dcfdf93cb9db4b25b5cddbe731f5e660

Learning To Heal Through Art

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:35:12 GMT

My Journey Of Learning To Heal Through Art - Fern

Dipping the brush in the paint and bringing it to the canvas, I sit and think, how much did I want to do this as a child. Watch the colours flow freely, with ease, with only me to guide them, me to form and shape them into what they need to become. Memories fill me sitting at the kitchen table watching my mother paint, often wanting to reach out and join in, before being snapped at no. Those paints, tools, paper, creativity was her's and I could not be part of that world. There isn't a great deal of things I really wanted to do alongside my mother, but I always wanted to pull up my chair and join in. As I got older, those moments of sitting next to her, started to disappear and whilst I loved art and taking a GCSE in it, my passion for it started to fade. Every known and again I attempted to pull out a piece of paper and draw something, but how could I? The voice of my mother's would fill the room 'No', so down the pencils would go, defeated yet again.

Art like mental health is something that is individual to each person. It carries a persons story as the paintbrush hits the canvas, and flows out like the words written in a journal. Pictures can show as much as emotion, as a 1000 words can express.

Nexus Games Torquay

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 11:55:49 GMT

Nexus Games Torquay

Finding Connection and Community: The Nexus Experience

In a world that often feels divided, finding a safe space where you can be yourself, connect with others, and enjoy shared interests is invaluable. Nexus Games is more than just a gaming hub, it's a vibrant community that embraces diversity, fosters friendships, and supports mental health - all while enjoying a good cup of coffee.

A Safe Haven For All

At Nexus Games, inclusivity is at the heart of everything they do. They proudly identify as LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent friendly, creating an environment where everyone can feel welcome and accepted. Whether you're a seasoned gamer, just starting your journey, or simply want a cup of coffee, you'll find a place where you can express yourself without fear of judgement.

Their commitment to being a safe space means that they actively promote respect and understanding among their community members. They believe that everyone deserves to be heard and valued, and they strive to create an atmosphere where friendships can flourish.

Building Friendships Over Games

Gaming, whether it be board games, D&D, magic etc, has a unique way of bringing people together. At Nexus Games, they host a variety of events, from casual game nights to competitive tournaments, where players can bond over their favourite titles. These gatherings are not just about games; they're about building connections and lasting friendships.

Many of the regulars have found their closest friends within the Nexus Community. The shared experiences of gaming, laughter, and even the occasional friendly rivalry help strengthen these bonds. In a world where loneliness can often feel overwhelming, Nexus Games offers a remedy through camaraderie and support.

Coffee and Conversations

What's better than gaming with friends? Doing it over a cup of coffee! Their cafe area is designed to be a cosy spot where you can grab your favourite brew, a milkshake, snack, or meal and engage in meaningful conversations. Whether you're discussing game strategies, sharing personal stories, or simply enjoying each others company, the coffee, tea, milkshakes and food at Nexus Games is the perfect backdrop for connection. If you want to go in on your own, then this is the perfect location, as there is one player games, books to read, or if you simply want to sit and have some quiet time then this is the ideal location.

They understand that mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being. That's why they encourage the community to take breaks, enjoy a warm or cold drink, and check in with one another. Sometimes, a simple chat over coffee can make all the difference in someones day.

Supporting Mental Health

At Nexus Games, they recognise the importance of mental health and the role in the community it plays in supporting it. They offer a safe space and friendly staff who are always a listening ear if needed, ensuring that no one feels alone in their struggles.

They also encourage open discussions about mental health, breaking down the stigma that often surrounds it. By fostering an environment where vulnerability is met with compassion, they empower the community to seek help and support when needed.

Join the Nexus Community

They invite you to join their community, where laughter, friendship, and acceptance are always on the menu.

Together, they create a space that celebrates diversity, nurtures mental health, and fosters connections that last a lifetime. So grab your favourite game, a delicious beverage, and go and be part of the Nexus family - where everyone is welcome, and no one is judged.

Bereavement - A healing retreat at the Forever Young Forest

Wed, 17 May 2023 12:43:58 GMT

A little bit of heaven in the Welsh Mountains - Babyloss

A gentle place for healing

Forever Young Forest, a place of calm, a place of tranquillity, a place where your soul can start to come together again.

When we lost our third baby, I felt like all those pieces that had been split apart the first two times, were fractured now in such a way, that I would never be whole again. That each time one of our babies died, part of me died with them, and now with the loss of our third that was it, I would never be me again. The things that used to make me smile, no longer brought me joy, the sun no longer felt warm, the rain no longer felt cool, my mental health was not just slipping away, it was running. Healthcare when it comes to losing a child in pregnancy is sadly lacking within the U.K, you are not checked on often, if at all, and if you already have a pre-existing mental health condition, then your ‘sadness’ is put down to that. I mean you have depression, what do you expect kind of attitude. So, I was often left slipping into a pit of darkness, that even the stars no longer sparkled. During this deep depression of losing our second child R, I came across Forever Young Forest, run by a couple who lost their beautiful baby boy Tommy Blue, and through this loss, have created a non-profit CIO wanting to help and support those who have lost a child through pregnancy and birth. We hit it off straight away, realising we lived close to each other, knowing local café’s, parks, and attractions. We would talk until late at night about what our babies would be doing now, latest milestones they should be celebrating, their first tooth, first solids, first words. It was hard, when they moved to Wales to start a new life, a new adventure, but we understood, that they were doing it for such special reasons, and Tommy Blue was taking them on a new adventure. When we found out we was pregnant with O, they were the first people we contacted to tell them of the news. Although there was anxiety in letting them know we had been blessed with the third chance of potentially bringing home our rainbow, and they had, had to say goodbye to their sweet boy, they could not have been happier for us. Over the weeks and months of my pregnancy progressing, they kept in touch to check how I was doing, and when we sadly lost O, an invite to the forest was instantly offered.

So, bags packed, directions noted, we started our trip to Wales, not really knowing what to expect. Driving along, the husband and I didn’t really talk about our loses. We both were apprehensive, and lost in our own thoughts, instead discussed the journey, the surroundings and the usual couples talk of how much traffic there was for a weekday.

As you can imagine, being in the heart of the Wales countryside, we got lost, even ending up in the middle of a farm, slowly having to back out pretending we had never set eyes on the place. Calling Laura, she soon met us to guide us back to what we can only describe as a little piece of Heaven on Earth. Nestled into the rolling hills of the Welsh mountains was her family’s home.

Laura and Tom, had moved themselves and their children off-grid and were setting up several glamping tents, all for bereaved parents to use for 2-nights at no charge. When showed our little tent for the the next couple of nights, we was blown away by the amount of effort that had gone into it. Every attention to detail had been thought of with such care and compassion.

We didn't really know what to expect when we was offered this trip, however, we certianly did not expect to walk into this. A comfortable bed (we had brought our sleeping bags, expecting to be on the floor, because that is what I pictured camping as), a lovely two seater sofa, a table stocked with all the cooking equipment you could possibly require for your stay. Plus lets talk about the hamper of goodies! This to us was the sweetest touch walking in, as having just gone through losing O, taking care of ourselves had really fallen short. Even taking the simple time to sit down with a cup of tea and a slice of cake seemed like a lifetime away now.

Picture painted by Laura and Tom's young daughter as a gift to us.

Over the two night stay we were treated to beautiful home cooked food and breakfast each morning, which was just what we needed. That self-care was something we had been greatly neglecting, and something we were making less and less of a priority each day. Having a couple wake us each morning with pancakes and fresh fruit, followed by a cup of coffee, and the smiling faces of their own children, who had been touched by the own heartache of losing their baby brother, surrounded us in a bubble of love and friendship.

Music - The Gateway To Emotions

Sat, 21 May 2022 18:15:24 GMT

Music - The Gateway To Emotions

There are very few people in my life who are aware that I have a deep love for music. I am not talking about let’s put on a playlist and enjoy the artist, but a love that burns deep and bright. I used to play the clarinet, piano, keyboard, and would even sing. I come from a family who were heavily into music, my grandparents were both in several choirs, and encouraged me to sing whenever I could, from as soon as I could speak, along with dance, taking me to different venues and care homes to see people they knew. Alongside this, when I met my stepdad, one of the first things he taught me was how to play the piano. Perched up beside him, learning how to read the sheet music in front of me, and learning what key came next gave me a great sense of joy. Eventually, I was ready to move onto the keyboard, and I was soon playing tunes by Phil Collins and getting faster with my keystrokes. When I got to the age of 8 a great opportunity was given to me, and that was to learn an instrument at school, and the clarinet was chosen for me. At first it was frustrating, as I struggled to remember where the keys were without looking, but soon I picked it up and loved the sound that came through. My classes were three times a week for five years, and I always looked forward to playing, even if over the years, my practice at home became less and less, as my parents no longer enjoyed my passion. Yet I still continued to sing around the garden where I could, sing with my grandparents, and play my clarinet when nobody was home.

When I moved onto high school, I was excited to carry on, knowing there would be bigger opportunities to play my instrument, even maybe take my GCSE in music. However, my parents informed me, they could no longer afford the lessons, and I would have to give it up. I was crushed, something that gave me a sense of freedom, a world I could often get lost in, was now gone. The days of playing the piano, and keyboard had disappeared long before that, and a world without music, became so silent it was uncomfortable. I eventually spoke to my music teacher about if I could possibly join the school singing group, and with my great delight, I was accepted. My world was alive again, and I went to rehearsals twice a week at lunchtime. Knowing I had music again meant when my home life fell into its bleakest moments, I could sing in my head, take myself into a distant land where I could focus on the lyrics in front of me, and the beat with each breath I took. Whilst I couldn't take a GCSE in music anymore, as I didn't play an instrument, it gave me some form of satisfaction that not all hope was lost. Soon our singing group had been selected to sing at another school, alongside their gospel choir as part of a show. Whilst the excitement filled my stomach with butterflies, there was also a deep pit of despair. I had to get my parents’ permission to be signed off school for two days, to rehearse at the other school and perform on the second night. I had not informed them I was part of the singing group, as over the years, they had noticed my passion for music, and each time I went to embrace it, they took it away from me. Whether it was listening to a song, it would be turned off, if I went to sing, I would be laughed at, and if I expressed interest in learning another instrument such as the guitar, it was soon made clear it would never be an option for me, so I decided to hide everything I loved from them.

However, I knew I had to tell them. At first, they refused to let me go, stating that missing school was not an option, even though they had never been concerned about this before. Eventually they agreed for me to go, in exchange for extra chores. I was prepared to clean the whole house if it meant I could sing, I was that delighted. I spent two amazing days, singing, laughing, and listening to some of the most beautiful music ready for our show, and that evening, before leaving home, I checked that my parents were coming. They assured me that they were, and how proud they were of me being in it. Had they turned a new leaf, my gut said no, but my heart ached yes. Standing on that theatre stage and looking out to the audience, my heart began to sink. As I watched each of my peer’s wave at the family members, I noticed two seats were empty, of course, my parents were not there. I held back the tears, as it took every ounce of strength not to run off the stage. Yet I could not let my peers down, so I sang with every last bit of passion I had for music, and when we finished, I walked up to my music teacher and quit. I couldn't take the humiliation anymore, the constant ripping of music from my heart and my hands was just too much to bear.

It was only after I left the singing group, did I realise how betrayed I had been, my clarinet lessons, had been free all those years due to my family being on benefits, and I could have continued my lessons at high school, my parents had decided not to turn up, because they had decided they just didn’t want to, and the times following I went to listen to music, were then used an excuse to set off that days abuse on me.

In a few short weeks after the show for the school, music was gone, I never sang, I never played an instrument, and when a song played, the beat, melody and lyrics no longer meant anything to me again, until 6 months ago.

Sitting with a friend, and discussing how to process emotions, I was offered a couple of music links, whilst having them suggest that it could help. I smiled politely and thanked them. Whilst in my head I was already dismissing it instantly, as the trauma surrounding music replaced any hope that I could love it again. Being sent a link to a playlist of rage music to help unleash those feelings of anger I had inside of me, followed by a link to calm music, to help relax in times I needed comfort. I tried to shake off that hope, as why would you want to set yourself up for heartbreak again, but could this work? I will admit, I wasn’t hopeful, but I was willing to try. Sitting down and putting my headphones on, I let the first song play, it was painfully uncomfortable, and I kept having to pause the track to listen to the sounds around me. Whilst I knew I was safe in my own house, it did not escape the fear of remembering listening out for approaching footsteps, a door slam, a yell of my name, being pulled from my bed to the floor in an instant, followed by unimaginable abuse.

Yet the more I listened, the more I allowed the beat to take hold of me. Soon I remembered the comfort this once offered, the escape into a world where you could be anything you wanted to be, feel anything you wanted. An angry song could make you feel like you could take on the world, with adrenaline pumping through your veins, and a sad song, could make you cry until there are no more tears left to be wept. This was working!

Whilst now I take great pleasure in listening to music and will almost insist that the husband and I have something on so I can fall asleep to it, something I used to do when I was a child, as it gave me some comfort instead of listening to footsteps approaching. I sadly still do not have the courage to pick up an instrument, even though I own a clarinet, which sits in a case, gathering dust on a shelf, and books that are slowly going musky with age. I still cannot open my mouth to sing, even when alone, through fear of being mocked, or laughed at, which at times pains me when I want to join in but cannot. Instead, my face goes red when I have to politely decline and make an excuse as to why I do not want to participate, shrinking down to being a child and feeling fearful. However, Music is slowly starting to fill my life again in the way it did to me as a child. It is slowly allowing me to work through painful emotions that may arise, by listening to certain beats or lyrics. I can now put on a song and smile at fond memories and laugh at some of the stuff I once listened to.

Music opens up a world that we can escape to with just a pair of headphones and a dream.

Fern

Anxiety

Sun, 08 May 2022 20:14:35 GMT

Anxiety

It is normal to feel anxious at times, before and exam, before a job interview or a date. It is how we respond to feeling threatened, under pressure or stressed. To have anxiety isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can keep us alert, allow us to beware of risks and help motivate us to solve problems.

However, there are times when anxiety can be a problem for myself my anxiety can stop me leaving the house, going to social events, even answering a simple text. If your anxiety is on- going, intense, hard to control out of proportion to your situation, i.e. a panic attack when buying a pint of milk, it can be a sign that you may require some additional coping techniques.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can affect both your body and mind

The effect on your mind can include:

A feeling of dread or fearing the worst,
Feeling on edge or panicky
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Feeling detached from yourself or the world around you
Physical feelings can include:
Restlessness
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Wobbly legs or pins and needles in your hands and feet
Shortness of breath or hyperventilating
Heart palpitations (a noticeably strong fast heartbeat)
Nausea (feeling sick)
Needing the toilet more or less often
Sweating
Sleep problems
Panic attacks

Anxiety can also affect how we behave, for example we may withdraw from friends and family, feel unable to go to work, or avoid certain places that we know trigger our anxiety further, whilst avoiding that trigger our anxiety can provide some relief, this is often short and only temporary. For this you are actually reinforcing the feeling of danger and never gives you a chance to find out whether the particular fears you have are in fact true or not.

It should be noted that some people with anxiety may appear to be fine on the outside, even functioning well day to day while still having some of the symptoms listed above. This is due to you developing ways of hiding your anxiety, so others do not notice it.

So what exactly is anxiety disorder?

General anxiety disorder – this leads to feeling anxious most of the time
Panic disorder – this leads to having regular panic attacks, often with no obvious cause.
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – having anxiety symptoms often after a very stressful or frightening event. A series can also be caused by such things like childhood abuse.
Social anxiety disorder – a fear or dread of social situations
Obsessive compulsive disorder- this can lead to having recurring unpleasant thoughts (obsessions) and performing certain routines(compulsions) to relieve anxiety.
Phobias – this can lead to an overwhelming feeling of fear of a specific object, place, situation or feeling.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions which up to one in 20 people in the U.K. are now being affected by general anxiety disorder (GAD)

What causes anxiety disorders?

So what causes us to be anxious. There are many different factors as to why someone may develop these can be genetics, having a long term painful health condition, traumatic life events such as childhood abuse or domestic violence, drug or alcohol misuse, even you current life situation can also trigger anxiety for example if you are in a housing crises such as temporary accommodation, homelessness etc. Money, unemployment, or work stress.

Loneliness, bullying, or other difficult family or personal relationships can all add to anxiety.

Getting Support

There are several different ways in which you can access support for anxiety. The first steps is to go via your G.P. it is very understandable that this feel to be difficult, even overwhelming and if your anxiety makes it difficult to speak on the phone. You can if your surgery offers an online booking system, or ask a family member or close friend if they wouldn’t mind booking for you.in some areas, within England only, you can self refer for

talking therapy if this feels easier for you to do so.

What will the GP offer?

Your GP could recommend a number of potential things that could help your anxiety. There is self help therapy which can involve a series of workbooks, or online CBT courses that may help. These can be accessed easily and quickly without the need to wait on NHS or private waiting lists. Another suggestion could be that of talking therapies. Talking therapies involve working on your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and habits with a mental health

professional. There are two types of talking behaviour that are particularly beneficial for working with anxiety.

Applied relaxation involves learning to relax muscles in situations that usually bring on anxiety.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) this can help you to learn strategies and technics for recognising and overcoming distressing or anxious thoughts.

Medication

There are a variety of different medications to manage physical and psychological symptoms.

Ways to look after yourself

Discuss how you are felling with someone. Just being listened to and understood may help you feel better. This could be a family member, a friend your GP or call anxiety UK helpline
Look after your physical health. This includes eating and drinking well. Staying physical active, reducing intoxicating substances such as alcohol and drugs, reducing smoking, getting enough sleep, can also have positive impact on your anxiety.
There are several different breathing exercises that can assist with anxiety and in particularly panic attacks.
Practicing mindfulness is also useful in helping to manage anxiety
If your anxiety is not social, you could consider joining a peer support group. This helps offer a safe place to share your you experiences and worries with others who also have an anxiety disorder.

PTSD and Complex PTSD -Why Can't I function

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 15:55:53 GMT

PTSD and Complex PTSD - Why Can't I Function?

Have you ever wondered why you feel like you are just unable to function in your daily life. You often get flashbacks, nightmares, repetitive and distressing images or sensations, physical sensations such as pain, sweating, feeling sick or trembling. These can also come with recurring thoughts as to why something happened to them and if they could have done something to stop it. Which can lead to feelings of guilt or shame.

You may have something called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD - CPTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder and Complex Post-traumatic stress disorder can only be diagnosed by a Psychiatrist or a psychologist as it is a complex mental condition, with a number of co-morbid symptoms.

Symptoms of PTSD

Such as;

Re-experiencing

This is when a person goes through the involuntarily and vividly relives the traumatic event in the form of:

Flashbacks

Nightmares

Repetitive and distressing images or sensations

Physical sensations, such as pain, sweating, feeling sick or trembling

Avoidance and emotional numbing

Trying to avoid the events that led to the PTSD, is another key symptom of PTSD, which is carried out by the following:

Avoiding the places that remind you of the trauma

Avoiding the people that remind you of the trauma

Avoid talking to anyone about your experience

Trying to push memories of the event out of your mind

Distracting yourself with hobbies

Trying to deal with your feelings by not feeling anything at all (emotional numbing)

This can lead you to becoming very isolated and withdrawn, and often giving up on activities you used to enjoy.

Hyperarousal

Those with PTSD can suffer from hyperarousal (feeling on edge), and present the following:

Very anxious

Have difficulty relaxing

You may be constantly aware of threats

You may be easily startled

You may get irritability

Angry outbursts

Sleeping problems (insomnia)

Difficulty concentrating

Symptoms of CPTSD are similar to that of PTSD but tend to include the following:

Feelings of shame or guilt

Difficulty controlling your emotions

Periods of losing attention and concentration (dissociation)

Physical Symptoms - such as headaches, dizziness, chest pains and stomach aches

Cutting yourself off from friends and family

Relationship difficulties

Destructive or Risky Behaviour – such as self-harm, alcohol misuse or drug abuse

Suicidal Thoughts

PTSD and CPTSD can also go alongside other conditions such as:

Mental health – Depression, Anxiety, Phobias

Self-Harming or Destructive Behaviour - such as drug misuse or alcohol misuse

Other Physical Symptoms – such as headaches, dizziness, chest pains and stomach aches

PTSD and CPTSD can be caused by one sever traumatic incident like a terrorism incident, serious collision, rape or build up from a number of incidents such as abuse.

Just because you have been involved in a traumatic incident does not mean you will get PTSD, that said because you have been at a number of traumatic incidents the next one won’t induce a PTSD response, this is sometimes called drip stress. If you think you are immune, remember the last traumatic incident you were involved in and be amazed how much detail you recall, now try and remember what you had for evening meal a week last Thursday. You remember trauma!

Traumatic incidents teach us things in life, mainly how to avoid them hopefully. This manifests it’s self in some of the symptoms making up PTSD such as hyper-vigilance, anxiety, depression, short term memory loss and angry outbursts. Other reported symptoms are flashbacks and OCD to name a

few. These symptoms take time to show which is also why diagnosis takes up to a year after the original incident, so as you can imagine emergency services may have been to many traumatic incidents after the first incident in that time.

The usual bodily chemical responses, like adrenaline, need time to work out of the body usually 72 hours before any symptoms can be first assessed, then remeasured at 28 days to note change and so on before diagnosis.

What makes PTSD such a negative diagnosis is the intrusive triggers and memories and how they impact on your daily life, a loud bang having you diving for cover or a certain smell can cause a flashback to the incident.

More positively, significant studies and trials have taken place now and understanding of the short and long term changes in the brain. Couple this with advances in pharmaceutical interventions and psychological interventions, PTSD becomes more manageable, not cured but managed.

One treatment now often mentioned and also used by NHS is EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), other therapies including talking therapies and some physical linked therapies.

'It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light' - Aristotle Onassis

How to practice meditation well

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 14:20:55 GMT

How To Practice Meditation Well

Meditation isn't all about sitting cross legged, chanting, or even sitting in complete silence. There is several techniques to consider that can help benefit your individual time and getting the most out of your sessions.

Before

Start early
Same time - if this is not always possible, this is ok, we are working on new habits here.
Same place
Don't sit cross legged if it's not comfortable, lying down or sitting in a chair is perfectly acceptable.
Wear comfortable clothing
Remove distractions

During

Play guided meditation or calming music
Focus on your breathing
Come back when you wonder

After

Check in with yourself
Smile at your progress
Journal your thoughts
Make it a habit

Slowly build up your meditation practice slowly. Do not go from 5 minutes at the start, to an hour the following day. The habit will not stick, and you are more likely to give up before you have begun, ease yourself in slowly. Build up routines and timings, if you miss a day, that is ok, accept it, and move onto the next day.

'Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment '. Buddha

What is mindfulness

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 14:20:55 GMT

What is Mindfulness?

Why does mindfulness equal a healthy mind and a healthy life?

I first started practicing mindfulness a little over a year ago. When the subject was first suggested to me, I know I sat back and thought, ok, I love those colouring books we all have seen in shops. The ones with birds, animals or some weird shapes that you get halfway through, get board, chuck to the side and then forget about for the next six months. I did not know mindfulness went much further and deeper than that, that it actually could help process emotions, thoughts, and how you dealt with those on a day to day bases.

Mindfulness is learning the ability to be present in the moment, and to react in certain ways to situations that may otherwise have usually overwhelmed us. It is learning to bring that awareness to that part of your mind, that we all naturally possess, and via our senses, or via our thoughts or emotions, it allows you to be mindful. Alongside this with advancing research, when you are training your brain to be mindful, you are actually remodelling the physical structure of your brain.

Alongside mindfulness comes meditation. Whilst meditation has no fixed destination, unlike therapy for example, where the end goal could be to leave the house, get on a bus, start a new job, it is about exploring. It gives us access to the inner workings of our minds, our emotions, our sensations, and thoughts. allowing us to come with a sense of empathy, warmth and kindness not only to others but most importantly to ourselves.

How we practice both mindfulness and meditation is based solely on the individual, but there are many opportunities to do so. There is the more textbook meditation and body scans, or you can practice mindful moments;

Don't reply to a text straight away
Don't watch TV whilst eating
10 minute walk during a lunch break
Cook a meal with no distractions
Plant some seeds

Mindfulness helps put some space between our usual reactions to a situation, and breaking down our conditioned responses.

It can help reshape your relationship with physical and mental pain, it can also help depress stress. If you are someone who struggles with brain chatter, mindfulness can really help reduce this.

There are five key things that must be remembered though when looking into mindfulness and meditation;

Mindfulness and Meditation is not about fixing you, or your mental health, it is about giving you the additional tools to cope and manage.
Mindfulness and Meditation is not about stopping your thoughts, they will still unfortunately come, again this is giving you the tools to help you cope and manage.
Mindfulness does not belong to a religion
Mindfulness is not an escape from reality, nor is it healthy to try and stay in a meditative state for long periods of time
Mindfulness is not a solution for all difficulties

Dissociative seizures

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 14:20:55 GMT

Dissociative Seizures

Dissociative Seizures - also known as Non epileptic attack disorder, and can often be difficult to diagnose, often taking several years, and can often be misdiagnosed as epilepsy. This can often be distressing for the individual to find out that they was misdiagnosed, and there is no medical treatment for their illness.

In 2021, after several years of having seizures in my sleep, and often dissociating during the day. My seizures then escalated to collapsing to the ground in places like supermarkets, and shops, and my partner having to support my head, so I did not cause myself injury. My case was then escalated to the neurological department, due to frequency, as by this stage I was having two to three seizures per day. I underwent MRI scans, blood tests, and physical tests, and I was diagnosed with dissociative seizures, otherwise known as non epileptic attack disorder. It was accepted that due to childhood trauma, mixed with current mental health, my mind and body, were trying to put me in temporary 'time out's' by placing me in a seizure state.

It can be incredibly tough receiving this diagnosis, as there is often thoughts of shame, that you feel people will think you are putting it on, or that it is not a real health condition. This is not true. Dissociative seizures can be just as disruptive, frighting and unsettling as an epileptic attack. There is also still the risk to your safety such as hitting your head, or causing bruising to your body during an attack, although an ambulance does not need to be called, unless serious injury occurs, or you lose consciousness.

You will need support from your family, friends, and work when you receive your diagnosis, so that you can come up with an action plan for when attacks happen, and how to improve recovery time.

So why do they happen?

The brain normally works by sending an electric message along the nerve fibre, to carry out tasks. However, during an epileptic attack, the brain produces abnormal electrical messages, that then lead to the outside appearance and behaviour to look abnormal. Whilst both epileptic and dissociative seizures look similar, there are no abnormal currents when it comes to dissociative seizures. This is how the brain responds to both outside and inside threats, which can include, memories, emotions, sensations, sounds, smells and objects, that have a link to a difficult moment in the past. They can also happen when a person feels calm and relaxed, and with these, a person may not even be aware they are having them.

For every 1000,000 people, 15 out of 30 people will have dissociative seizures, so you are not alone in your diagnosis, and you do not need to have a big traumatic event to go on to develop these.

Signs and symptoms of dissociative seizures, include the following;

Fainting or blacking out
Thrashing body
Falling asleep unexpectedly
Shaking body
Dizziness
Headaches
Feeling distant
Blurred vision
Body weakness
Difficulty speaking
Looking blank or becoming unresponsive
Memory problems

and many more

Dissociative seizures come with some basic first aid, and this is what someone should do, if they witness you having a seizure;

Cushion your head
Move any harmful objects away from you
Be calm and reassuring
Call an ambulance if they done know if you have epilepsy or dissociative seizures

Dont

Call an ambulance unless you are injured, or they don't know about your condition
Don't restrain you in anyway
Don't put anything in your mouth
Don't try and give you any medication

It is usual for dissociative seizures to go on longer that epilepsy seizures.

Whilst dissociative seizures are not treated in the same way as epilepsy, and are not treated with anti-epileptic drugs, there is some treatment that can be given. This can be in the form of the following;

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
Counselling/Talking therapy
Psychotherapy
Anti-Depressants

To find more information on talking therapy, you can access this on the NHS website;

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/types-of-talking-therapies/

There could be a waiting list for these services within your area, so the sooner you make contact, the better.

Some of the common causes of dissociative seizures is that of stress, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. Using things such as mindfulness, meditation and learning how your own personal reactions to the above, will help you manage your seizures much better.

Dealing with your stress management and getting the correct amount of sleep your body needs, are two of the most important things, to help manage your seizures.

The following NHS website has information on stress;

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/stress/

The most important thing that must be remembered is, you did not bring on the attacks, but you can use tools to help you manage the duration and frequency of your seizures.

Fern