Category: MENTAL HEALTH

A Lesson in Grating an Apple

I stayed with a friend recently and we decided to make some apple pancakes together for breakfast. I was given the task of grating an apple. I was feeling a bit tired but very hungry, so I threw myself into my role as chief apple grater and attempted to grate the apple as fast as I could.

After about 30 seconds, apple seemed to be flying all over the kitchen. I felt like I would lose the skin on my knuckles at any moment; I was getting nowhere, my friend was laughing her head off and I felt frustrated and defensive. I was trying so hard to get this job done and it was tough. Continue reading “A Lesson in Grating an Apple” →

I Treat Myself With Love

by Anne Malatt, Australia

I have always loved to treat myself, to reward myself for working hard, to give myself something to make up for what I felt I was lacking, to substitute for love.

What were these treats?

  • When I was little, they were sweets. We were allowed one ice cream every Sunday morning, and that was our weekly treat. That was my religion – I looked forward to and savoured that moment of the week!
  • On birthdays, we had parties with sweet treats – fairy bread, blancmange, cake. I used to save some of my birthday cake to have for breakfast the next day ­– it was my favourite part of my birthday – a sweet treat to make up for the fact that it was no longer my special day.
  • As I grew older, the nature of the sugar changed – tiramisu, pavlova, champagne, chocolate, liqueurs – but in essence it remained the same.

Why the need for these treats? Continue reading “I Treat Myself With Love” →

Harden up Wuss, What are You Made of! Real Men & Putting on the Tough Act

by Josh Campbell (20), university student, New Zealand

REAL MEN DON’T CRY – OR DO THEY?

All I can remember from my childhood years – when I think back to them – is forever getting a strong message that if I am to grow up to be a real man

  • I must be tough.
  • I must be hard.
  • I must be rough.

But the most hurtful and deeply felt ones of all were that

Breaking the Pattern of Abuse by Dealing with Childhood Sexual Abuse

When I was 7 years old, my mum’s then boyfriend sexually abused me. I told mum at the time, and her response was… “He was only trying to make you feel good”. I never spoke of the event again until I was 18.

When I brought up my childhood sexual abuse at 18, my mother said she could not remember a thing and also said that it had never happened. I felt deeply hurt and very sad that my mother did not accept that I was speaking the truth. All I ever wanted from her was to acknowledge that the sexual abuse did happen, rather than pretend that it didn’t.

As an adult I know what is true and there is no need for anyone else to get it, but as a child I was either silent and never spoke about it or I wanted my mum to own up and take responsibility for not being there for me as a child, for not listening to me when I was 7 and needing her to support me rather than just try and brush it away. Continue reading “Breaking the Pattern of Abuse by Dealing with Childhood Sexual Abuse” →

Settled

by Dr Rachel Hall, Holistic Dentist, Brisbane

No matter what I was doing, be it working, reading, walking, swimming, resting, chatting with friends or trying to get to sleep, my body always felt agitated or shaky and my mind would be in a whirl, spinning with constant chatter.

I never felt at rest, there was always a tension and a sense of having to get on with the next thing. That there was more to do, better things to achieve, one more hurdle, goal or milestone to hit and then I could rest, be at ease and achieve a sense of completion. But when I reached that goal there was another and another and another to strive for. My restlessness built and built until my body felt wired and my mind could hold several conversations simultaneously without my being even really involved in them. Continue reading “Settled” →

Healing through Writing and Expressing

by Rosie Bason, Mullumbimby, NSW

We all have something to share; a piece of wisdom, a story that we can either choose to keep to ourselves or we can share with others. I have come to realise that when we share our expression with others through song, spoken word or in a written format, it can inspire so many and be a gift for all of us.

I have benefitted firsthand from the generosity of others sharing their knowledge and wisdom – both practical and inspirational. Of what use is it if we keep what we have come to know to ourselves? Continue reading “Healing through Writing and Expressing” →