A-Z of Recovery: Asking for help

No matter what issues we are suffering from in life, it is very important that we acknowledge that help is at hand if we just have the courage to ask for it. A lot of the time, people can deal with their issues alone and with a lot of success but there are instances where talking to someone or asking for some kind of help is the best possible decision you can make.

Remember the saying "a problem shared is a problem halved", well think that through whenever you're dealing with something. There are so many different people that are there to support you if you only ask.

School/Education
This can often be one of the most stressful times for a teenager, with exams, friends, society, how you look, homework etc. It is a time where everything seems to have so much importance. The issue is, its often seen as 'stupid' or 'uncool' to ask for advice or explain to your teachers that you're struggling. I personally had to go for help to my head of year and one of my teachers, it was a really hard and embarrassing time explaining my issues and how my thoughts work but I'm so glad that I did it. I got help with deadlines, I knew where to go if and when I was having a bad day or a panic attack etc.

Friends and family
These are the people that know the most about you and generally can understand just how your personality works, this means that if you work with them to get something that is individual to you and may therefore be better. Plus the support of family and friends is very important if you have to make any lifestyle change, even if they are only emotional because they can point out to you when you're doing it wrong or if you've managed to keep it up. 

Professionals
Although I said above that family and friends are great to talk to, sometimes its harder to talk to the people that you know because you fear that they will judge you or it will affect the way that they treat you in the future. Professionals are the people that have trained for the very situations that you are in and have the know-how of what to do to influence it for the better. Whilst this information isn't 100% guaranteed, its always good to have different perspectives on how to deal with your issues, you can even personalise them into something more suited to you.

Never be afraid to speak up or ask for help
-Louise x

Stress: tips and tricks

Many of you reading this are probably going through an experience that is causing you stress. This can be anything from exams, jobs, family members or just the pressures of life itself but I want you to know something; it's all going to be okay and you're gonna get through this.

Here are some of the tips and tricks that I have tried whenever I'm feeling under pressure with a deadline or if life has become too stressful;

• schedule your time- e.g. study time, relaxation time etc
• eat your meals- food for thought- you cant concentrate if your hungry so don't skip meals because youre 'too busy'- I'm especially guilty for this!
• get enough sleep- its recommended you get around 8 hours of sleep a night.
• get some exercise- it doesn't have to be much, maybe just a walk or some stretching to get your body moving
• take breaks- every hour take a 5-10 minute break
• stay hydrated
• get everything for the morning ready the night before
• break large tasks into smaller sections
• give yourself a larger time frame than you think necessary- often things take longer than we think and then when we are 'behind schedule' it adds even more stress so be generous with timings.
• say no to extra projects- although its always nice to help other people out, you have to put yourself first because you cannot be there for others till you're sorted yourself.
• do one thing everyday that makes you happy- make sure to take some time out of your day to do something that makes your soul feel alive, this helps your mind set for the rest of the day because you wont feel so rundown.
• ask for help when you need it- its not a bad thing to ask for help, it doesn't make you weak or unable to do the job. You just need some support to fit a certain timeframe etc. 



Things will get easier.
Good luck.
-Louise x

Spring Equinox

Spring is the season of new beginnings, its the time when everything begins to get a little warmer, the shun shines brighter, the days get longer and the animals show up more. On the 21st of March it is the Spring Equinox and the time where the length of day and night is equal. Spring is a time of rebirth so if there is anything that you have been putting off for a long time then maybe now is the perfect time to make a change. 

to do: 

- The dreaded spring clean- it doesnt have to be boring or a big chore. grab some smoothies, put on some music and boogie your way through the day!
- Plant something! (maybe something to attract the bees and butterflies)
- Pick fresh berries
- Feed the ducks
- Go for a bike ride
- See the cherry blossoms
- Find the first crocuses and snowdrops

- Go for an easter egg hunt
- Look for four leaf clovers
- Blow bubbles- and chase them
- Climb a tree
- Draw pictures on the pavement with chalk
- Look out for the bees

- Spot a rainbow
- Listen to the birds singing
- Open your windows to that spring breeze
- Decorate your home with flowers (silk ones if youre allergic)
- Make birds nest cakes- quite literally just broken up shredded wheat, melted chocolate and mini eggs ...but YUM!

Have a wonderful day, get yourself outside and enjoy natures gifts!
-Louise x

Uplifting songs: updated

I am a complete music nut, I cannot go through the day without listening to music even once. I think its one of the most satisfying starts to my day and the songs that I pick can really influence my mood. So a long time ago I wrote a post about some of the songs that I find most uplifting (that I listen to), and then it was made into a playlist for you all to have a listen if you wanted to. Although my music tastes haven't really changed over the years because I listen to pretty much all genres of music, I wanted to update my list of favourite uplifting songs. So here they are;


Fight song: Rachel Platten

The Climb: Miley Cyrus

Outsiders: Against The Current

Therapy: All Time Low

Tidal Waves: All Time Low

Missing You: All Time Low

Follow Your Arrow: Kacey Musgraves

Skyscraper: Demi Lovato

Warrior: Demi Lovato

Believe In Me: Demi Lovato

This Is Me: Demi Lovato

Don't worry Now: Britt Nicole

Headphones: Britt Nicole

All This Time: Britt Nicole

The Sun Is Rising: Britt Nicole

Gold: Britt Nicole

Strong Enough: Stacie Orrico

Nightingale: Demi Lovato

Confident: Demi Lovato

I Am Invincible: Cassadee Pope

Beautiful With You: Halestorm

The Heart Of Dixie: Danielle Bradbery

Stormy: Hedley

Fly: Maddie And Tae

Help You Stand: Anthem Lights

Mean: Taylor Swift

Fight Forever: Anthem Lights

It Get's Better: Todrick Hall

Hold On: B*Witched

Check out the original playlist that still has some of my favourites in right here

Comment below or tweet me (@perksofrecovery) what some of your favourite uplifting songs are!
Have a wonderful day!
- Louise x

Healthy Lifestyle apps: Lovestyle special

So as you all know, one of the things that I really enjoy doing is working out, it leaves me feeling like I've had such a good and productive day. Over the years I have downloaded many apps, watched so many YouTube workouts etc and I thought I would share some of the ones I'm using now with you all.

Yoga

As someone who really enjoys not just the physical aspects of this exercise, but also the way it helps to reprogramme your mind, it's not shocking that I have numerous yoga apps on my phone. One of the ones I find myself reaching for the most (and that we actually used to help create the Sticks and Stones posts) is called Yoga (.com). I absolutely love this app because it was perfect for me as a beginner to the practice but also great as I have progressed.

To begin your knowledge, the app provides 289 poses and breathing exercises to ease you into your new lifestyle. Not only this but there are also 37 different yoga programmes, with different specifications for beginners, breathing programmes etc. This is great for me because each video can be selected by "goal" or duration so you can always find something to fit you individually. My favourite at the moment is the 9 minute 'fight cold and flu' programme to aid my immune system.

Download on the Android app system here.

Download on ITunes here.

General fitness

Planking is something that I have been doing semi-regularly since I was 11, this is because we regularly made it a part of our PE classes. It's something that is so simple and yet can have such a large effect on our bodies. Planking uses your entire body weight against you and so is a perfect short exercise, without the need of any equipment.

Following the "30 day plank challenge", there are set planking goals ranging from 20 secs for the first few days to 300 seconds on day 30. You might be thinking "20 seconds? that's so easy!" but honestly when your holding your entire body weight up, it is actually a hard exercise. It's really great when I share this app with friends and family and they begin the first day being sceptical but I watch their muscles shake after just 7-10 seconds of holding the pose. It's a great way to tone your body without being time consuming!

Download on Android app store here.

Since beginning my recovery, I have had to be very careful with the amount of exercise that I do and the specific kinds because if there's something too strenuous and I cannot do it for the allotted time, the negative self thoughts begin. Now "Blogilates" is in fact run by the wonderfully positive Cassey Ho who gives such wonderful bits of chit chat as you're working out together (Pilates, cardio etc). It feels so warm and friendly that I find myself enjoying the way she pushes you to find a new strength in yourself but while you feel as though you are chatting with a friend (yes I talk back to a computer screen...don't judge me haha).

For videos on exercise, healthy eating and inspirational messages, follow her on YouTube here

Download on Android app store here.

Download on ITunes here.

I hope you all enjoy looking into these apps, and don't forget, to exercise isn't a punishment for yourself but as a way to show it you love it enough to be the best that it can be.

Stay strong,
Louise x

100th post!

So this post is actually our 100th post! I'm so excited and this marks such a huge occasion for us. Nearly 3 years worth of work and we have hit this new milestone. It feels so refreshing to know that our journey has been documented somewhere where I can go back and relive those moments. I decided that as this is a momentous occasion I would look over some of our previous milestones and share them with you all!

Our very first post was written 2 years and 9 months ago! How frigging crazy is that?! It's a typical, cheesy line but it really does feel like just yesterday that I was talking with Alyssa about wanting to have a social media account that allowed me to express my feelings, share my story and maybe help someone. I never really thought that it was going to happen but just look at me now! I was using all these other accounts for inspiration and it was something I was so happy about doing, nearly 3 years down the line and I still love it.



For our 2 week anniversary I remember writing this post in the back of my grandparents car. It was summer and I was so excited that the blog had been active for 2 weeks and we had gotten nearly 100 views! We were enjoying the simplest things in life and it was so much fun to just sit and catch up whilst enjoying nature and planning new things for the blog. It was literally one of the best feelings ever.

I began my gushy, epiphany moments in October and kick started some of the many moments where I would just completely and honestly share my feelings with you all. These posts are always met with positivity and an open mind so you've all made me feel so great about being 100% honest. Added to that, its still the second most popular post on my blog (and it was over 2 years ago!)

The beginning of 2014 signified the time where we stopped being anonymous. This was a really big decision for us because there were already people that we knew that had come across the blog. By adding our names, it made it a lot easier for them to narrow down who we were through what we were talking about and the experiences that we shared on here. We had kept our issues a secret from other people for so long that it was such an anxious time when we hit that "publish" button, we didn't know how they were going to react but we did it anyway. We were strong and we had faith in ourselves and everything was okay!

After we hit our first year anniversary as a blog, we were able to reflect on our journeys as a whole and see how much we have grown as people. Reading that post back right now, I was able to see just how much had actually changed for me but also how much I was lying to myself. The post wasn't entirely true with how well I was doing in my recovery at the time but the point of the post was to highlight that things aren't perfect for me and I was still struggling but I am fighting and I will never give up. I'm so happy to know that although there are still relapses and hard times, I have never given up and I never will.  (Also you'll notice that the post was published in July- not June- because we got confused at the month we started the blog...woops)

When I originally tweeted and wrote about my relationship with myself, people were very confused, I described myself as both my saviour and my own villain. It was a very strange way of me expressing that we are made of both good and bad but if we embrace the bad and accept that it helps to shape who we are then we can truly accept ourselves as a whole. At this point, I was taking the phrase "fake it till you make it" to heart. The post was my way of telling myself that although I have these issues and my life isn't perfect, but it has shaped me as a person and for that, I can never be more grateful for my circumstances. You have to truly embrace every single part of your soul in order for you to be truly happy with yourself.

In May 2015, we made one of the biggest changes ever to our blogging experience; we changed our name and our niche. It was beginning to get very difficult being a Mental Health blogger, for Alyssa it was becoming something that she didn't want to do because she was trying to get over her issues now that she had dealt with them (so blogging was reinforcing it rather than letting her get on with her life). For me, it was a situation where I felt a little monotonous and like I was saying the same thing during each post. This was mainly because I was blogging about the kind of things that I personally needed to hear so I was just vocalising it on here. The change of the blog meant that we could still include mental health posts but that we could also talk about more things that we enjoy in our everyday lives.

January 2015 signified the start of a new series called Sticks and Stones which was almost like a little review of who we liked to thank that month, some facts and information about that specific month, some yoga poses, a smoothie recipe and much more. This series was very short lived due to other things going on in our lives but its something that I'm very open to maybe launching in the future. Let me know in the comments!

Another series I launched was called the A-Z of Recovery. I once again found the picture on Pinterest and thought it was a perfect piece of inspiration for 26 blog post titles. I'm really excited for actually writing these posts because our recovery based posts are always so popular and you all say they're really helpful. This so far only has an introduction post but the first post for this series has already been drafted ready for the actual launch later this year!

Our quote " your attitude is your altitude; it determines how high you fly" was originally found on Pinterest (I think) with no mention of who had created it but personally that quote just fit so well with what we were beginning to feel and what we are trying to express to you all. We all may have our own issues in this life but it is the way that we react and the ways that we deal with them that can either boost us or hinder us.

Your constant support has constantly been a reminder to me to stay strong because I am loved and I can make a difference in this world. I am here to remind you that life is like a rollercoaster so you have to endure the lows, enjoy the highs and just celebrate the ride. You're all going to get through this.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Love,
Louise x

February: In review

 

 

Its very easy to spend our lives obsessing over the bad things. It's almost like the positive things that happen allow us 5 minutes of happiness and then we end up focusing on a bad thing so something I've decided to do is to review every month. This allows me to reflect on anything that has made me happy, been useful etc and will actually train my brain to look for the positives in any given situation!

Beauty

Elemis Papaya enzyme peel- This is something that I have only recently tried and its a must have in my opinion! It's a gentle cream exfoliator so is perfect for my sensitive skin. The light fruity smell is wonderful and so refreshing so I have found it to be the perfect pick me up at the start of the day. You just apply it after cleansing and leave it for 10-15 minutes (it has generally dried by then) and then you wash it off with lukewarm water.

SBC Collagen 3 in 1 cleanser- A wonderful white, smooth cleanser that smells so amazing. It is one of the only cleaners that I am able to actually use over my eyes- which you are directed to do don't worry! A perfectly easy way to care for your skin and is moisturising as well so you only need a light moisturiser on top. Simply massage onto skin then wash off with lukewarm water. Easy peasy!

Life

Friends & family- as with any time in your life, it is important that you have the right kind of people around you. I must say that during February my family, and especially my friends have been super supportive of me, always listened when I have had a problem and have all round just been the best people ever so my February appreciation goes out to them!


Tv shows

Big Bang Theory- I must admit I hadn't watched this show until a few years ago and even though I enjoyed it, I didn't make a point of regularly watching it. in the last few months ive jumped on the Netflix bandwagon and im naturally addicted to watching it for as many hours as possible every day.

The Shanara Chronicles- this is something that is very new to UK TV and I've only watched the few episodes that have been aired so far. If you like fantasy shows, with an apocalyptic and 'evil' twist then you will love this show. It's a must watch in my opinion!

Shadowhunters- after reading the books and even enjoying the film I was very sceptical of the new Mortal Instruments TV adaption but it was a happy surprise because I love it. It provides a lot more depth that the film didn't have time for and shows a lot more of the character developments. The actors are so talented and you can see the chemistry between them all show through into their characters.

Music
All Time Low- this  month was also the first time I had ever been to a concert!. I went with my best friend to see All Time Low, who were supported by Good Charlotte and Against The Current. It was such a wonderful night, it was even worth the queuing for 4 hours in the cold and rain and even the flu and chest infection I got because of it. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I am forever grateful for my best friend asking me to go with her this year.

What are some of your favourite things about February?
- Louise x

Blogging: a burden or a hobby?

So one of the things that has become a sticky situation for me is the amount that I post....or lack of (most of the time). As I mentioned in my post on Wednesday, I often have trouble with the amount of free time that I have in my life and then subsequently I don't post a lot or tweet much.

One of my biggest problems is comparing myself to others. This originally affected my mental health but more recently I have found that its made its way into my blogging life as well. As you all know this used to be a shared blog, and still is really by all accounts because Alyssa will always be the person that I founded this project with. The thing is, she's at university now, living in Leicestershire and she doesn't have the time to blog or tweet on here anymore. My blogging bug has never left me so I continue with this project but running a blog solo is a very big responsibility and as its been going for nearly 3 years I often feel a huge amount of pressure to make these amazing blog posts that are full of al of this advanced technology and look super professional.

Added to this, there are all of these other accounts and blogs where people somehow find the time to juggle so many other responsibilities and they write fantastic, long posts and tweet like 30 times a day. This then leaves me feeling guilty because I've spent almost 3 years doing this job and I still haven't gotten the hang of it.

The truth of the matter is, I'm not very technologically minded and I can only write the most basic of posts. The pressure that I often feel to write long posts that are stupendously positive, uplifting etc often leads me to not post because I don't feel that what I have to say is good enough. I've come to the conclusion recently that I love blogging and I love tweeting so I'm going to do what I can with my posts, with the consistency and with my tweeting. You've all always been so supportive with our  endeavours no matter how weird they are or how long they take so I hope you all continue to stay a part of my life!

I love you all
- Louise x

Let me explain...

So once again I'm apologising to you all about the lack of posts that have been appearing my blog. I often have the good intentions of writing lots of them, in fact I regularly even plan the titles, and the content and out them into a diary so that I am fully scheduled. the issue is as good as those intentions are, there are most often things that happen that just plain get in the way.

Recently I had a bad case of the Flu, coupled with a nasty chest infection so all of the wonderful things that I had planned for you all have gone out the window. I was even planning my YouTube videos to be filmed on Valentines day...but sadly none of it has happened. but that's okay, now I am spending my time trying to catch up with the university work that I have missed, caring for sick relatives and preparing for new assignments so my posts have once again taken a backseat.

One thing that I have found out about myself is that little posts like these where I am basically just having a little chat with you all are the ones that I enjoy writing the most and they often just go together really quickly and easily so you may find that this happens a lot more in the future. I have very much missed this part of the blogging where there are no set posts that I have to write about one specific topic. It gives me a lot more creative freedom just to write whatever I have on my mind at that point in time.

Throughout it all, you've all stayed loyal to me (even though I've had to draft numerous tweets as well just so that you can get regular updates) and I cannot thank you all enough for that.

Any setbacks in life, no matter how hard, we must take in our stride for they often have hidden meanings. It just takes the right time in our days in order for us to understand.

I love you all,
Louise x

healthy pancake recipe

So like pretty much every other person, I really like pancakes! I've not always been such a fan because I don't have much of a sweet-tooth and as we all know, most pancakes and their toppings are full of sugar. About a year ago, I brought a book called Nourish which included a wonderful recipe on healthy pancakes...perfect for a summer breakfast right?

(All rights to this recipe go to the creators of the book)

*serves 2-3*

Ingredients

• 2 medium bananas, roughly chopped
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 tablespoons of honey ( I find this too sweet and only use 1)
• 70g desiccated coconut
• 100g almond meal (I use almond flour but I think its the same thing)
• 1/2 teaspoon of gluten free baking powder (traditional baking powder is also okay to use but gluten free is healthier)
• Coconut oil for cooking (healthy and leaves no taste on the foods so its perfect for everything!)

To serve (optional):

• A few spoonfuls of your favourite yoghurt (I like to create a big batch of Easiyo and because this is a healthier option compared to alternative yoghurts)
• a handful of your favourite seasonal fruits (its great to change things up throughout the year as the fruits that are in season are always changing).
• toasted coconut or cacao nibs (I don't personally add these very often)
• or you can just eat the pancakes as they are!

Put the bananas. eggs and honey into a food processor and puree until light and fluffy (or use a bowl and a stick blender). Add the coconut, almond meal and baking powder and beat to combine.

Heat up a tiny amount of coconut oil in your frying pan over a low-medium heat. Cook in batches allowing a biggish (their technical terms) of mix per pancake- too big and they're hard to flip (so unless you're a pancake genius, be wary of the size).cook thoroughly (approx. time is normally 1 1/2 mins on each side. You will know when to flip once little bubbles start to appear on the surface. Keep warm and continue cooking he rest of the batch adding coconut oil as needed.

Serve hot (or cold, I like cold pancakes with my yogurt) and with your toppings!

Enjoy!

- Louise x

New years resolution?

First message to you all is a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Celebrations all round for the new chapter in our lives!

So its in our human nature to constantly try to change who we are and to better ourselves. One of the mainstream ways in which we do this is through New Years Resolutions. I'm no stranger to thinking of all of these 'fabulous' changes that I am going to make in my life which will "make me happy". The problem with these goals is that they are often too direct and before February is out, we have more than likely given up on whatever we were striving for. It paints a pretty sad picture but its very true. We expect too much of ourselves over a short period of time and when we don't comply straight away then we deem ourselves as failures. One of my resolutions for last year was to blog several times a month, create a youtube channel and basically to become a success within my dream job....how unrealistic is that?!

While I would have loved for any one of those things to have come true, I gave myself too large of a specific goal and quickly became disheartened when I didn't receive 100 page views a day (or whatever it was).  After a lot of research, I have come across ways in which we will be more likely to keep this years goals alive for more than a month or two.

• Don't try to do more than one thing at once- change happens slowly and too much at once is just going to cause unnecessary stress 
• Integrate it into your existing routine. For instance, if exercising for half an hour every day is one of your goals then why not split your exercise into smaller segments and integrating it into things that you have to do every day without fail. One thing I like to do is calf raises, wall sits and lunges whilst I brush my teeth (I will admit that due to my physical health I am not always able to do this so be sure to consult a professional before trying any exercise routine if you have physical ailments). Another option could be dancing round the house whilst you're cleaning or eve trying some bedtime yoga to help you wind down before bed. These are all small things that you can integrate into your life and it will encourage you to keep up this improved you without being too scary or strenuous. 

disclaimer: all images used are taken from Google images

• Dont make the goal too large- something too large is often daunting to try and reach. I have found it easier to create smaller goals which once completed would in fact have got you to the same point as the larger goal but without as much stress. 

• Don't beat yourself up if it all doesn't go to plan- one of my goals was linked to being more happy within myself but I automatically began to beat myself up when I wasn't reaching my target. This was the complete opposite of what I wanted to. If something doesn't work out right the first time then persevere with it. If the way you're doing it isn't working for you then adapt it to suit your needs, there is more than one way in which you can achieve your goals, don't be disheartened by obstacles. 

Remember: often our goals can become no longer relevant to our life and this in no way makes you a failure. We change with all of the things that we experience so its normal for our goals to change throughout the year as we change.

Good luck with your goals!

Much love,

-Louise x

Explanations

hey guys, so I want to begin with saying that we are really sorry about how inactive we have been over the last two months. If you follow us on twitter then you will know that we have both gone off to university. This is a huge step and we went to different places and naturally, it means that we have to leave our old lives and sometimes friends behind.

Beginning a new chapter in your life can be really scary because everything is obviously going to be new and no matter how much you may try to keep your life the same as it was, it wont happen. Not fully at least. And thats's okay because nothing is supposed to stay the same forever. That's how we grow as people and have new experiences.

While I miss some of the people who are more absent out of my life, I know that we are all going on to do the things that we love and we are trying to better ourselves so I know that the distance is worth it. I have been spending the last few months (that I've been inactive) trying to better myself, focusing on developing new relationships with the new people in my life and figuring out more ways in which I can begin to accept myself and truly be content with who I am.

This officially means that I am back to blogging and you can expect a new blog post every week/2 weeks.

Thank you all for your constant support in everything that we do.
I love you
- Louise xoxo

Autumn-scape

Hello lovelies,

So as most of you know, I am completely obsessed with Autumn/Fall. Throughout the year, I experience Winter, Spring and a very brief Summer... the reason for that is because my obsession for Autumn springs back into full force! It is my favourite season of all and here are some of my reasons why;

The endless baking opportunities- Pumpkin pie anyone?!

Cozy days with thick jumpers, soup and mugs of tea

Its filled with wonderful holidays such as the Autumn Equinox and Halloween

The beauty of nature is increased by 2000%

The sun through the trees appears to set them alight!

Need I add....THE CLOTHES!!!

Walks through the fallen leaves

The Boots....and everything seems so rustic



The crisp autumn air- there are so many delicious and intriguing scents

Reading by firelight

 What are your favourite things about our upcoming season?

Love, Louise xoxo

.

all about the A-Z of Recovery

Hey guys, so this is the beginning of something new for us!

So thanks to a lot of time spent on Pinterest, I came across some pictures known as the A-Z/ABC's of Recovery. Now these pictures include specific words that are associated with each letter of the alphabet  and this word corresponds with a specific act that makes recovery not just possible, but easier. now recovery is an ongoing process (that we are ALWAYS talking about) and it is something that will never end for us but when I first began my recovery from the 'bad things' in my life, I didn't really know what I should do in order to actually help myself. I find this idea really helpful because there are things that are highlighted that I have never thought of as ways to help us feel better about ourselves as we go through our own individual journeys.

 

 

 

Once a week (no promises because you all know how bad I am at sticking to a guideline) there will be a new letter of the alphabet with my own interpretation of what I think it means. It's open to your own interpretation too of course. in fact, you can comment your views on each weeks post and what it means to you! That would be a good way to promote recovery in our little community.

 

Go team internet!

 

Love Louise xoxo

Changes

Hello everyone!

So… you may have noticed some changes on our blog…

We have decided to change our blog name from Perks of Recovery to Empty Journal. After almost two years of blogging, we want to expand, explore and write about different topics. We’d been planning create a new blog later this year, but instead we finally decided that we should take a step forward and just simply change the name of this blog. It was quite scary for us to do this as we have grown attached to Perks of Recovery as it has helped us both so much during our own recoveries, however we felt that the name was restricting us.

We will still be continuing with Perks of Recovery; we are keeping our twitter the same and we’ll continue POR as a blog series. We’d like to thank our guest bloggers who have written some lovely posts for us, and we hope that they will continue to blog for us in the future.

We are both really looking forward to this new chapter, and we can’t wait to share even more posts with you!

Our exams finish in June, so after that we will be putting 100% into making our Empty Journal the best that it can be. Hopefully we will both be going off to university in September, so we also look forward to writing about that.

Again, thank you to everyone who has contributed to Perks of Recovery, whether it’s as a reader or a blogger.

Alyssa and Louise

It's a marathon....

That's what it feels like when you are caring for a loved one with an eating disorder..... a marathon....but a marathon that goes on and on, that no matter how much you want to give up and stop "running" you can't, one that you haven't remotely trained for but got entered into the "race" anyway, one that no matter how tired you still goes on and on with the finishing line nowhere in sight....

As a Mum (particularly one who was anorexic for years) I should have had sufficient training in how to care for my loved one.... but I didn't.  I got things wrong albeit with the very best of intentions.

So.... when I hear that my precious loved one has completed a marathon in a fantastic time there are no words... just an immense feeling of pride.  Even more so because the whole achievement was down to my loved one.  It feels like it has turned full circle - a "marathon" is over by the completion of an actual marathon.

I can breathe again...

Its never too late (to say hello spring)

So spring has finally sprung, the weather here in Britain is finally starting to pick up... kind of. There are less gale force winds, constant hail and pouring rain.... Actually it always rains so never mind that last part. One of the main messages about spring is that it is a time for new beginnings. It contains a very religious time for some people and for others it can just mean chocolate, flowers and easter egg hunts.

No matter what easter or spring time in general means to you, just remember that it is never too late to start a clean slate. It doesn't matter what your situation is emotionally, physically or even environmentally. There are always going to be times when we 'mess up' which can then lead to an even longer period of time where we are beating ourselves up for it. Upon reflection, I realised that this is just a waste of time. Whatever has happened is now in the past, it is up to us to either learn from it or even just pretend it never happened. (Personally I like to learn the lessons in my mistakes so that I am less likely to do it again). Any extra time spent stressing over what has happened will more than likely just lead to negative feelings. If there is a way to make up for what has happened in a positive way, then by all means go for it. If not, just concentrating on what you can do to make the present better for yourself and everyone/everything around you is enough.

I have spent many restless nights tossing and turning, blaming myself for things that have happened and thinking of drastic ways in which I can make myself suffer as a kind of comeuppance for what has happened. I never realised that i needed to forgive myself as much as I am prepared to forgive others. Things are often said in the heat of the moment and whilst it can really hurt, you owe it to yourself to come to terms with what has happened and move on.

It is never too late to start a fresh and build something new. Spring is a very inspiring time for this but it doesn't matter where you are or what is happening. The only thing that is stopping you is yourself.

Everyone makes mistakes, we just have to learn from them.

Stay strong
- Louise xoxo

Find Inner Peace (Sticks and Stones)

Hey guys, happy April! This is a month of beauty, inside and out. its a time for celebration not just because this month is associated with the Goddess Aphrodite and the love and beauty that she brings into the world, but also because April is the month of Buddha’s birthday. He is a symbol of peace and tranquility after a new start so don't be afraid if things begin to change. Change is good; it allows us to move forward.

Yoga Pose/Stretch

Virabhadrasana II (Warrior Pose II)

1. Stand in the Mountain Pose. Exhale, stepping your feet wide apart
2. Inhale and raise your arms parallel to the floor and reach them actively out to the sides, shoulder blades wide, palms down.
3. Inhale and turn your left foot and leg out 90 degrees to the left, lining the heel of your left foot up with the arch of your right foot.
4. Inhale, and as you exhale bend your left knee, forming a right angle with your left thigh and shin. Stack your knee directly above your ankle in line with your second toe. (Hint: Lining your front knee up with your second toe and bringing your thigh parallel to the floor protects your knee and strengthens the muscles around it. )
5. Relax your shoulders away from your ears and turn your head to gaze out over your left hand. Reach through your arms, feeling a line of energy from the tips of your right fingers through the tips of your left. Relax your jaw. Hold for 3 to 10 slow, deep breaths.
6. To come out of the pose, turn your head back to face forward, straighten your left leg, and rotate it back, bringing your feet to parallel.
7. Turn your right leg out 90 degrees to switch sides and repeat.

Benefits of Virabhadrasana II

• Strengthens legs, shoulders and arms
• Stretches groins, chest, shoulders, thighs and ankles
• Expands your chest, lungs and shoulders.
• Increases stamina and endurance.
• Relieves backaches, especially through the second trimester of pregnancy.
• Improves balance, concentration and core awareness.
• Helps endurance
• Reduces weariness
• Enhances self confidence
• Improves a scattered mind
• Aids an imbalanced spirit

I learnt so much last month, but my main lesson was that sometimes we need to let go in order to move on and be happier. It’s often easy to hold a grudge against yourself and other people, but what do we gain from that? Anger. Sadness. Maybe even jealousy?

So our message for you all this month is to start letting go of the grudges, of the stress, heartbreak, pain. Let go and you’ll find yourself to be much happier because of it.

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without”

Don’t give up,

Alyssa & Louise

March Sticks & Stones

Sticks and Stones

Your Guide to the Month of March

Hey guys, welcome back! For those of us that live in the Northern Hemisphere, spring officially begins this month - yay! This month symbolises new life and new beginnings, so take struggle in your stride and make March your month. We thought we’d share this idiom with you to kick start this month;

“March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”

This means that the first days of March are often stormy, and the last days are mild and warm. So no matter what happens this month, good or bad, make the most of it and try to stay positive.

So March is a special month for us because of one more reason; its Alyssa’s 18th birthday on the 5th! It’s a huge milestone and we’ll write a blog post about what we get up to and how we celebrate, so it’ll be like you were all there with us!

Yoga Pose/Stretch

Virabhadrasana I (Warrior Pose I)

1. Stand in the Mountain Pose. Exhale, stepping your feet wide apart
2. Place your hands on your hips and turn your right leg and foot out by 90 , with your right heel directly opposite the inner arch of your left foot.
3. Turn your left leg and foot in by about 45 degrees.
4. Turn your chest to the right, pressing your left hip forwards to square your hips.
5. Inhale and raise your arms above your head, bringing your palms together and looking straight forward
6. Exhale and bend your right knee to a 90 degree angle - it should be right over your ankle - and take a moment to balance yourself.
7. Lean your head back and gaze upwards at your fingertips as you drop your tailbone down towards the floor. To deepen the stretch, gently arch your back.
8. Hold for 5 breaths.
9. Inhale, straighten your legs and lower your arms, then bring your legs together to return to the Mountain Pose.
10. Repeat on the other side.

Benefits of Virabhadrasana I

• Improves focus, balance and stability
• Energises entire body
• Improves concentration and core awareness
• Improves flexibility
• Boosts resolve and self-confidence
• Opens hips, chest and lungs and improves breathing

Lessons we have learned this month;

Although there are so many times when it seems like you have lost your footing on your road to recovery. You are trying to “climb that mountain” but you keep slipping? This is all part of the process. We need to make the decision for recovery every day because there are always going to new circumstances in each and every day. It doesnt matter how many times you relapse, as long as you get back onto the road of recovery.

Thanks for sticking with us for another month - we appreciate everyone that reads our blog. We hope that you have a fantastic spring (or Autumn if you live in the Southern Hemisphere!) and make the most of every chance that comes your way this month, and the rest of your life. Remember - “your attitude is your altitude; it determines how high you fly”.

Don’t give up,

- Alyssa & Louise