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The Strange is Beautiful

Alternative self-care for mind obstacles.

self care

Leave the Blinds Shut: 5 Ways to Pull Yourself Through A Depression Episode

Posted by strange on February 22, 2018
Leave the Blinds Shut: 5 Ways to Pull Yourself Through A Depression Episode

When it comes to my moods and my emotions, my highs can be really high. But my lows can leave me wondering where those highs even came from in the first place. Here recently, I’ve been in an emotional rut that’s resulted in me not being able to enjoy life as much as I’d like and it’s had a negative impact on my productivity and self-image. I’ll feel so many things (although sometimes nothing at all) that I lock myself in my room in complete isolation with my blinds shut and my curtains closed. However, what happens to me a lot when I slide far down into depression is that I’ll grow so exhausted from the episodes, that I’ll have to come out of my funk, even if only temporarily, just to give myself a break from the influence the depression has over me at the time. In other words, while I may not be able to come out of my depression overall, I do what I can to build my strength up so that I can continue to move forward in dealing with my depression. This leads to me gradually coming out of the episode and once again living life in my highs.

Posted in: Advice for Mind Obstacles, Georgia St. Jones, Self Care | Tagged: depression, depression advice, georgia st. jones, self care, self help, self love, the strange is beautiful, ways to pull yourself out of depression

Self-Love Chart Reminder

Posted by strange on February 14, 2018
Self-Love Chart Reminder

Loving myself has come to mean being compassionate to myself. To me, a big part of that is understanding that my mood and energy fluctuate, and that is okay. This chart helps me understand that some days are harder than others, and while I will have some days that make it impossible to feel love for myself, there will also be days that I fully love myself and can even love others with the overflow.

Posted in: Advice for Mind Obstacles, Janie, Self Care | Tagged: janie contreras johnson, self care, self love, self love chart, the strange is beautiful

9 Meditations for Anxiety and Depression: January 2018

Posted by strange on January 31, 2018
9 Meditations for Anxiety and Depression: January 2018

Every Monday we post on Instagram #MeditationMondays as a reminder to pause, breathe and reflect on uncomfortable feelings that rise during each day. Below are a compilation of our meditations up to January. Everyday is a practice.

Posted in: Meditations for Mind Obstacles, Self Care | Tagged: alternative medicine, janie johnson, meditation, meditation for anxiety, meditation for depression, meditation mondays, meditations, self care, self care for anxiety, self care for depression, the strange is beautiful, the strange is beautiful yoga, yoga for mind obstacles

I am the Phoenix, Reborn and Ready: Reflection in 5 Diary Entries

Posted by strange on January 25, 2018
I am the Phoenix, Reborn and Ready: Reflection in 5 Diary Entries

phoenix

The Phoenix in mythology, and in Harry Potter, is a bird that dies, turns to ashes and is reborn. I feel reborn. I have felt so different ever since I moved out. Almost confused from it. Who am I? Who is Shannen? This is five diary entries on reflecting on who am I today, now, and who do I want to be in 2018.

Posted in: Advice for Mind Obstacles, Self Care, Shannen | Tagged: acid reflux, citrucel, domestic abuse awareness, food phobia, ibs, january reflection, medicine phobia, new years resolution, omeprazole, phobia, reflect, reflection, self care, self love

“And Through Her Eyes She is Whole” – Short Story by Georgia St. Jones

Posted by strange on January 24, 2018
"And Through Her Eyes She is Whole" - Short Story by Georgia St. Jones

Grass blades stick into her skin as she lay on her back, completely bare. She sinks into the ground beneath her and can feel the Earth move in sync with her own breathing. Her eyes open to see the infinite blue above and stares into the eyes of melancholy while remembering the times she’s been here before.

Posted in: Georgia St. Jones | Tagged: black author, creative writing, female black author, inner strength, love, poc author, self care, short story, strength, the strange is beautiful, woc author
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