Our #Elves are back for 2022 and are here to bring YOU information and support on a range of topics that are important to you!

Whether it is finding a job, accessing a sexual health clinic, learning about your human rights or knowing who to turn to for support our #Elves are here to help!

Watch their daily videos below and check back each day to learn something new!

At a glance:

• Learn about the benefits of journaling or keeping a diary!
• Explore different ways of writing down your thoughts.
• Begin to challenge difficult thoughts and feelings.

You will need:

• A notebook or several pieces of Paper.
• A Pen or Pencil.

Dealing with difficult thoughts or emotions is not easy. It is something that everyone struggles with from time to time, but it is really important for our mental health, that we take the time to deal with them. It takes practice but there are lots of simple ways to get started. One way that can help challenge difficult thoughts and feelings, is journaling.

So, what is journaling?

Journal writing, or simply journaling, is the act of writing down your thoughts and feelings. It is a way to record how you are feeling and explore your difficult thoughts. Writing down thoughts and feelings is a great way that you can help yourself clear your head, cope with life’s stresses, and let out your emotions.

So, where do I start?

Getting started with journaling or keeping a diary might seem daunting but is very straightforward. There are no rules, no right or wrong, it is simply what works for you! All you need is a pen or pencil and notebook or piece of paper. You could also type it into a phone or laptop.

Set aside 5 to 10 minutes to get started.

Now think about your day. What was good? What was bad? How did you feel? Was there anything that stood out? Anything you particularly want to note down? Don’t worry about grammar or spelling, simply write!

REMEMBER – this journal is just for you! Don’t censor what you are writing – include everything that comes to mind!

Now you have your first journal entry. How does it feel? When you first try to start writing, it can feel weird, and difficult to put your thoughts into words. Give yourself time. Give yourself permission to simply let it all out – whether it makes sense or not!

So, what’s next?

Keeping a journal is all about you! It’s designed to be something you can do as frequent or infrequently as you like. It can be as creative or not, as suits you!

Here are some top tips for keeping a journal:

• Attempt to put aside at least 5 to 10 minutes a day for journaling. Figure out what time of day is best for you. Consider writing in the morning to get all your worries, frustrations, and hopes for the day out of your system. Write in the evening to reflect on your day.
• Try not to view journal writing as a task, instead think of it as an opportunity to grow, develop and clear your head.
• Don’t just write about the good stuff! Journaling is most useful when we write about everything that is on our minds, the good and the bad! You are the only one who will read it, so include everything that matters to you.
• Many people chose to keep a journal that is based around a theme. For example, some people chose to keep a vent diary, scrapbook, photo album or bullet journal. Try out lots of different styles and find out what works best for you.

Coping with difficult thoughts and feelings is something that takes time, so be patient with yourself, and remember if keeping a journal doesn’t work for you, there are lots of other coping strategies you can try.

If you need support, information or advice about coping with difficult thoughts and emotions, chat to us live via our confidential Blether Chat’s every night of the week or pop along to one of our Drop In’s. For more information click here.

Time: 10 minutes

Outcome:

Be able to better process and understand racing and/or anxious thoughts helping to reduce stress.

At a glance:

• Learn what a Brain Dump is.
• Learn to identify and understand your thoughts.
• Understand a new way of brainstorming.

Rushed and anxious thoughts are things that everyone experiences from time to time. But how do we handle it when it happens?

Having sudden, racing thoughts can leave you feeling confused, overwhelmed and stressed. It can be easy to become overloaded or simply numb, not knowing what you are thinking or feeling.

This is where a Brain Dump can come in.

A Brain Dump is a simple excersize where you put down those thoughts as you have them into words – using pen and paper or typing them up. By putting down your thoughts on paper or text, you can see them as something real in front of you. This can help reduce the stress caused by these thoughts as it allows you to deal with each one individually taking your time to do so.

Brain Dumps are beneficial for several reasons. Not only can they be used to help deal with anxious and intrusive thoughts, it can be an excellent way of brainstorming – especially if you have lots of ideas and don’t want to let any pass you by!

To take the pressure off, consider setting a timer for 1-5 minutes.  A limit on how long you will be writing can help alleviate stress and any expectations. The timer can be as long or as little as you like but the idea is to simply use that time to write, and then focus on what it is you’ve written down.

Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or handwriting. These thoughts are personal to you, and when you’re done you can decide what to do with it. Keep the thoughts, expand on them or even tear it up to delete it! They’re for you and only you unless you decide to share!

Time: 20 mins

Outcome:

Learn how to manage your emotions and develop skills to help you take control of your anger!

At a glance:

• Learn about what anger is!
• Understand what anger does to your body!
• Develop strategies to take control of your anger.
• Learn to respond to anger in a healthier way!

You will need:

• A pen / pencil & a piece of paper.

What makes you feel angry?

The list of situations, actions and attitudes that make us feel angry is endless, with any one potentially causing an outburst! But are these situations really what causes us to feel angry?

Anger, like happiness or sadness, is a natural human emotion. Similar to fear, it inspires a powerful response of feelings and behaviours in response a ‘threat’ that in some cases, enable us to fight for ourselves. It is often the cause of aggression, as we step up to defend something when we feel it is under attack. And just like fear, we are in control!

The situations, actions and attitudes that make us feel angry, only trigger an angry response. They DON’T cause it! There isn’t a magic remote control that others are pressing to cause your anger because you are in control! You are holding the control to your own anger!

If it was the situation that was in control of your response, we would all react in the same way, but we don’t. We are each in control of our own anger and response to situations!

Think about the situation, action or attitude before responding, and you will be more in control!

Using our Anger Controller below, re-design the buttons with other ways that you could respond when feeling angry!