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Showing posts from May, 2016

Supporting someone having thoughts of suicide - Author: Laura Abbey

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https://www.sane.org/media-centre/the-sane-blog/1796-supporting-someone-having-thoughts-of-suicide

Scientists Are Trying to Solve the Mystery of Awe - By Jordan Rosenfeld

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http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/05/scientists-are-trying-to-solve-the-mystery-of-awe.html?mid=facebook_scienceofus&utm_content=buffer12094&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Mindful Creating For More Life “Beginning an artistic activity is one way to help us move from excessive mindlessness to a more mindful life.” The Letter by Pierre Bonnard - Ellen Langer

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Stoicicm - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius : Basic Philosiphy... shit happens and the sooner this is accepted, the less anguish we feel about the situation. This is not to say that we should accept unjust behaviours but not be shocked and reactive when they occur.

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The Power of Self-Reflection: Ten Questions You Should Ask Yourself - by Michael Woronko

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http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/the-power-self-reflection-ten-questions-you-should-ask-yourself.html

Do brain-training activities really work? Author: Suzanne Leckie

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https://www.sane.org/media-centre/the-sane-blog/1795-do-brain-training-activities-really-work

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo - Documentary

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12 years ago, the story of Frida Khalo inspired me to pursue my best possible recovery. Freda is a heroine, showing the power of inner strength. her life was short and her accident was tragic but her life was golden. I was sitting in a wheel chair, in a physical rehabilitation  hospital, suffering from long term chronic pain. I was unable to cut my own food, walk without support or sleep without opiate based pain killers. But I could hold a pencil. Then I discovered Freda through a movie based on her life. I  was encouraged by her strength to work on my recovery and come to terms with my pain. Like Freda, I had lost a child and understood the grief of having a part of me die. Unlike Freda, I was then was gifted by the universe with four wonderful children who have enriched my life beyond bounds. Like Freda, I rejected my femininity in my early life and was a misfit in the circles of my community. Like Freda, I fought a powerful force to raise awareness of an unjust system...

On the Wildness of Children - "The Revolution Will Not Take Place in the Classroom" Carol Black

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http://carolblack.org/on-the-wildness-of-children/

Art as therapy

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The Powerful Pull of Repeating Old Routines - We do the same things we did as kids, again and again, because we can't help it.

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https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201505/the-powerful-pull-repeating-old-routines?utm_source=FacebookPost&utm_medium=FBPost&utm_campaign=FBPost

Meanwhile In Canada, Peel Regional Officers Meditate In A Temple

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http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/04/13/peel-police-meditation_n_9684274.html

10 Tips To Help With Overthinking

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http://www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/10-tips-to-help-with-overthinking/

Greater self-acceptance improves emotional well-being

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http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/greater-self-acceptance-improves-emotional-well-201605169546utm_content=buffer02525&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Music - Gjallarhorn - Ranarop Call of the Sea Witch 1997

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2+2=5 | Two & Two - Nominated as Best Short Film, Bafta Film Awards, 2012

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"Think for yourself and question everything with curiosity and wonder. It can feel safer to follow the herd and sometimes it is but often, the herd may just be walking you off a cliff."  Live your Bliss Mairead

The Sanity of 'Madness'

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"BOY" - A Short Film about Gender Dysphoria

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Today I attended a most enlightening seminar called, "Gender Dysphoria - Shifting Diagnostic and Treatment Paradigms" . The presenter was  Dr Fintan Harte who is a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Albert Road Clinic, Melbourne and until recently, Head of Unit, Gender Dysphoria Clinic, Melbourne.  He is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University and Senior Clinical Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne.  He is a founding member and current President of ANZPATH (Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health) and also a member of WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health).  He has published a number of articles in peer reviewed journals and is a regular speaker on aspects of gender and sexuality, both nationally and internationally.  Dr Harte is a medical graduate of Trinity College Dublin and completed his post graduate psychiatric studies in the Uni...

Western Philosophy - A Guide to Happiness - A series of 25 minute videos on the basic teachings of 6 prominent Western thinkers

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1. Socrates on Self-Confidence 2. Seneca on Anger 3. Epicurus on Happiness 4. Montaigne on Self- Esteem 5. Schopenhauer on Love 6. Nietzsche on Hardship

12 Signs You’re Disrespecting Yourself (and How to Stop)

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http://isoulscience.com/2016/03/12-signs-youre-disrespecting-yourself-and-how-to-stop/

The "P Factor" - A term that I created to explain the things that most strongly influence my understanding of my world - Pain, Past experience, Pay off, Perception, Personal story, Persona, Perspective, Politics, Practicalities and Practice. Mairead Ashcroft 17/5/16

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I was raised in a generation where to learn was to be told something by someone who knew better and to never question the validity of what was being taught. Life lessons were to be taken as gospel whether they came from a teacher, religious leader, any adult in my community or the in crowd. In order to fit in, it was required of me to follow the mainstream and follow the same beat as everyone else. Needless to say, I chose not to fit in. I was no great rebel and I never stood out in a crowd until I was confronted with injustice of others. This happened at an early age. I would rather face corporal punishment on a regular basis than agree with something that was unjust or hurtful to another. I stood up to bullies in defence of others, even when the bully was a teacher, parent or peer. I questioned their motives and how such behaviours could be tolerated by the main body of my community. Why were others not questioning the unfairness around them? Why were people being valued differe...

Tips from those who know – Managing symptoms of schizophrenia Author: Jeremy Little

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https://www.sane.org/media-centre/the-sane-blog/1785-tips-from-those-who-know-managing-symptoms-of-schizophrenia

Why people believe they can’t draw - and how to prove they can | Graham Shaw

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A short light-hearted look at Eastern vs. Western Philosophy

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Free Introduction to Art Therapy - Hayes Art Therapy

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KOMAL - A film on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) - English - CHILD LINE India

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http://www.childlineindia.org.in/ https://kidshelpline.com.au/   Kids Help Line Australia - 1800 55 1800 Kids Helpline is a free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25 in Australia. Counsellors respond to more than 6,000 calls each week about issues ranging from relationship breakdown and bullying to sexual abuse, homelessness, suicidal thoughts, depression and drug and alcohol usage. The service receives more than one million calls per year

Johann Hari: Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong

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9 Ways to Stop Being Negative ( Or put another way... How to bring more positivity into you life )

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http://centerhealthyminds.org/join-the-movement/9-ways-to-stop-being-negative?utm_content=buffer02a95&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer  "Practical exercises for those who may be dragged down by general feelings of disconnect and negativity for themselves and the world around them. More acute phases of mental illness also benefit greatly from positive, strengths based strategies  but take your time and be gentle with yourself in the process." Mairead

Schizophrenia Awareness Week - What is schizophrenia? SANE Australia

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https://www.sane.org/mental-health-and-illness/facts-and-guides/schizophre nia  "The most precious gift that you can give a person who is experiencing symptoms of any mental illness is your understanding." Mairead

Music - Gregory Alan Isakov - That Sea, the Gambler - 2007 (Full album)

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How Well Do You Really Know Yourself?

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" I have no claim to understanding astrology, tarot cards, crystals and the like and I know that some of these practices go back to ancient times. I find the concepts fascinating. I cannot say that there is no value in shamanism and mysticism just because I don't understand it, but neither am I a magical thinker. What I do know is, there are charlatans taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of others every day and most probably in every culture." Mairead

Study: Language and Labels May Affect Mental Health Stigma

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http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-language-and-labels-may-affect-mental-health-stigma-0203161

The 'Sexy Lie' We Should Be Talking About

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The Difference Between Tantrums and Sensory Meltdowns - By Amanda Morin

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https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/the-difference-between-tantrums-and-sensory-meltdowns?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=understoodorg

Thinking On Your Feet: Dancing Wards Off Neuro-degenerative Disease By Rewiring The Brain - By Lizette Borreli

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http://www.medicaldaily.com/benefits-dancing-neurodegenerative-disease-human-brain-380835

Teaching Children to Calm Themselves By David Bornstein

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http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/first-learn-how-to-calm-down/?_r=1 A Trauma Smart therapist talked about feelings with a child at a school in Kansas City, Kan. Credit                                                     Tyrone Turner for The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Feeling Moody? Here’s Why. Moods are fleeting, volatile. They come and go at the drop of a hat. But beneath the surface, research suggests, they serve a deeper purpose. By Sharon Begley

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http://www.mindful.org/feeling-moody-heres-why/

Say Yes to Your Weirdness - Laura Grace Weldon

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https://lauragraceweldon.com/2015/04/22/say-yes-to-your-weirdness/

Closed Circles Performance in a Three Faced Suit

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What it means to “hold space” for people, plus eight tips on how to do it well . By Heather Plett

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http://heatherplett.com/2015/03/hold-space/ Photograph of the Author and her Mother

Arts to Healing - Atira Tan

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Last year, our Art to Healing team delivered a psychological first aid training in Nepal, where I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a dynamic father and son  duo: Inti San Thiago  and  Paulo Thiago , who helped us create the first ever Art to Healing video! We are very committed long term to helping Nepal recover from the earthquake last year, and to support the cessation of sex slavery there, whose numbers have risen exponentially since the earthquake. To support us in our vital cause and mission, please join us in the  International Yogathon For World Peace  on the 22nd of May! We are giving away a 15% discount off before the Early Bird Price finishes tomorrow, so hurry and book in today! The booking link for the 15% discount is  www.trybooking.com/LBZS . Not a yogi? Join us in our World Peace Kirtan and Meditation evening with our wonderful musicians in the evening of the 22nd of May. https://www.facebook.com/events/765876193513722/ ...

How People Learn to Increase Their Resilience - How do we perceive stress in our lives: as major setbacks or moments of growth? Perception plays a major role in resilience. By Carley Hauck

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http://www.mindful.org/how-people-learn-to-increase-their-resilience/#