Happiness!

Hello

How is your day going

Most people can feel down from time to time. I learned this tip years ago from a book on depression and have recommended it to lots of people who say it really works for them too.

Every night take a minute to write down three positive things, for example:

3 things you did well today (no matter how small)

3 things good about you

3 things good about someone you know

3 things positive in your life

3 things you appreciate in your life

3 things that interest you

and so on ....

If you feel motivated choose more than set of three things to do each night.

Writing them down is important for it to work

If you feel very low you will find this hard to start with but choose very small things.

For example:  I brushed my hair this morning - I did the washing up today. I have enough food to eat. The sun shone today for a bit. I heard a bird sing.

Its hard sometimes to be positive, particularly about ourselves - but you will find over time it gets easy and you will have lots of ideas.

you may see an improvement in your mood as soon as after one week - or it may take a longer - don't give up - its worth it.

Let me know how you get on

Lots of love

Caroline

xx

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Christmas on the spectrum

Hi

I do love Christmas - my favourite time is Christmas Eve. We have tea in front of a real fire accompanied by Carol's from Kings.

To keep my anxiety levels down tea is quite simple as follows:

Nice bread - I like Hovis seed sensations wholemeal
Real butter
Hummus
Cherry tomatos
Free range ham or chicken slices
Good crisps
Peppers ready cooked from a jar in olive oil or similar
Chutney
Tapenade.

People can make any sandwiches they want to out of the above at the table.

Ready made Christmas cake and chocolate log
Clementines
Grapes

Pot of tea ( or in my case redbush as I can't do caffeine)

With the tree lit, everyone round the table, the fire and the carols there is always a little Christmas magic about it all.

To keep my anxiety and even depression at bay - I can't have more than a sip of alchohol, have to watch my blood sugar, no late nights, and also make sure that am assertive about only doing so much socialising with the wider family.

There are 15 of us and mum likes us to be all together every day - but as I find this very stressful I have to be firm that I'll be sociable on Christmas Eve and Christmas day but Boxing day is quite and at home.

I substitute lovely spiced apple fruit teas, or earl grey redbush for the alchohol or make a hot spicy drink with apple juice and I don't miss the alchohol. To keep the blood sugar low I have to make sure I eat equal amounts of mince pie and extra thick cream!! Honestly it works. 

Happy Christmas to you all.

x

Keywords: Autism, ASD, Spectrum, Aspergers, Social Anxiety, Depression Alcohol, Caffeine, Blood sugar, Christmas, Stress,