You and Me and BPD

In this episode, I speak about some tips to keep in mind as we begin to have conversations around our mental health struggles. So many of the messages I get about this podcast are from people who don't know how to explain their mental health to others so I figured it might be worthwhile to share some tips on things to keep in mind when you are wanting to begin talking about your own mental health. Here's a quick summary of some of the key points - 1. Find connections with other people who speak about experiences similar to your own i.e watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, look up hashtags on social media etc. 2. Think about the intention behind what you want to say; what are the reasons you want this conversation to happen and who do you want it to happen with? 3. Figure out what form of communication is best for you i.e writing a letter, texting, talking over the phone or email, or in person. Everyone has different ideas of what is comfortable so take the time to think about the different ways you might explain things to different people in your life. 4. Set a clear goal of what you want this conversation to lead to; do you simply want this other person to understand you better? Are you hoping they can be a supportive person during your struggles? 5. Remember to keep in mind the religious/cultural traditions of others and think about how much detail you want to give this other person. It's important to note that not everyone will have the same capacity for understanding so keeping yourself safe is key. I hope something in this episode is helpful for you and I hope this can encourage you to begin to open up to the people in your life. No one deserves to struggle alone and I am rooting for you to find happiness in this life 🖤

I am leading a Yin Yoga + Deep Relaxation class for my Buddhist group so I decided to record a Deep Relaxation Meditation for the podcast aswell. This meditation is focused on relaxing the body and creating more awareness of our internal feelings and sensations; it is typically done in a lying down position and can be a great practice to utilize when we are experiencing stress or anxiety. The actual meditation begins at the 4minute mark. Thank you for letting me share this beautiful practice with you 🖤💮

In this episode, I talk about how I experience loneliness. The feeling of loneliness is one of the most human feelings we can experience, but I know that it can be hard to explain and hard to vocalize why we feel the way we do. I touch on the topic of 'spiraling' - when one emotion or thought leads to another and it feels like you are falling into a bottomless pit - as well as some of the ways that loneliness can contribute to an overwhelming sense of emptiness if we are not honest about how we feel. I made this episode because I feel lonely nearly all the time, and many of the messages I receive have to do with people telling me that this podcast has helped them to feel less lonely in their mental health journeys. As always, feel free to reach out on my Instagram @journey.bound; I will always answer your messages and send you loving thoughts. I hope you know that you are never truly alone in this world; the earth is your home and you are a beautiful part of it. I love you 🖤 stay safe 🌻

This is a short meditation practice using the breath. The actual practice starts around 12mins. These are the 4 statements we will be repeating to ourselves :::: A) Breathing in, I am aware of the in breath + Breathing out, I am aware of the out breath B) Breathing in, I am aware of the breath in my body + Breathing out, I am aware of the breath leaving my body C) Breathing in, I am calm + Breathing out, I am relaxed D) Breathing in, I am alive + Breathing out, I am here. 🖤 feel free to use any of these statements whenever you need a moment of mindfulness or to formulate your own longer practice.