Devices and Techniques I use to stay well

The following is what I use to keep myself well. I find these techniques very grounding and relaxing on my brain. I have a real interest in finding techniques that work to decrease stress on myself. I have tried a lot of things. I am not going to write a list of things you should do. I am going to tell you what I do, specifically. They are I order of what I find to be the most important down.

Medications. Obviously. If I was building a house these would be the concrete floor and the steel bones of the house. Taking medication is a no brainer. But for me it doesn't elevate my life. It helps for sure. But the following is what allows me to soar.

Lumenate. I love this app so much I bought the eyemask that goes with it (rather than holding my phone). To know more just goggle it but I will give you my run down on it:

For me I find it deeply meditative and it seems to relax my brain. And I feel fully in control the whole time. This device is like staring at the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) for me. It is deeply relaxing and I find it allows me to trust my brain again. It gives me that confidence I need after not being able to trust my brain after the psychosis.

I use this product twice a day.

ASMR & EMDR. For this I use YouTube and have a premium subscription. Having the subscription means I can listen to it while the iPhone is in the lock mode. I listen to them with noise cancelling headphones while doing the dishes, housework, writing this blog, I listen to it in the car. I listen to it whenever I can basically.

Just pop these two terms into AI to get a description of them.

I find these listening sessions extremely relaxing on my brain. I really find the headphones enhance the experience.

I do this daily without fail.

Journalling & now blogging. This is an obvious one. I journal everyday. I write my blogs now every second day. I use the reMarkable paper pro and move and I also have leather journals.

I mainly journal in the morning and I write whatever is on my mind knowing no-one is going to read it. I find writing at night too hard, my brain just isn't up for it. I do journalling and blogging for the enjoyment I get from it. I understand this isn't for everyone.

Reading. I read constantly. I never used to however. But now I see the benefits of reading I do it daily. I always have two books on the go. One fiction and the other non-fiction. I also have an audiobook on my iPhone for when I feel like it. Sometimes when I am a little sick for the ASMR I will switch to the audiobook.

Reading seems to help focus my brain and increase my memory. With fiction reading I feel you have to remember the characters so it forces your brain to visualise and remember.

Reading books helps me get out of my own head and thoughts and into someone else's. At work I see a lot of elderly people and the ones who are cognitively excellent are those that are avid readers.

I also read and listen to poetry. This I find seems to bypass my analytical brain and reaches a part of my mind that makes me see the world differently. I use YouTube for this. A book about this technique is called: Wild Creature Mind By Steve Biddulph.

I read daily.

Group Meditation. I go to meditative classes and really enjoy it immensely. I use to go three times a week but with kids and work I go once every Friday (but lately every fortnight).

I don't need to spruce the benefits of meditation. But I find group guided meditation more beneficial than meditating along (exceptions with the Lumenate).

Nature Walks. I do these and find myself with headphones on listening to ASMR at the same time. Or I use the Apple 'Time to Walk' feature. I enjoy the green of nature. This I do fortnightly.

Two things I am starting. I am always looking at things to add to my toolbox. I feel I have a good toolbox at the moment but it doesn't hurt to have other tools to rely on. Not necessary to keep adding to it but as an alternative when I feel the need arises.

The first one is I am starting crochet. This is still in the zone of: I need to buy the stuff first. But I plan to do it while listening to an audiobook. I find when I listen to an audiobook I need to do something with my hands. And crochet seems a perfect fit. And I couldn't crochet in silence. No way.

The second one is I just bought a product called Plaud. This I wear on my wrist and with a touch of a button it records what I say. I am using it to record my thoughts, when the thought arises. And I find I stop the loop in my mind by dumping it into a recorder. And later when I listen to it I realise how sometimes silly the thought it. Or how small it is. I've just started using this device and I am excited to be adding it to my toolbox. An update: this device has AI built in and when I record a doubt or negative thought AI helps me work through it. I find this extremely beneficial, I feel this device will be a great addition for me. Even though it was created for office work meetings I am finding it great for my mental health.

And that's what it's all about. Creating your toolbox. Adding to your toolbox and most importantly using the right tool for the right moment. Don't wait until it's too late to create your toolbox. And then open that toolbox everyday and use something out of it. I have and that makes all the difference.