety.

Thank you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!

 

Sunny In Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am sitting here at my laptop staring out my front room window and it is going to be a beautiful day here in Seattle. Sunny days in Seattle are one of the reasons I love Seattle so much. Many people who live in Seattle like to claim it is rainy a dreary more often than it is because we are extremely protective of our city. It is a beautiful city especially when it is sunny outside.

I am pretty sure with it being sunny outside it is going to be of help to my depression symptoms. Symptoms that appear that will not go away. I know eventually that my depression symptoms will subside in time.

One way I have been combating my depression is going walks twice daily. Walking twice daily has helped my depression a great deal. Yes, I walk when the weather is yucky outside. Walking not only helps with my depression symptoms, it also helps with my anxiety symptoms a great deal.

Art has also been helping a lot with both my depression and anxiety symptoms. Doing art helps me express my emotions when I am unable to verbalize it. It may not appear to you that I have trouble verbalizing my emotions but I do and that is why art is so important to me.

Reading has also helped a great deal with the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Reading helps me get out of my head and forget my issues in a healthy way for a moment or two. It helps because being able to forget for a few moments gets me in a better mind set.

Thank you for reading. It is very much appreciated from my end of things. Have a great day everyone.  You’re awesome!!! Peace Out, World!!!

My Coping Skills Box

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! As I sit here at my laptop I’m thinking about my coping and the suggested therapy homework my therapist gave me yesterday during our session. The reason he suggested it is because it is an art project that he thought I would like to do. An art project that would help me in the long run. So, I decided to start making one last night. In fact I just finished and all I have to do is put coping skill stuff that will fit into it. I am happy that the coping skill box was an art project.

An art project that will help me help myself. I am going to be putting two stand alone books in the box. Stand alone books that are known to be what people call “eye candy” or “easy reads” because sometimes that is what is needed. I am going putting both Sudoku and Logic puzzles in my box to help me get out of emotional mind and think wisely. I also will be putting in some affirmations in the box to tell myself. I will be also putting in some cross stitch items as well.

When I need to use my coping skills box, I will have a plethora of choices to choose from. Having choices is always a good thing especially when you are needing ways on what to do when you are coping. Coping with undesired and intense emotions and/or urges.

Thank you for reading. Have a great day. Peace Out, World!!!