Article – Keeping Up Your Spirits

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Kindly submitted by Peter Gilbert.

Breathing in, breathing out. Air into the lungs, breath of
life. Feet, legs, eyes, mind, spirit and heart all connected.
I notice the sights, smells, sounds and sensations of my
surroundings as I run with a group of companions down
the Worcester Canal to Diglis Canal Basin and its sign
displaying the number of locks to Tewkesbury and
Birmingham. We cross over the bridge, past the imposing
13th century cathedral of St Oswald and up towards the
Old Bridge, where a rowing eight is shooting through the
arches, scattering swans as it goes. We double back to pick
up the tail-enders, as the proud boast of Worcester Joggers
is that ‘We don’t leave anybody behind’.
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Rediscovering Creativity and My Inner Child

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Thank you to Sylvia van Bruggen for this post.

In 1998 I headed to the OB/GYN because I was unable to get pregnant. The doctor found a lot of problems with my uterus and prescribed hormones to deal with most of them. Within a few weeks I was a shell of my former self. I was deeply depressed and didn’t want to come get out of bed anymore. A long journey followed. I sank in deeper and deeper until I was in such darkness that I found myself in the kitchen, standing with a knife at my wrist. I saved myself there. I knew I couldn’t live like that anymore, but I also didn’t want to die. Something better was there.

I returned to my childhood love of writing and wrote myself out of the depression. I also rediscovered art and photography. The final link came when I reconnected with the child in me. I found my joy again and the deep love that connects me to mother Earth. I have now made this discovery a big part of my life and I teach others to do the same. It is a gift my depression gave me. I am grateful for that darkness, because in the darkness, I found my self.

Sylvia has a blog here featuring her poetry, short stories and art, as well as a website for people wishing to reconnect with their inner child (Playful Soul Work).

The Road to Recovery

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Post kindly submitted by Ian Merrick.

The road to recovery for me is about communication and being involved in the community. It means a lot to me to be of help to others as it gives me a sense of confidence and self-esteem. This has meant being around people who treat me with respect and as an equal. This makes me feel comfortable around others, because I want to be seen as a person and not a label. I like to be positive because it lets people know I’m on the road to recovery. Another part of my recovery has been the satisfaction of giving something back to others by listening to them and taking an interest in their well being.

I do various things to fill my time music, spending time outdoors and being with my wife, Joan. Joan plays a big part in my recovery because we can talk openly to each other about my health. This is a great help, along with my medication which helps to keep my mental health stable.

I enjoy independence and living my own life, which I can do with a little support during my recovery.

All the things I’ve spoke about keeps me well on the road to recovery, so let the things in life keep you well!

Me And My Shadow

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Post kindly submitted by Andy Lowe.

Hi, this is my story about me and my wee friend the shadow.

At 52 I find myself in an old rusty truck living a simple life here
in the Scottish mountains and along with my wife Mel oor 2 wee cats
Wilkie and Chloe, I can say I have never been happier, aye my wee
friend visits still, but I have learned to welcome him into my life.

For many many years I battled against my depression until in 1996/7
the fight for me seemed useless and I had had enough, the way out of
the darkness became harder and harder the doors one by one disappeared
and during that time i tried to commit suicide on several occasions.
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Using Art Therapy for Good Mental Health

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Post courtesy of Mara McWilliams

The key to living successfully with bipolar disorder is realizing how your disorder benefits you. For me, bipolar disorder allows me to tap into my creativity. Sometimes in a mania I can produce six inspired paintings in one week. Although bipolar has many downfalls, we cannot ignore the benefits. I suggest you too look at your life and see where your disorder adds something special to your life.

Don’t get me wrong, living with bipolar disorder is not an easy feat. I know this because I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1989. However, it wasn’t until 2000 that I began to understand my responsibilities as a bipolar woman. Before that, I viewed myself as a victim of an illness. It wasn’t until I claimed responsibility for my recovery that my life changed. It took ten years for me to find a way to manage my illness. For most of my life I fought most of the demons associated with mental illness: self-injury, self-medicating which led to addiction, and eating disorders. I initially found recovery at 17 through a 12-Step program.
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Birchwood Highland is 25

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We’re celebrating our 25th Anniversary this year. We’re inviting you to do something for Birchwood Highland, a sort of anniversary present if you will. Here are some 25 themed ideas fundraising ideas.

- No Facebook for 25 days
- No coffee for 25 days
- Meditate an hour a day for 25 days
- Run 2.5 miles per day for 25 days
- Auction 25 items on ebay & donate the money
- Cycle 25 miles 25 times

Remember we have a page on where you can make a fundraising page easily.

But it doesn’t have to be fundraising, it could also be awareness raising.

- Tell 25 people about Birchwood Highland
- Invite 25 facebook friends to like our page
- Write a 25 word update about us or the work we do on a social media site
- Wear a Birchwood Highland t-shirt for 25 days
- Write 25 letters to businesses, MP’s, and other organisations telling them about us!

4 Blogs on Creativity in Mental Health

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I wanted to share a few blogs I’ve come across since the last post that showcase artwork created by people who are service users or otherwise have a history of mental health issues. The work they feature is interesting and inspiring, so here they are (in no particular order):

1. Mental Spaghetti

A blog set up for artists to share and discuss their work, created by Marie-Louise Plum.

2. Breakthrough Art

Promotes the creative talents of those with mental health difficulties, among many other positive activities.

3. Art Therapy Alliance

Dedicated to the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and emotional needs.

4. Bipolar Artists

The art of artists and writers with bipolar disorder or other mental health issues.

Know of any other blogs on the subject of creativity in mental health? Let us know!

James’ Story of Recovery

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Hi, I’m James, 49 years young. Born and raised in Inverness.

I tell my story in the hope that it will show people that they can still have a life even though they have mental health problems.

Born in Inverness, I have a brother and sister. I went firstly to Crown School then to Raigmore as my parents bought a house in the Drakies area. I attended Millburn Academy, I did not achieve at school and didn’t enjoy it at all. On leaving school I was like anyone else, looking for work when there wasn’t much around. I remember not having any great ideas about my future and by the age of 18 I was drinking quite heavily.

My memory of what happened to me next is blurred, but a family member has helped me fill in some gaps.

It was 1979. I was 19 years old and seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. I was unconscious for a week and suffered a degree of brain damage. My life was to change forever.
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Welcome to the New Birchwood Highland Blog

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In 2012, Birchwood Highland has been supporting vulnerable adults for 25 years, encouraging increased independence, inclusion in the community, and recovery.

We hope this blog will provide a fun and informative platform for our staff and the people we work with to share their experiences, opinions, and ideas – whether they be about recovery, good practice in care and support, or indeed stigma and discrimination.

Feel free to get in touch if you have any comments of feedback.