IndigoBlue Magazine October 2022

Crisper, cooler days are with us, and we can take advantage of this lull before the busy holiday season for some much needed self-care. In this issue, our authors share ways to tap our inner inspiration, show ourselves grace, build a strong mindfulness practice, and build the self-esteem of children in our lives. We learn about ways to recognize when we need help and ways to access the support we need. We are looking forward to a productive fall season and we remain committed to helping our readers achieve their goals, maintain their health and wellness, and establish lasting, healthy relationships.…

Crisper, cooler days are with us, and we can take advantage of this lull before the busy holiday season for some much needed self-care. In this issue, our authors share ways to tap our inner inspiration, show ourselves grace, build a strong mindfulness practice, and build the self-esteem of children in our lives. We learn about ways to recognize when we need help and ways to access the support we need. We are looking forward to a productive fall season and we remain committed to helping our readers achieve their goals, maintain their health and wellness, and establish lasting, healthy relationships.…

Experiencing a recurrence of negative symptoms after a period of stability and improvement can be a discouraging and scary experience for those working on treating their depression. Intrusive thoughts can start to creep back in, and the fear of returning to a dark place can quicken the downward slide. When a depressive episode looms on the horizon, how do you stop yourself from regressing back? How do you stop the spiral into a deepening darkness? Over the years, I have learned that there are ways to recognize and potentially ward off a depressive episode—or at least get through it more quickly. While I am not a doctor, here are some tools I have found useful: Evaluate Your Mental State The first step is to recognize that you are experiencing an…

Experiencing a recurrence of negative symptoms after a period of stability and improvement can be a discouraging and scary experience for those working on treating their depression. Intrusive thoughts can start to creep back in, and the fear of returning to a dark place can quicken the downward slide. When a depressive episode looms on the horizon, how do you stop yourself from regressing back? How do you stop the spiral into a deepening darkness? Over the years, I have learned that there are ways to recognize and potentially ward off a depressive episode—or at least get through it more quickly. While I am not a doctor, here are some tools I have found useful: Evaluate Your Mental State The first step is to recognize that you are experiencing an emerging depressive episode. Different…

A few months ago, I felt like my life was an out-of-control, speeding train and I couldn’t get off. I desperately wanted to slow down, and rest. Then, suddenly as I noticed a rush to my body after my caffeine-laden morning tea, a thought occurred to me. Was it the world outside that was speeding or my own inner world? If I wanted everything to slow down, maybe I had to start with myself. I slowly began to cut out caffeine from my daily routine. At first it was hard. I felt exhausted and fuzzy headed, and some days I would nap in the afternoon. I had no idea just how badly I had relied on caffeine for my daily energy buzz. Gradually the haze began to clear and I…

A few months ago, I felt like my life was an out-of-control, speeding train and I couldn’t get off. I desperately wanted to slow down, and rest. Then, suddenly as I noticed a rush to my body after my caffeine-laden morning tea, a thought occurred to me. Was it the world outside that was speeding or my own inner world? If I wanted everything to slow down, maybe I had to start with myself. I slowly began to cut out caffeine from my daily routine. At first it was hard. I felt exhausted and fuzzy headed, and some days I would nap in the afternoon. I had no idea just how badly I had relied on caffeine for my daily energy buzz. Gradually the haze began to clear and I felt peaceful…