#mentalhealthactivism

[viperslang]

The Talking Compass is an awareness space for mental health resources. 

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[little-raging-warrior-blog]

Day 18 of #100daysofhealing . . “Now this unusual trio was born, from her fear transformed. The Little Girl, the Rage and the Warrior together walking back into the world”. . This is a special drawing to me, because it marks the beginning of what now has turned into the “Little Raging Warrior Project”. When this image came to my mind, as a natural progression of the characters, it filled me with so much hope that I knew I had to find a way to share my story. . Looking back, I believe here is where I first started to consciously use my creativity to find a way to heal (...). . Living with #depression and #anxiety for over twenty years is beyond debilitating. The harm on my self-worth and health is an aftermath I deal with on a daily basis, yet I no longer fear the bad times(...) . New blogpost on my website describing the beginning of how creativity changed my life for good! . Little Raging Warrior - Creativity as a driving force for healing. Full link in bio. . . #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthactivism #arttherapy #creativeliving #storytelling #breathe #weareallinthistogether #the100dayproject2018 #youarenotalone #backtobasics #womenwhodraw #illustrations #markersketch #tombowmarkers #creativityrocks #rewildyourheart #artheals (at Jacksonville, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bot7pJLB_s1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9jsnnaq3ehmo

[little-raging-warrior-blog]

Day 02 of #100daysofhealing . . Losing the capacity to feel #joy has been in my experience, the biggest casualty from suffering depression. As the years went by and I fell into the inertia of my depressive cycles, I gradually stopped doing the things I loved. It’s as if I was unconsciously depriving myself of anything that would bring some light in my life. Between ages 23 and 32 I completely stopped painting and writing and will have an on and off relationship with photography, where I never looked at the pictures I would take. . In 2016 I was diagnosed with CIN3 (cervical pre-cancer) this triggered the worst health crisis I have ever experienced and it sent me into a depressive downward spiral. This was MY WAKE UP CALL!. . Bracing myself for darkness to come I decided to try something new. WHAT IF I start documenting the briefs moments in life that bring me joy? This way, when I feel at my worst, I can look back at the pictures and assure myself there are better times to come. . As an Architect I’ve always had a fascination for reading the history of cities through their buildings. During a short visit to the #cityoflights I decided, against every self-loathing thought, to soak in the beauty of my surroundings and took my #polaroid camera with me to capture the memories that would keep me from further losing myself when the times got bad. . . #the100dayproject2018 #mentalhealthactivism #selfcompassion #mentalhealthawareness #capturethemoment #pocketsizememories #filmphotography #backtobasics #creativeliving #rewildyourheart #depression #deephealing #doubleexposurephotography #storytelling (at Pont Neuf, Paris, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoEfcajBEBs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xsz9dfobxjrf

[little-raging-warrior-blog]

Day 01 of #100daysofhealing . . The Little Girl, don’t be fooled by her size her strength has kept me alive, even when I wasn’t aware she existed. . Once again I found myself overwhelmed by the world around me and unable to cope. Once again I decided to go back to therapy, resolved to find a better way to handle what I didn’t even have words for. . That day I renewed my promise to heal and wrote down what would become the manifesto of my recovery. . Now I offer it to you. To the soul that needs to hear it, take these words and make them yours, you deserve to heal too. . I MUST RECLAIM MYSELF! It is of vital importance that I remember WHO I AM. I want to feel joy and all the shades of it. It is time. It is ok now, all the pain and the sacrifice has served you... but NO MORE! Now I welcome the fruits of my work with COMPASSION. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME. I can shine now. It is time. The life I yearn and the love I wish to bring can only come THROUGH ME. My heart cannot wait any longer. Life is unpredictable, but if my joy runs deep I can withstand any storm. I AM STRONG. I am WORTHY of joy, vitality, pleasure and health. I AM WORTHY OF ABUNDANCE!. . . . #the100dayproject #deephealing #storytelling #creativeliving #backtobasics #unbecoming #curiosity #illustrations #moreartplease #arttherapy #rewildyourheart #selfcompassion #mentalhealthactivism #mentalhealthawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/BoB0PukBSv6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=168h250uveh1v

[little-raging-warrior-blog]

Day 42 of #100daysofhealing . . Arda Matsyendrasana-King of Fish (half pose): This is another pose that I particularly enjoy. Mainly because with just a little bit of regular practice, I was able to get to the full pose... yaaay!. . One of the things I've learned through yoga, is that every body is different. What I mean by that is: that depending on your body makeup, some poses will come naturally, whereas others will take you for a ride. For me inversions and arm balancing are on the top of the "not-going-to happen" on the first time... but twists and standing ones are a solid GO!. . The beauty of twists is that it promotes flexibility of the spine, supports digestion, natural detox AND IT CALMS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. . #anxiety is depression's, hyperactive sister and it will put your nervous system and adrenals on overdrive. So if you are looking for a way to calm your mind through your body, this is the pose to practice!. . The meaning of this pose focuses on bringing the unconscious to consciousness through movement. The journey that the King of Fish is inviting you to join, focuses on finding your authentic self whomever that might be. . Are you in?🐟🤴🏻🐠. check out my stories for short demo and pointers on this pose and the highlights on bodywork for more info!. . . #anxietyrelief #depression #mentalhealthactivism #mentalhealthawareness #yogaforall #doodleyogi #the100dayproject2018 #100dayproject #storytelling #womenwhodraw #illustrationartists #tombowbrushpen #rewildyourheart #creativeliving #weareallinthistogether #breathe #youarenotalone #backtobasics (at Jacksonville, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BprgGNkBE9E/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ztmbmopq1u4o

[little-raging-warrior-blog]

Day 41 of #100daysofhealing . . A key moment in my recovery from trauma, was to consciously place the responsibility of the abuse where it belonged: with the perpetrator. . One of the main sources of shame, was the thought that I somewhat had allowed for this to happen. Buried very deep in my mind, I found one of the most toxic stories I told myself: I had played a part in the abuse, I was responsible for this happening to me. . Sadly I am not the only one who thinks this way. Most survivors of sexual abuse believe that they are responsible for their trauma in one way or another. The victim blaming in our culture, only reinforces this false believe. I understand now, that at 4 years old I was incapable of knowing what was going on and it is easier to agree that I could have not possible done anything to cause the abuse. However, I just want to reiterate that survivors ARE NEVER RESPONSIBLE for the abuse they are subjected to, NEVER! . This drawing reflects the process of understanding and transferring the responsibility of the abuse to the perpetrator. It helped me see that I am the one in power of my own story and that my healing does not rely on the perpetrator accepting or acknowledging his actions. I don’t need his validation, to move forward. He is the one who should be accountable for his wrongdoings and his own healing. . Through this drawing I was able to sever the shame that kept us bound. My warrior is ready for war and won’t flinch at anything to reclaim her body and use her power. . The warrior used my rage to slay the monster of the abuse that lived in my head. Along the way she brought back one my favorite mythical figures: THE DRAGON!! 🐉 . How do you slay the monsters in your mind? . . #believesurvivors #metoomovement #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthactivism #healingtrauma #weareallinthistogether #breathe #youarenotalone #tombowbrushpen #womenwhodraw #illustration #arttherapy #dragon #samuraiwarriors #lovewarrior #rewildyourheart #creativeliving #backtobasics #the100dayproject2018 #100dayproject #storytelling #deephealing (at Jacksonville, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpo9l7NhGhq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9b6g34auy9le

[little-raging-warrior-blog]

Day 05 of #100daysofhealing . . Here comes THE RAGE. “I will raise my voice to be heard. I will wreck it all and start again”. Anger and/or rage are widely seen as negative emotions, to be repressed or controlled. . Allowing myself to finally feel the #rage that I have been holding back since, probably EVER, has been like coming back to life. The power and the energy that came with it were almost intoxicating. . It is no secret that when girls or women manifest anger, well it is not as socially accepted...On a personal level, I never liked to be angry but often found myself literally losing my sh*t for the silliest of reasons. Obviously, this display of emotion was only reserved to those closest to me and who probably didn’t deserve it at the time. But that is what happens when we teach each other to HIDE or even worse, repress our emotions when they actually arise. . Emotions are a source of information from our body to our mind. Better yet, emotions are just like energy, they will not dissipate they will change forms- if mishandled- and most of the times for worst. . So today I extend this invitation for you to FEEL THE RAGE you’ve been festering and that will eventually make you sick, if you do not release it. Feel the anger for being shamed, for being wronged and violated. Feel the anger for being neglected and betrayed. Feel the anger for being disrespected and ignored. Feel the anger because they told you to be quiet and to stay small. . Feel the rage because once you do, it will leave you transformed. It will give you the strength to heal your world and it will give you space TO FEEL JOY!. . . #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthactivism #curiosityheals #feeltherage #youarenotalone #backtobasics #creativeliving #rewildyourheart #arttherapy #arthealsthesoul #the100dayproject2018 #storytelling (at Jacksonville, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoMQweUBAsU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15dw5qel3kxhz

[little-raging-warrior-blog]

Day 03 of #100daysofhealing . . "Once upon a time, there was a monster with a little girl trapped inside. It would feel everything but nothing at all. It will consume everything and starve her soul”. . At age 19, I was officially diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety, even though I’ve been feeling like that since I was 13. The diagnosis was not a relief or validation to what I was feeling, but a stigma that no one in my family could un­derstand, even less accept. How could I blame them, if I agreed? . . I have been in an out of therapy and medication as my depressive cycles went. Always weighted down by the shame of not being able to cope with the world like a “normal” human being. . My health was at its worst(...) It wasn’t until I started getting the nastiest flashbacks I have ever experienced, that I truly thought I was not going to make it without help. . Whether it is trauma, or unprocessed feelings, genetics, a chemical unbalance or being subject to a highly toxic environment, even a combination of all of them…THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. . Let’s talk #depression #trauma and the urge to “fix it”. For the full post click on link in bio. . https://www.littleragingwarrior.com/blog/2018/8/8/lets-talk-depression . . . #mentalhealthactivism #mentalhealthawareness #deephealing #arttherapy #illustration #ink #storytelling #the100dayproject2018 #the100dayproject (at Jacksonville, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoHAypCBkmb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mg25cex7g3bs