Tell yourself good things

When things are difficult and days are dark it can be hard to remember the good things. One way to help you cope and keep a good perspective as you are going through trying times is to say affirmations to yourself.

You are the person that influences yourself the most. When you have negative self talk, you believe the things you tell yourself and you feel awful. Practice saying some affirmations to yourself on a regular basis. The more you tell yourself positive things, the more you will believe it! And if you find yourself saying something negative, chase it down with 2 positive affirmations! Here are some examples to get you started:

• I am worthy
• I am loved
• I am a good mom/dad
• I am loveable
• I am learning
• I am trying
• I forgive myself for the mistakes I have made
• I am good at (fill in the blank)
• I can do this
• I am strong
• I am not alone

As you start your own list you will find affirmations that are meaningful to you. If you struggle with finding your own affirmations try talking to yourself like you would talk to your best friend.

Blessings, 

Kara

Quick ways to take care of yourself

Taking care of ourselves is so important. I mean, it is important for everyone, but if those of us who are parenting children with mental illnesses don't take the time and effort to take care of ourselves, we will shrivel up and become useless.

At least that is what it feels like.

There are so many things that you can do for yourself to help fill yourself up. Some cost money and some don't. Some require TIME, and others only take a moment. I know from experience that sometimes there was just simply not TIME to take for myself. So, here are a couple of ideas for you that you can do when you don't have time.

1. Look at yourself in the mirror and say out loud that you are doing a good job - that you are doing the best that you can do in this moment in time. Say it even if you don't believe it. This only takes a moment and can be done when you are in the bathroom. Easy and effective.

2. Play music that you like. Maybe you can play it while you are in the car (turn it up loud and sing along!), or maybe you can just have it on in the background as you go about your day.

3. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.... let them out slowly. In with the good, out with the bad...


Blessings,
Kara

How strong are you?

We are some of the strongest people that I know!

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! (Are you hearing Kelly Clarkson's song in your head?) It's true! As parents of children with mental illness we go through so much with our kids. Sometimes I would tell God that I was pretty strong already and didn't need to get any stronger! Little did I know...

You know, this is true for our kids as well. They are going through some pretty terrible stuff. Some of it is normal kid stuff, and some of it is so far out there that it is hard to imagine how they must be feeling. Sometimes in my moments of sanity I would tell my daughter how strong she was and how proud I was of her for how she was handing things (even though from the outside it looked like a disaster). Even when things were tough, she was using all of the coping skills that she had learned and was trying, but it was really overwhelming. She was doing the best that she could.

I think that we as parents probably look like that too. We are using all of our coping skills to get through but it probably still looks like a disaster from the outside. Maybe even feels that way on the inside. This is why it is SO IMPORTANT that we take time for ourselves, to fill ourselves up and replenish our reserves. If you have blocks of time that you can set aside for yourself, that's great! More power to you! For a lot of us, it is near impossible to find a moment to do that. But even then, when you are in the bathroom, just look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you are doing the best that you can do. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Maybe wash your face or just freshen up a little bit. Every little thing makes a difference.

Blessings,
Kara