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Unknown userMember
This Topic Tuesday will investigate what mindfulness is, the obstacles we can face when trying to utilise it as a coping strategy and how we can possibly reframe our thinking of it!
Hit the 'Like' button below to get an email reminder on the night.
In response to: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
Shaz51Senior Contributor
Good @Former-Member, and now i am looking into improving my green thumb xx
Hello @Former-Member
In response to: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
Unknown userMember
@soul @Former-Member that's what I'm wondering too.
The best tactic I have come up with is what I mentioned up there to @Teej
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
Unknown userMember
Excellent @Shaz51 I'm working on house plants to be more relaxing inside. 
I can just sit and look at them and feel better.
In response to: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
Marie7Contributor
In response to: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
TeejSenior Contributor
I’ve been kind of trying more lately @Former-Member. Personally concentrating on one thing and not being distracted is a huge challenge. It is something I’m trying to work on and my therapist is pulling her hair out with.
In response to: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor
@Former-Member I think it's super helpful to start off by knowing that this mindfulness thing is difficult. We aren't SUPPOSED to be any good at it when we start off. It is perfectly normal to be really really bad at it. It saddens me when people say they tried mindfulness and it didn't "work" for them. I fear that this reflects poor instruction on what mindfulness is/isn't. I mean, how can focusing your attention fully on what you are doing in the moment not "work?" I think a lot of MH professionals present mindfulness in an overly simplistic way, as though it's something you learn within a few days and then hey presto, all your problems are solved. Thus people are disappointed when it doesn't happen this way and abandon it as something that didn't "work." 
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
Unknown userMember
A tactic I sometimes take, is to let myself notice the overwhelming feelings - I may even wave to them or say hey there annoying overwhelming thoughts 
Then I will invite them all with me to a mindful activity. Like I may bake something all the while letting those thoughts and feelings just be there, playing along to their tune....while I activiely engage in something that has helped me be mindful before.
Sometimes the cookies are all baked and I feel even just a little bit of relief for giving myself a mindful moment regardless of how crappy I may have felt. Getting that body moving, or the eyes looking - its hard but it can draw our body away from our mind and keep us a bit better connected to rationality.
Being mindful, won't always be fun or joyous, but it can still be helpful - if that makes sense!
In response to: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
AdgeSenior Contributor
Yes the term Mindfulness is mentioned a lot by Therapists these days (I've heard it).
They do seem hard-pressed to actually explain what they mean, or to give useful specific examples of "how to be mindful" (when asked).
That's my experience.
It's definitely still a work in progress for me - as I feel unable to put it into practice at work or when in stressful situations.
eg when being hit & kicked by my clients (on a regular basis). I just seem to go into "stress mode".
Mindfulness (being mindful) gets delayed until I get home, away from the triggering situation....
Adge
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
soulSenior Contributor
I think we are all capable of focussed thinking but mindfulness is downright difficult when you're in crisis mode. It's then that it is really needed.
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday//How can I be mindful when I have a mindFULL//Tues. 20 March. 7pm - 9pm AEDT
TeejSenior Contributor
It was helpful to read @Phoenix_Rising that riding the big waves is a practice thing. I guess there can’t be perfection in riding a wave either.
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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