Category: Mental Health

Posted in Events, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Self-Care

NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: Abstract!

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be facilitating tomorrow! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for September 30, 2023.

IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm!

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me a DM or email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.

*I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.

Here are some details for the event:

Title
Abstract!

Description
“Abstract!” is a relaxing and fun event where we will draw, write, and create. Starting with an ice breaker, we will sketch an image and share a self-care goal we have for the month of October. The main activity will then be to pick one of two activities. The first activity will be to create an abstract drawing, and the second activity will be to write a free verse poem about what thoughts, images, and ideas come to mind when hearing the word “art.” Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art.

Materials
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).

Schedule
2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker
2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity
3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing

Hope to see you there!

Posted in Mental Health, Other Accomplishments

My Latest Accomplishment: I’m Certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid!

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

I’m excited to share that I’m a certified youth mental health first aider. Getting help can be tough but starting the conversation and connecting to helpful resources doesn’t have to be done all on your own. I know I could have used a bit more support and a helping hand when I was in school, now I want to be that person for young people who may be facing challenges 💌.

Posted in Mental Health, Reflection, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Reflections, Activities, and Updates: Mindfulness, Breaks, and Having Fun

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Here’s a 2-step mindful moment for your day!

When you come across this post, I invite you take this 2-step mindful moment with me:

Step 1: Pause for a second and scoop up the moment just for you — you deserve it. Close your eyes, put your hand to your chest (if you can), and take one big deep breath.

Step 2: List two or three things you need from yourself today.

⭐ Note: Feel free to write your list in the comments below! ⭐️

Here is my list:

Two things I need from myself today: patience in allowing myself to process my emotions fully, and permission to complete my work and responsibilities at a pace that’s most comfortable for me.

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

What’s something you could use a break from?

Do you know what I could use right now? A break 😫. Especially from my ruminating thoughts and pile of responsibilities. Today, I definitely need to take a moment to recollect myself, ugh 🥹.

Is there anything you could use a break from?

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty as well!

What’s something fun you can do between now and the end of the year?

Lately it’s been really important for me to do things that I enjoy, especially since my depression has been at an all-time high, and I’m trying my absolute hardest not to let my low feelings consume my sense of adventure and fulfillment.

In order to get on top of my self-care, I’ve been brainstorming some things I can do for the remainder of 2023 that’ll help me feel a bit better about myself.

Here is my list of things I plan to do:

🍎 Go apple picking with my family
🥬 Go to a new vegan restaurant
📅 Take myself on a date once a month and buy myself something nice
💎 Find and go to a new crystal store I can explore

What about you?

This prompt can also be found in the Self-Care Lounge group on The Mighty here!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Encouraging Messages and Permission Slips

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Write an encouraging message to yourself for the month ahead.

It’s already August! I can barely believe it 😩. Let’s continue this month with encouraging and uplifting messages to ourselves ⭐.

Here is my message:

Dear Nina,

You’re doing a great job getting through the year. I know it hasn’t been easy and you’ve wanted to give up so many times, but you haven’t. You’re a warrior! Never forget that you’re worthy of love, peace, and abundance of all kinds. Continue to do your best and please rest when you need to.

I love you,
Nina

Also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Which permission slip do you need today?

Comment with which one(s) you’re adding to your self-love binder this upcoming week:


🚫 Permission to set a boundary
🛏️ Permission to rest and relax
💌 Permission to prioritize myself
🤝 Permission to ask for help
🌱 Permission to feel my feelings
🗣️ Permission to speak up for myself
🥳 Permission to have some fun
🌟 Permission to treat myself to something nice
📜 Blank permission slip (create your own and share it in the comments below!)

I definitely will be taking 2 permission slips today; one to prioritize myself 💌 and the other to feel my feelings 🌱.

Also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Events, Mental Health

NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: A Butterfly’s Wings

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be facilitating today!  This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website calendar here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for today, July 29th at 2:00 pm.

IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm! 

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me an email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time. 

Here are some details for the event:

Title
A Butterfly’s Wings 

Description
“A Butterfly’s Wings” is a creative and fun event where we get to know one another by sharing about ourselves and who we are as we draw, write, and create. Starting with an ice breaker, we will sketch an image and finish this sentence: Comfort to me looks like ___________. The main activity will then be to pick one of three activities. The first activity will be to draw a butterfly and color the wings different colors assigning each color a characteristic that describes you; the second activity will be to write an encouraging and uplifting message to yourself; and the third activity will be to write an acrostic poem or song using the letters of your first name. Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art.

Materials
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).

Schedule
2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker
2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity
3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing

Hope to see you there!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, Self-Care, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Reflection Prompts: Exploring What “Healthy” Means and Things To Look Forward To

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

What does “healthy” look like for you?

We all experience health, from how we take care of our bodies or manage our health symptoms/conditions, to the decisions we make in our life and how we maintain a state of well-being — physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. This, of course, looks different for all of us since we’re all unique and have different experiences.

My Reflection

To me, “healthy” means and looks like knowing where my limits are and feeling good in my body. Health for me also looks like understanding myself and allowing myself to feel my feelings, always being mindful of how much sleep I’m getting, and knowing how and when to ask for help.

What about you? What does “healthy” look like for you?

Find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Activity

Finish this sentence: I’m looking forward to _________.

My Reflection

Guess what?!

I don’t really get the opportunity to go out to big events much, but I’m going to an NF concert (who I absolutely love) and I’m super excited! I’ve been looking forward to this for months and it’s finally here 😁🙌. Yay me!

What’s something you’re looking forward to? 👀

Let’s cheer each other on in the comments below! 🥳💃

Find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Journaling Prompts: Meditation, Passions, Imagery, and Poetry

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

What are your thoughts on meditation?

When it comes to positive coping strategies and helpful self-care techniques, I like to hear what others do to self-soothe — even if it’s only to feel better for a momentary basis. One coping strategy that I find helpful, but often hear mixed reviews and ideas about, is meditation.

My Reflection

For me, meditation has helped me learn to connect with myself and my thoughts better; but I do feel like I have to be in a calm place mentally to meditate effectively, which leaves me procrastinating more times than not.

What are your thoughts? Do you think meditation is helpful for you or a bust?

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Activity

What are you passionate about?

When it comes to our passions, we can think about things that spark a light in us or make us feel good. A passion can be anything from a hobby, a truth, value or philosophy, or a cause that helps out others as well as ourselves.

My Reflection

My passion is in mental health advocacy, community building, and creativity.

Feel free to share your passions in the comments below 💌

You can also find this prompt here in the Chat Space group on The Mighty!

Activity

Write an imagery poem about how you’re feeling today.

Let’s practice our imagery writing skills!

⭐ Imagery is a literary device where you use vivid descriptions that appeal to a reader’s senses and imagination to create an image or idea in their head.

Here is my poem:

My ears are buzzing and ringing.
Bees and telephones.
Bees and telephones.
I’m wide awake.
Eyes like owls in the prime of night.
So much to do.
Time feels crammed into a soda can. There’s not enough of it, I’m craving more. I wish for more. Oh no! I missed the shooting star that just flew by.

I’m ready. Ready for what? Ready to rush?

I can’t. I need to take my time like a sloth. Going too fast makes me lose my breath. I’m hunched over because I can’t breathe.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

I can do it.
Run this race?
But, it’s not a race, remember?
I can slow down.

My heart is slowing down. Each beat like a soft drum.

I’m safe. I can slow down.
I’m doing good.

Feel free to share your own poem in the comments below! 💌

You can also find this prompt here in the Mighty Poets group on The Mighty!

Posted in Mental Health, Self-Care, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Mental Health Check-In

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

How would you describe your week so far?

How has everyone’s week been?

My Reflection

For me, I would describe my week as busy. I also haven’t been feeling too well with all that’s going on. I’m doing my absolute best, though! 💪😌

You can also find this post here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Activity

Finish this sentence: Today, my best looks like _______________.

We did it! We made it through half the week like the champions we are 🙌.

Let’s reflect on what our best looks like today, whether that be checking things off our to-do lists, working, studying, or simply existing.

My Reflection

I’ll share first!

Today, my best looks like finishing up my work in the morning and taking time out to simply be for the remainder of the day, relieving myself of any expectations and worries.

You can also find this post here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Journaling Prompts: Self-Talk

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity Prompt

What words would you like to use more of when talking about (or to) yourself?

My Reflection

In the early days of my recovery journey, the first thing a counselor said to me was, “Do you realize how you speak to yourself? Would you speak to someone you love the same way you speak to yourself?” Let’s just say my answer was an automatic “no.” This sparked a change in my perspective and from that point on, I became more aware of my inner dialogue and the words I use to communicate with myself.

Since then, the words I make sure I use in my “self-care and self-love dialogue” are “I deserve…” “I’m allowed to…” and “help.” I’m learning to be more kind to myself.

What about you? What words would you like to use more of?

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Events, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Self-Talk

NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: That’s My Favorite

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be facilitating at the end of the month! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. On the day of the event click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for May 27th, 2023.

IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm!

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me a DM or email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.

*I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.

Here are some details for the event:

Title:
That’s My Favorite!

Description:
“That’s My Favorite!” is a creative and fun event where we will reflect, get to know one another, and share what our favorite things are. Starting with an ice breaker, we will sketch an image of something that’s our favorite color. The main activity will then be to pick one of two activities. The first activity will be to draw a favorites list of your favorite food, season, animal, movie, and song or genre of music; and the second activity will be to write a poem or a song about something you enjoy doing, a favorite memory, or what makes you happy. Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art.

Materials:
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).

Schedule:
2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker
2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity
3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing

Hope to see you there!