Tag Archives: Art

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!!!

Therapy + Comics = Good Session

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I realize I already told you little about my session today with my therapist in my last post (https://gertiesjourney.com/2018/04/17/thankfully-not-hospitalized/) but I would like to share a little more about it as I think it helped my therapist build a rapport with me. Besides talking about my parents and their addictions we discussed comics. We discussed comics because I wore a Wonder Woman t-shirt and hat today. I told my therapist that I collect Wonder Woman comics and then we ended up talking about comic book universes. My therapist is more into Marvel and I am more into DC even though we both like a little of both universes. My therapist asked if reading comics was in my crisis plan and something I do end stead of self harming and I said yes to both. We discussed how comics have played a major role in my recovery and he assigned me to read one comic book a day as part of some homework. Another part of my homework he wants me to create a coping skills tool box out of a shoe box even though I more or less have my backpack full of coping skills I use. He even gave me a shoe box to start it. He is having me do this because he knows I enjoy doing art and to help me think about my coping skills. He also wants me to write a page on how making the coping skills box made me feel and what my experience was making it.

I am grateful that my new therapist is coming up with creative ways to help me help myself. I may not like having therapy homework but I am grateful to have it as it gives me an opportunity to grow and continue with my recovery.

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

It’s Been a Meh Monday

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It’s been a meh Monday. A Monday that included depression that wasn’t being helped by the weather. The weather has been dreary and rainy even for Seattle. You know its dreary and rainy when Seattleites  start complaining about it.

I discussed my depression with my therapist during our fifteen minute check in today. We came up with a plan on how I can combat the depression for today. Of course, going to art group was on the list of things to do. I also discussed that when I get home after art group that I could do some painting. Which I’ve already did one painting and planning on at least starting another one as I find it relaxing. We also came up with the idea of working on one of my workbooks. We also talked about making sure I am eating and staying hydrated as that can help me combat the depression.

The weather today is good reading curled up in your bed weather. Something I will be doing after I am done with this post. I am enjoying the book immensely.

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

Monday Morning Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I didn’t get any sleep once again. I’m getting frustrated with not being able sleep. All I want is to be able to sleep. I don’t think it is too much to ask for me to get a decent night of sleep.

As much as I want to go to sleep right now, I think it wouldn’t be wise as my sleep schedule would get even messed. Not only that I wouldn’t be able to follow through with the plans I made today. I plan on going to knitting group as I want to lean how to knit. I also plan on going to art group as you all know art helps me express my emotions.

Thanks for reading. Peace Out, World

 

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Blog
  • Clean Apartment
  • Laundry

Monday

  • Blog
  • Art Group
  • Workbooks

Tuesday

  • Blog
  • Therapy
  • Workbooks

Wednesday

  • Blog
  • Clean Apartment
  • Workbooks

Thursday

  • Blog
  • Art
  • Workbooks

Friday

  • Blog
  • Art
  • Workbooks
  • Day Treatment

Saturday

  • Lazy day

A Way To Earn Some Money

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! As you may have noticed, there are now advertisements (aka ads) on my blog. This is a way for me to earn some extra money. I don’t know how it exactly works as this is my first month do it and I get paid through PayPal. I’m still trying figure out if it is even worth it for both you my reader(s) and myself. I know for me when I read something online I hate ads because they are annoying as hell yet I understand that people need to make extra cash. What do you my reader think about the ads? How do you feel about the ads? Your input will help me make a decision to keep them or not keep them. The other part of my decision in this is about how much I earn as well.

I figure if earning money and getting it through PayPal will help me out with my online purchases. I say this as I am not a big fan of online shopping but there art supplies as well as other stuff that I can only get online. The online shopping experience seems a bit impersonal for me and sometime what you get isn’t always what you were expecting when it comes to what it looks like online.

I am also thinking about selling some of my art as a way to earn some extra money. My art isn’t all that great but I am sure someone would want it at some point. Not sure if I would sell my art online.

I’m thinking that depending on how much money I make blogging and the possibility of selling my art in starting a small business. Again this is just an idea and most likely wont happen. I am just trying to figure out ways to make money.

Thank you for reading. Happy Friday the 13th. Peace Out, World!!!

 

Anxiety Over Job Interview

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I am having some anxiety over my job interview tomorrow. I think I am more concerned on transportation than anything. Actually, I worry about the bus to get be back to the ferry after the interview as it only runs once an hour. The bus not the ferry.

I know myself well enough that once I am on my way there I won’t be so high anxiety. I say this because riding the ferry is helpful for me. It is one of the skills I have for myself to calm myself the fuck down.

As I am working through the anxiety I realize that I need use some skills. Skills like I have discussed multiple times in past post. One such skill is reading. I am hoping to finish the book soon but I am loving it. Another skill I can do is some art. Specifically, coloring.

Thank you for reading my blog as I go and use my skills. Peace Out, World!!!

No Nap For Me

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I couldn’t sleep. I was unable to take a nap and it sucks shit that I was unable to do so. Not sleeping or in this case napping is not fun. I just want to be able to get some sleep.

Not sure why I am unable to sleep but I am having some anxiety over my job interview on Wednesday. I am excited about it but I experiencing anxiety and know that it is completely normal.

I am also having anxiety over seeing my new clinician even though I have a good feeling about him with my limited interactions with him thus far. Maybe it is because I don’t do well with change especially within my mental health treatment.

I think I am going to do some art to help with the anxiety. It helped earlier today in art group. I think the type of art I’ll do is coloring as it is helpful and calming for me.

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