F I V E ; T I P S

5 things to do if your having a shite of a week !

Now, we all have them. One thing going wrong after the other.

But for the anxiety strugglers out there,  when a week goes bad.

It goes bad.

One thing an anxiety sufferer does well is catastrophising. Drama queen I hear you sigh ? I did drama at school, I was never very good. Although, honey, you should see me in a crown. (If anyone can guess where that quote is from, I will personally high five you)

So, a lovey example of catastrophising is when you realise you left your tasty chocolate protien granola in the boot of your mums car and you know you were looking forward to chowing down on that for breakfast. You then ring said mother, frantic, slightly aggressive and then become extremely miserable knowing you will not be eating that chocolate, crunchy, protein packed goodness for breakfast. That my friends is catastrophising. Or an extreme case of morning hangry. (Sorry mum).

So these are the 5 things I like to do when I can't seem to carry on, oh woe is me ...

Obviously in at number 1, FOOD and WATER.

I am a firm believer of good things in, good things out. That includes some of the naughties too. If any of you follow me on Instagram. You will know I ate a 1/3 of a chocolate cake today.

And I am not sorry. Nope. Not one bit. But I do love to cook. When I know it's healthy for me to. That's a bonus.
Something I have been lovin is a little bit of lean in 15. This cook book is amazing for quick, tasty and nutritious meals ! And I can speak for us all when I say, he is a little easy on eye too. GUILTY.

In at number 2, EXERCISE.

I may be a little bit of an exercise fanatic. But let me tell you a little bit of sweat, however way you work it, CHEEKY, can go a long way. That natural release of chemicals in the body will get you out of your funk. So get out, a walk, a run, or some Yoga with Adriene or blogliates, even buy a Fitbit. I love mine. It encourages you to just, not sit down. Or run up and down the stairs until you have reached your step goal. But whatever it is. Get your booty moving.

Number 3, SLEEP.
We are all guilty of not getting enough of this. This is so important. Sleep is key. I can be exhausted  then go to bed and be as alert as a bloody meerkat ! One tool I use, sleepin apps. Whether it's Rain sounds, meditation or one of my favourites Mindfulness. Whack it on. Reconnect with you. I can 90% guarantee you'll be fast asleep before you even reach the end.

In at 4 is YOU.
Make time for you. Whether it's that game you wanted to play, or just a bath and big glass of cider. Schedule it in and not just once. Twice. Three times even. Do it, you will feel better after. If you like to get a little crafty, crack out the crochet. But not too close to bedtime. Even that gets my brain going. Yeah, how bloody old do I sound.

And finally for 5, SUPPORT.
You need it. Everyone does. Even if you struggle with anxiety or not. Knowing you are not alone is everything. It has taken me, a long long time to get to this phase. Where I can finally seek help for my problems. This is because I am finally in a place where I feel safe enough to do so, knowing you have people to fall back on. They won't challenge your crazy, won't call you stupid, will understand when your het up and tetchy and know your working your ass off to change. For the better. You'll need that. Because anxiety and worriers, they worry about shit like that. But what do I know, I lost my marbles years ago.

And if all else fails, if these 5 TIPS don't help. I hear vodka is good. Try that.

Ta Ta for now !

XOXO

A N X I E T Y; G I R L

A is for ... ANXIETY.

Anxiety and depression is becoming a bit of "thing" now, everyone seems to have it. Even the cat has it. I don't have cat. But the cat, does have it. To a few, it's a big deal, to the majority, well let's just say I can feel the judgment all the way from my keyboard. And well, I have some kind hand gestures for you. That, or it's the paranoia talking ... So many times, you are just told to, get on with it, pull your socks up etc.

That's the problem. You get on, but, a BIG but ... There comes a point when pulling your socks up just hides that nasty leg hair you've been avoiding to shave off for months and months. And guuuurrllll, I cannot differentiate where your bikini line starts and ends.

It's a jungle down there.

This may give you a clue as to why I have stopped blogging.

I ran out of things to write about, wasn't sure where to take my writing and art blogging just got dam boring. I couldn't be bothered and going to the gym was so much more fun. And I couldn't be bothered.

There can be a lot of skeptism on this subject. Especially those who have little information on it ...  and those who feel like, yeah I don't need help. This is stupid. I can do this on my own.

I'll be the first to raise my hand and pledge guilty to the jury on that one. Yeah, I have been watching way too much of Making a Murderer. Did he do it ?! Did he ?!

I was raised to keep going, heck my mother is back at the gym a year on from being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Now if that isn't carrying on I don't know what is.
We are a stubborn determined bunch mind ...
Thanks mum.

I can understand why, really understand why so many are speaking up now.

It isn't stupid. In fact, after getting some b*******  to ring my doctors and get an appointment the first thing I said to her was,

"I feel stupid. I feel like I'm wasting your time."

Then the doctor laughed and said yeah you crazy b****, I'm just playing.

I jest.

I want to help people who are going through this.

The only way to describe it is, you are trapped in a prison that is your own mind with no escape and I am not a fan of drugs or alcohol. Just addicted to the gym and Netflix binges.

It frustrates you, makes you lash out and get angry. It's tough. It's tiring. Once you get on that merry go round, it's hard to hop off.

Anxiety comes in different forms, mine is worry. Yes we all have worries, but some can consume you to the point of ruining your everyday life and relationships. Go on, have a guess at what mine ruins ... And I ain't talking the sexy relationships too. Friendships take a good beating sometimes and it sends you cray cray.

It takes just one thought, one feeling, one behaviour and poof, your off !  Before you know it, your crying uncontrollably going, well, how the F*** did that happen.

The point of this post is, it's not stupid. If your reading this and your having fun on that roundabout and you just don't know how to get off. Chances are, you aren't ready yet. The time will come, when you know and you feel it's time to go and seek help.

It's scary as hell. Like, terrifying. But the chances are you are already in a place of safety and support. That's key. Safety and support. You will need that.

If your reading this and are on the same journey as me, I'd like to hear your tips and tricks. Cause, you can never have enough tools in your toolbox. Yeah, I just quoted my councilor and I am not even ashamed.

Ta ta for now !

XOXO

Lush, Baths and Spiralised carrots.

Hi Blog, in the words of Joey Tribbiani, How ya doooooing ? 
It's been a while, you know that song, Eat Sleep, Rave Repeat. My life has been going something like this, Vibe, Work, Sleeeeeep, Repeat. With gym and circuits chucked in the middle. But yeah, I thought I'd kick it off with a few things I am lovin.

If you guys didn't now, I am now working with the company of my dreams. Lush.3 weeks ago, Lush opened the world's largest Lush store. 3 floors of Lush heaven, a mecca if you will, residing in London's very own Oxford Street. And they didn't stop there ... 200 new, YES. NEW. Products. A tiny bit of wee just came out. I am hoping to venture up there in a couple of weeks time, but my lovely managers took lists of goodies we couldn't wait to try and bought them back for us.I had a lovely selection of bath bombs/melts, their pretty straight forward. Smelling lovely of course. But the golden wonders I received, Cup o Coffee face mask, Hair custard and Damaged hot oil treatment.  All of which I am in love with. 

Cup o Coffee, is like dunking your head in a bag of coffee beans, refreshing and energising. Not to mention what it does for your skin. Talc, Kaolin, Agave Nectar and some ground coffee for exfoliation. I love the smell of this, and I hate coffee. Best used in the morning, if your feeling sleepy and need a perk up. Or when your hungover. Yeah, when your hungover.

Hair Custard. THE. SMELL. Argggghhmaaaaagaaaaawd. The smell. Argan oil, coconut oil, fair trade cocoa butter, egg whites, vanilla. And THE SMELL. This is pre blow dry treatment as well as a styling cream. It makes your hair feel soft as a babys bot, but gives it volume. I want to say this is the egg whites ? But who cares, soft, yummy, scrummy, I WANT TO EAT IT.  

Finally the cherry on the top. Damaged hot oil treatment. Some cocoa butter or something in this, maybe vanilla. (I am too lazy to go find the packaging, it's my day off alrite) But it made my hair so soft it may as well have been waterproof. TRY THIS. TRY IT ALL.

One thing I can't wait to get my hands on is the makeup.As much as I love all the things Lush. I do use other things, be it a fair few but there are things. Aloe Vera Gel. My spots life saver. I love Grease Lightening, but sometimes this little thing helps the little blighters go. Finally Baths and massage bars. I am working out a lot more these days, I blame the two weddings I am going to, one I am being a bridesmaid. Exciting, but I need to get this booty in shape. So most evenings I will spend in the bath. My favourite, Big Blue and Sunnyside, topped with a rubbing down of hottie or wiccy massage bar. The water looks like mermaids water. 

Mind Blown 💨😮🔫

Pair this, with my iPad and Vampire Diaries. Perfect evening. 

Vampire Diaries probably deserves a mention. Bit late on that wagon, but yeah. Vampires, werewolves, witches, blood. It's like an action packed less sparkly Twilight, but with better actors. Ooooh. Sorry KS and RP. You are better in other films. My spiraliser, I've been wanting one of these bad boys for ages. I got one. It's amazing. Courgettii with pesto, plum tomatoes, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Bon appetite. Chicken, satay sauce, with carrotii and veggies. Yum. 

As well as working on my body I am trying to get my mind in check. I am a firey  passionate person by nature, but want to put in more positive outlets. AKA I am one mad B****.  I already crochet. Now I Yoga and Meditate. I am still working this into my routine but the little I have done, I am loving. Youtuber Yoga with Adrienne, she is my yogi master. Check her out. And am test running some meditation apps. Headspace, Digi Pill and calm. I will let you know how those work out. And that probably won't be to the end of this year at the rate i'm blogging ...

Finally, I am loving my mum.  I embarrass her so much on my Facebook, but she truly is an inspiration. My inspiration. And i've always said that, even before she got "The C word." (Do watch BBC's adaptation of that by the way !) Mum has now had all her treatments, chemo, mastectomy and radiotherapy. It's now recovery. Or rather back to work full time and kicking my ass, even now, at sprinting. Yeah, she's even joined the gym again. A month after radio finished.

#HENCHWENCH

Ta Ta for now !