Allison's Healthy Living Journey

https://thefirstmess.com/2020/02/19/sweet-potato-coconut-milk-stew/ Yesterday I joined a "self-care practice."  I joined to develop better habits, mood, and journal more.  Side note, I have been able to fully come off my anti-depressant!  Is this a good thing?  I don't know.  It kind of happened on accident, I was working with my doctor to come off and had cut down to every other day, then I forgot to take it for a prolonged period of time.  Taking it made me feel worse getting all that "chemical" back into my body.  So I took a deep breath, told my co-workers so they would know if I start acting weird, this is why.  I sweat bad, and coming fully off of it was rough.  But I did it, and still went to work, and school.   So back to the self-care practice, this is to help me stay checked in.  There is an app that is a support group, and someone posted this AMAZING recipe.  I saw it and said, "OH MY GOODNESS!"  One of my ...

  I am going to eat more coconuts for my thyroid and brain function!  I take that to mean maybe could help with depression? Do  Pina Colada’s count as being "healthy"?   One for each hand...any Garth Brooks fans?  💓 Troubles I've forgotten, buried em in the sand.... One of the things I like to keep in my freezer is fruit bars, coconut is one flavor!  Eating one yesterday I looked up the health benefits of coconut and was so excited. Some other ways to enjoy coconut that would be gluten free is to add it in smoothies, top it on a salad, on a fruit salad.  I LOVE seafood, and coconut shrimp is just the absolute best!  Other fishes to enjoy on is salmon, and scallops. Also substitute Coconut milk in recipes. 

I posted earlier tips for Boosting Mental Health. I've tried to post things I'm thankful for, post some comedy and share some nature pictures.  I hope it has helped spur you on in your own journey to Mental Health practices and that maybe you have felt some different. Forgiveness I believe comes in its own time.  It's a continual thing too.   Healing is a pattern.  Much like a quilt or weaving, the needle is pulling the thread bringing everything together...and not in some random order.  There is a pattern of ordering things, of doing things consistently.  Push the needle up, and pull it down, one thread after the other.   THREE THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR: Watching my boys play basketball and being the loudest in the bleachers! Pumpkin Pie Rain LAUGHTER: The Urkel Dance! BE IN NATURE: Taken at Wrightsville Beach Shell Island this past April 

  The truth about trauma is this: Trauma and hurt can be a gift, as we heal it makes our heart bigger to receive more and give more compassion.  Trauma develops an antenna to detect real and fake.  Sometimes we aren't real with ourselves, the trauma and abuse can cause us to believe things that aren't true and enable bad behavior.   As human beings made in God's image we are deserving at least of being treated with dignity and respect.  We are worth the work we put into ourselves, and we shouldn't allow other people to trash it.  We have to forgive ourselves often.   There are so many questions to ask ourselves in a day and hold ourselves accountable to, this such as: What strengths am I focusing on?   How am I staying engaged in the moment so that it is enjoyed and not missed through screens? As a pastor I listen to says, "doom scrolling."   What is my way of interpreting what's going on around me; my perception? ...

 Since my last appointment with my Primary Care I have realized I HAVE TO start eating better, I have no other option.  I have to start watching my cholesterol, I'm at risk for diabetes with my auto-immune disease condition.  It's depressing!  Regaining all the weight I lost 2 years ago is depressing!   I have downloaded an app called FitCoach, paid $20 for a month and I've so enjoyed it.  In it I get a meal plan, which I don't follow too closely, but I have appreciated come of the gluten-free recipes.  I'm sorry, I can't put steak powder on a cauliflower and pretend I'm eating a steak and be happy.  Who does that?  Raw broccoli salad with Italian dressing for supper?  I'm super gassy and still hungry.  It helps me know how long to fast, right now I'm supposed to fast from 5 PM to 9 AM, I didn't last one night and ended up eating a whole bowl of white rice before I passed out. In addition to great recipes I get workouts that I ...

 One of the words I want to live my life by is being intentional.  It's a transforming word really. I think when we decide we want to be better we can and will be. It's one decision at a time. Since the onset of my diagnoses of depression I've been on a lot of different anti-depressant/anxiety medication at different doses.  It's horrible to come off of.  I've tried to go off cold turkey before, and it  has always ended up being hell.  Currently I have been taking Effexor 75mg.  I remember the struggle just 2 years ago crying for days, feeling like I would never get better, that I'm going to be on medication and so messed up the rest of my life.  I was scared of (and still am) the diagnoses "severe reoccuring depressive disorder."  Would I fall into a dark place with no warning?   I recently shared with my Primary Care Physician I'm ready to come off my anti-depressant the right way; weening off.  I'm in a really good place men...