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Just watch your breath

Whenever you have a terrible thought, switch your focus to your breath. The mind will try to distract you with thought activity, but just keep watching your breath. What happens when you do this? Can you try for 5 minutes?

Also, I started making video responses to your mental health questions as a way to better share advice with you all.

The last video I made was in response to @gigix2 who asked about how to deal with depression. If this information is relevant to you, you can check out the video here:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

Otherwise, if you have any questions about mental health, please post in my group and I will try to make a video response specifically for you.

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether

34 reactions 10 comments
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Hey. I’m new here.
I have a lot to say, and no one to talk too it feels like.
I’m used to having a best friend to vent too or a boyfriend.
It seems like, I’m just all alone now.

Just going to kind of give you a run down of what’s going on and what’s happened.
I’m 29 years old. I have never been diagnosed with anything. And, I’m not trying to diagnose myself with anxiety, depression, etc.

7th graduate-12th grade I lived with my great grandparents. My mom quit a very good job, got addicted to crack, my stepdad(at the time) beat on her and did some unspeakable things to me and my brother. My bio dad, was never in the picture.. although I also knew he was also in active addiction.

Three months after me graduating high school, I found out I was pregnant.
Before my daughter(my first born) had even turned 1, I found out I was pregnant with my son.

Same year my son was born, I married their father.
Couple months after being married, I realized I was super lonely. 😔 Didn’t have a lot of friends, I had my great grandparents. I went to see them daily. Other than that, no family. I let my mom start coming around.. first time ever. Since before I had kids.
She encouraged divorce. I was about 22-23 years old. I left. Left my marriage.. took my kids and set out for a better life(that didn’t happen🤦‍♀️) Not long after separating, I learned my husband was an addict.. I was alone all the time because he was out chasing a high. Total shocker to me.
I ended up, moving in with my mom and her new husband. Ended up started dating someone(worst mistake) MYSELF NOW WOULD BE SCREAMING TO MYSELF THEN, GO HOME GO FIX YOUR MARRIAGE. Anyways, lived with that dude at my mom’s for a year.
Ended up breaking up with him and moving out of there(there was a lot of drinking, fighting, and probably I’m assuming drugs involved) I didn’t want that life or to be apart of that, I moved back to my great grandparents.

After that, I started dating someone 12 years older than me. Really thought it was going to be great. He seemed so sweet and nice and honest.
NEWS FLASH! I was wrong! Why would I think that?

We stayed together, 5 1/2 years.
And, it was HELL. There was more downs then ups.
I dealt with abuse.. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL.
Complete narcissist.
I was completely codependent on him.
For so long I was scared to leave and not know what would happen if I did.
He has been in and out of jail.
His family is absolutely horrible to me.
Here’s an example, this is so awful you wouldn’t even think someone would do something like this… but this is how his family was. The first time I met his mom, before I could even speak my name, she walked up and uppercuts me in the nose. Total shock. Because I’m not a fighter, I’m not an aggressive person. So, I just got in the car(with blood all over my shirt) and left. This was before he started abusing me.
He started using drugs and drinking.( I thought we was so in love) I tried to get him to go to rehab, counseling, whatever it took. Nope. He never went. Things just got worse. So I would break up with him, put him out of my house. Because, I paid all the bills, I paid for the food, I had the car. Him being 12 years older than me, never once had a car longer than a month in our relationship. I actually bought him a car a year and a half ago, he got pulled over for reckless driving, the car I bought got impounded. I let it go. Through me breaking up with him, several times and putting him out. I would TRY to move on, and I would look for someone else to date or talk to. Even though, I broke up with him, he still considered that “cheating “. I’m not saying how I handled things was right, but idk. It was a lot of back and forth. So much hurt from me and him. Every day it was a fight. So many stories and I could go on and on.

Anyways, fast forward till now. I have not seen the man I was with for 5 1/2 years in over a month. The last time I seen him, he broke two of my fingers and busted a mirror in my car. So, I told him I would not see him another day in my life until he went and got help. I’ve “heard” he is at a hospital and he has fluid on his legs and feet. I do worry about him. Like I said, I’ve been codependent on him. I’m used to talking to him daily, even if it’s arguing. It’s odd to me, that I haven’t heard from him. Like, does this mean we are really done? And, I’m completely okay with that. Yes it will hurt, but we have been very toxic. Because I did say, if he didn’t get help or didn’t want help.. we just needed to cut ties because I couldn’t risk my life. He has 3 kids, his kids mother has popped back up in the picture, she hasn’t been around or anything for the last 13 years. So I’m wondering, if that’s why he’s just kinda disappeared, like maybe they are getting back together.

My kids dad and his girlfriend are having a baby.. next week she’s due. He is clean now. Which, every day I kick myself, because I wish I would have tried harder for our marriage and for him to get clean. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve been through a lot.

Thing is, what I’m struggling with.
Yes, I’ve made mistakes.
I don’t want to continue making the same mistakes, the people I’ve chose to date, weren’t right for me.
I’m not trying to date, or sleep around. I am genuinely trying to heal.
I do get lonely, don’t have anyone to talk too or go places with. It’s difficult. It’s difficult to accept, no one cares to know how your day went.
I just want advice, on how to let go of being so codependent. How to accept being alone. I feel like I have no family or friends now. How to redirect my thoughts, when I start feeling sad or lonely. Or when I want to go try a new restaurant, but I feel silly going alone.

28 reactions 8 comments
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On the Other Hand… #MentalHealth #Depression #Addiction

While my life has hit a big low, I’ve also been nine days clean off my addiction. 🎉

40 reactions 7 comments
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Practice self-love

So much of our pain comes from the way we treat ourselves. We do whatever we can to prevent other people from saying bad things about us, but we don't spend too much time stopping ourselves from thinking bad things about ourselves. Who is ready to make a change and honor themselves with kindness, gentleness, and support?

Also, I started making video responses to your mental health questions as a way to better share advice with you all.

The last video I made was in response to @shreakinwarrior22016 who asked about how to deal with misconceptions about your specific mental health challenges. If this information is relevant to you, you can check out the video here:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

Otherwise, if you have any questions about mental health, please post in my group and I will try to make a video response specifically for you.

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether

108 reactions 18 comments
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First Post

Hi, my name is U_moxi_kcarc66. I'm here because

Ultimately I want to write, and i also want to help people. I have a lot of personal experience with addiction, I’ve been struggling with drug addiction for more than 20 years on and off, I’ve been in an exorbitant amount of inpatient treatment centers and all kinds of other mental health related places. I have watched so many people get clean and I might have gotten clean a few times but I never stayed clean. Unfortunately for this reason I don’t find many people to relate with…which is why I want to put my story out there. Maybe I just need some encouragement…also what is this pop up that keeps invading this screen???

(edited)
4 reactions 2 comments
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National Semicolon Day

National Semicolon Day is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health struggles, particularly focusing on suicide prevention and supporting those who have struggled with depression, self-harm, addiction, and other mental health issues. The semicolon is a symbol of hope and solidarity, representing a pause rather than an end in one's life story. With all that has happened in our world in recent days, weeks and months this could be a good day to reach out, check in & provide some compassion and care. You just never know the burden someone is silently carrying through their days and just maybe your words could help make it a little lighter.

17 reactions 2 comments
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New perspective

For my recovery from depression, it was vital I had someone with a different perspective. I've had about 9 therapists in my life, plenty of people who I got mental health advice from, and I have a mental health teacher who I listen to regularly in the evenings. New perspectives have been vital to my mental, physical, and spiritual growth. What about you? Do you have a mentor or friend who can help you with new perspectives?

Also, I started making video responses to your mental health questions as a way to better share advice with you all.

The last video I made was in response to @synthia who asked about how to overcome a lack of motivation when battling depression. If this information is relevant to you, you can check out the video here:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

Otherwise, if you have any questions about mental health, please post in my group and I will try to make a video response specifically for you.

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether

98 reactions 18 comments
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Let's help each other

I know that so many people here have tried to reach out, in a time of need, to family, friends, and professionals, hoping to get some kind of help, but instead were quickly told to simply get over it. We all know this doesn't work, and it's very painful when this is the response we get. Does anyone have an example they'd like to share of when this happened? More importantly, does anyone have an example of when they got help the RIGHT way? If so, what did you need help with, and what was the person's way of giving that help? Do you have any advice for how we can better show support? Or is there something you would like help with right now?

Also, I started making video responses to your mental health questions as a way to better share advice with you all.

The last video I made was in response to @soultalon who asked about how to use exposure therapy to overcome trauma and fear. If this information is relevant to you, you can check out the video here:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

Otherwise, if you have any questions about mental health, please post in my group and I will try to make a video response specifically for you.

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether

226 reactions 56 comments