SUPPORT, INFORMATION & AWARENESS ON TIC CONDITIONS, OCD, PANDAS / PANS AND RELATED CONDITIONS
Wellbeing
Our wellbeing is so important, but sometimes we forget the importance of looking after ourselves and nurturing our needs. If we have poor wellbeing and do not look after our mind, then we may become so stressed and unmotivated that daily tasks start to feel like a chore. We live in a fast paced society that is often very hectic, so we forget the importance of slowing down and honouring our needs. I hope that the content on this page can help you feel more calm, comforted and at peace. Remember to look after yourself. At the bottom of this page, there are some resources, including some videos from my channel.
Audio Resources
Resting
Some people feel guilty for resting as they feel as if they always need to be doing something productive, this is how we have been conditioned by this fast paced, competitive society. It is important to remember that rest is completely necessary, and you do not have to earn it. We are not here to work on things all the time - we are her to live, and part of life includes resting.
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Different types of rest:
- Doing something creative
- Spending time in nature
- Having a sensory break
- Listening to music
- Watching movies
- Spending time with friends or loved ones
- Taking a social media break
- Wrapping yourself in blankets and getting comfortable.
- Having a few rest days to get in tune with yourself.
- Colouring, playing, using fidget tools, reading or looking at quotes which inspire or comfort you.
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The importance of taking breaks:
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If we do not take the time to rest and take breaks then it can take a toll on our wellbeing.
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If we do not rest then we may begin to lose our authentic self and get to caught up in our 'serious' / 'work' persona, this can cause some of the joy to go out of life.
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If you don't listen to your body then you could leave yourself drained and close to burnout. This means that you may not have the energy and motivation to do things that you and enjoy and it can impact the quality of your work.
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If you don't look after yourself then you may struggle to be there for others, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Please always know that your needs are just as important as the needs of others.
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If you do not take breaks then it can feel as if you are losing your 'spark' and life can feel dull.
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If you do not take breaks then you may become quite hostile to yourself and you may forget how to nurture yourself. This can affect your self esteem and outlook on life.
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Resting gives you a chance to process your feelings and experiences.
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Resting gives you the mental energy to come up with new ideas for projects.
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Resting helps you see what your needs are and allows you to see if they are being met. It helps you cultivate self-love and nurture yourself and your inner child.
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Resting allows you to evaluate your life and see if there is anything you need to change and why.
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Taking breaks gives you time to try something which you do not usually do and it can give you time to research or learn something new.
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Resting helps you recharge so that you can have a fresh start. It can help you feel motivated and free.
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Resting allows you to spend time with yourself so that you can learn about yourself and become aware of parts of yourself that you were not aware of before. This allows you to embody your authentic self more.
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Taking breaks can prevent meltdowns as it reduces overstimulation and ensures that we are not over-exerting ourselves.
Setting Boundaries
Setting healthy boundaries is vital. Sometimes, being around people, socialising and having too many commitments can be very overwhelming, draining and stressful for some people.
It is okay to say 'no' to things. It is okay to take time off of social media. It is okay to take out time from socialising if it is draining you. It is okay to want to spend time in solitude and focus on things that give you a sense of calm and joy. It's okay to say to people that you don't want to take a phone call right now or that you need a break. You don't need to do anything or talk about anything that you don't feel comfortable with or which are harming your wellness.
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If people don't respect your boundaries, then they are not the best friends for you to be with. Your needs are important so remember to listen to your body and do what is best for your wellbeing. It is okay to be an introvert and need alone time to recharge. It gives you time to process things, learn new things, work on your passions and be able to enjoy your own company.
Talking about emotions
Talk to a friend, connecting with others can be comforting. You can open up about your feelings as that can help you feel listened to and validated and talking about what is going on can serve as a release. Sometimes talking about our feelings can be hard, but we all have feelings and there's nothing to be embarrassed about. If you feel uncomfortable talking to family members or talking face to face, then you could talk to a friend online or use an online support service.
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Talking about your true feelings does not make you 'attention seeking', it shows that you have the courage to be open, raw and real. This is beautiful and shows your strength.
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Sometimes you may feel like others have it worse and that you'd be taking help away from someone else if you talk about how you are feeling. No matter how you are feeling or how bad it is, you can open up. It is better to get help early on and not wait to see if things get worse. There are no rules about when you should or should not talk about how you feel. It would be amazing if we lived in a society where people could talk about their emotions openly without fear or shame, this would create an empathetic world where people feel comfortable and accepted no matter what they are going through.
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Some people feel like a burden for talking about how they feel, but this thought is false. The people in your life care about you and would likely rather be there for you, help you and talk to you than know that you are struggling alone.
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Sometimes we can get defensive, angry or detached when we feel like we have to open up about our feelings, we may not like the attention from others or we may worry about being judged. Take your time and ensure that you are talking to someone you trust and that you feel safe with.
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