I have too much living to do.

I have too much living to do.

I may be in the middle of battling PTSD right now but I will squeeze all my living in when I’m better.

Someday I will kick mental illness’s ass. Although I feel like the odds are against me, it can be and must be done; I have too much living to do yet.

But, in order to win the day, I have to defy the rules, be “that guy” that stands in opposition to the established norms. No, it’s not about going after the man, nor is it taking up the fight for social justice.

The fight I am speaking of is the battle within. More specifically than that, I must win the fight over mental illness’s manipulation. I must stand up to the power of PTSD and say, I am no longer your slave; depression, I will no longer bent to your will and anxiety, you’ve navigated my self speak and self-worth for far too long.

Ways to boost your self-worth

I don’t know about you but I’m tired of being held hostage by what lies between my ears. Not only am I fed up with it, but I am also desperately wanting to reclaim my life; aren’t you?

I argue yes, that’s exactly what’s happening.

But, in order to do accomplish this feat, we must understand that those thoughts that bounce around inside, the ones that hold us back are bull; I believe the modern term is fake news.

Many mental health conditions are like gaslighters from the inside out; whereas, gaslight usually occurs from the outside in. People who gaslight do so to the degree where one questions their sanity.

I have too much living to do.
Go live your life.

Sound familiar? It seems sometimes that our brains hate us but in reality, we have conditioned it to feel like no one likes us or that we aren’t good enough. Trouble is, what we think about long enough, we start to believe.

“I know I have worth, passion and goals.”

Since I have too much living to do to let this manipulation go on any longer, I have decided to fight back. I know, I know, how on earth do you do that? am I right?

Well, for starters, can you really say that EVERYONE hates you? Or, is it our disorders talking? Are we being duped into thinking that we are worthless? I argue yes, that’s exactly what’s happening.

Want to hear the stories of those on a similar path? Have a listen here. A New Dawn Podcast

We start by paying more attention to the voice that disagrees with these lies. Sure, it may seem smaller and more off in the distance but it is indeed your authentic voice; essentially, that disempowered voice is the real you. Additionally, once you hear yourself in the background saying; ‘I know I’m a good person.” and or; “I know I have worth, passion and goals.”

So, what will digging through the deception do for you? See, the more you listen passed the noise of mental illness and start paying more attention to the real you, that tiny, tired out voice will get louder and more confident; before you know it, you’re starting to believe your truth.

In reality, it all comes down to who do you want in the driver’s seat? A voice hell-bent on running you into the wall or you; heading to a destination that brings you peace and happiness? Personally, I have too much living to do to allow my life to be hijacked; I’m willing to bet that you do too.

In crisis? Call 1.833.456.4566 | Text 45645 (Crisis Services Canada) Crisis Services Canada

Want to help make my book a reality? Donate here: GoFundMe

Contact us: The Road To Mental Wellness

A Critical Incident, yours?
While faced with memories of a critical incident or more, should we …
Damage to our well-being
What are the factors that damage our well-being? Maybe it's the lifestyle …
OUR KIDS MENTAL WELL-BEING.
In the last decade, we have seen a rise in mental illnesses …
Our mental well-being
In part one, I discuss the impact of working our guts out …

Jonathan ArenburgLeave a comment
Fake news for the Brain

Fake News For the Brain.

Mental illness is a hell of a thing to be stricken with. When in darker times, it fools you into thinking all kinds of things. Essentially, it’s fake news for the brain. So, I bet you’re wondering how our very own brains can be the source of and interior misinformation campaign?

Well, you may find it helpful to reflect on days when this misinformation monster is sleeping and you are feeling more like yourself. Have you ever noticed that when you feel well, you are much kinder to yourself? This is because the better you feel, the more in touch you are with your authentic self. In other words, it’s you doing the talking.

However, when you are overcome with PTSD, depression, anxiety or something similar, The fake news reporter starts telling untruths. Lies like “You’re not worthy” and “you are nothing but a burden”.

What to read a mental health article I wrote for the paper? Subscribe below and I will send it to you.

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

What’s interesting to me is that we seem to be suspectable to its manipulation. Hearing, what is obviously its false claims long enough, we start to believe them as fact. Which no matter how many times our mental health conditions talk to us, it will always be wrong.

learn to differentiate the fake news that is propagated by your mental illness voice from that of your authentic self.

However, keeping this in mind does little to help one fight off the negative thoughts. What I suggest is that you make a list of all your authentic qualities when you are well; this way you can have some of your truth written in your own words, right in front of you when you need them most.

This pre-episode assessment is helpful because, despite what the inner demon says, you have actual facts to the contrary; all you have to do is accept them as just that, fact.

How to break yourself out of negative thinking.

  • Fake News For the Brain

learn to differentiate the fake news that is propagated.

As is true with most things, beating this fake news for the brain is easier said than done. Why? Well, I think it’s because it’s had to ditch that in which we have become accustomed. The good news? Is that we also have the power to take control of our guidance systems and make this lying voice smaller and smaller.

For example, mindfulness, once practiced enough can help bring you back to the here and now. Read about my experience with mindfulness here.

Other things including honest feedback. We are oftentimes unaware of our own behaviours, therefore, asking someone you trust can signal that you’re not yourself. Journalling can be a great way to get a sense of where you might be.

Overall, for me, the primary alarm bells for me come when I am spending more and more time in bed, low energy and isolation. It’s usually proceeded by this negative self talk. Often, I am able to fight it off simply because I know the signs. However, there are moments where all I can do is ride the wave until the storm passes.

Remember, at the end of the day, being in a darker place is what spawns these thoughts and are not a reflection of who you are. They are symptoms of your mental health condition. What defines you as a person is something that took years to shape. Are you really not a good person? Most of us who are ill are, in our hearts kind and caring, helpful and funny.

Feel like you’re all alone? A New Dawn Podcast has many real-life stories of people just like you.

So, learn to differentiate the fake news that is propagated by your mental illness voice from that of your authentic self; my prediction is that you will be able to be a more functional player in your life and as a result, will be well on your way; down the road to mental wellness.

Want to help make my book a reality? Donate here: GoFundMe

Contact: The Road To Mental Wellness

Jonathan Arenburg1 Comment

At Odds With The Self

PTSD I am at war! A fight for my life and all that I love and hold sacred. This conflict is not so much raging against the exterior world around me although I have to say that it provides my enemy with enough ammunition to keep us in the throws of combat for many years to come.

As painful as a prospect of this campaign continuing on for the foreseeable future is, it’s almost more so thinking about how long I have danced with my arch-nemesis. Combining the two thoughts together sometimes makes me wonder how I will take on the next battle and the one after that.
Who is this enemy you ask?  It’s the battle with the self, two factions within my head, vying for supremacy.

The back and forth confrontations of my authentic voice and the voice of mental illness.

How I will win this fight is not entirely certain but what I do know is that I don’t intend to lose. Therefore I will fight on for as long as the anxiety, depression and PTSD want to rage on. Sure I’m outnumbered and it’s true that they sometimes attack alone, in the darkness, at family gatherings or in the local supermarket for that matter. A solo assault I rarely see coming and seldom do I understand its triggers.

Listen to the stories of others at – anewdawnaa.com

When one of them isn’t trying to ambush me, all three form an alliance of pain in an all-out effort to end the war and take their object, my mental well being. These are the toughest, most taunting battles and take so much out of me that I find I have little choice but to avoid the world beyond my doorstep. I guess even the hardest of soldiers need to go on leave, my war is no exception. With this rest, I live to fight another day.

Although this battle is at times, exceptionally difficult, I fancy myself a long-time veteran of this mental tug of war and have spent years learning my disorders battle tactics. Luckily for me, they don’t deviate much from this plan and I am able to deploy my weapons to fight back. Good diet, exercise, deep breathing, and therapy.

My own tactics have given me the upper hand because I am able to discern my authentic voice from that of anxiety, depression and PTSD. I shall never surrender, my loving support system is my mental H bomb and it always keeps me in the fight.

My fellow road to wellness warriors, keep fighting the good fight. Although exhausting, it is absolutely worth every battle scar it leaves behind.

You may also enjoy: Mental Illness and Cleaning out the Garage, What do they have in common? 

Contact me onFacebook: facebook.com/TRTMW

Jonathan ArenburgLeave a comment