You're such a wonderful human being Ashleigh! Hearing you say "your very existence is something" has warmed my heart so much ❤️

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

Thank you for sharing. I learned how to knit due to my anxiety and depression. It helps keep my hands busy while I watch tv or listen to an audio book and this way I don't feel bad for "being lazy". It helps with the depression as I tend to give my items as gifts or donate them to charity and fundraisers; which makes me feel better when I see people excited about the items.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I’d love to learn to knit so I can do that while watching things! One day, one day

Thank you for sharing, I've suffered from depression for a very long time. I do take medication but have been able to reduce the dose over the years. My doctor suggested a get grateful list very similar to what works for you. Taking walks and feeling the sun, hear the crunch of leaves under my feet, listening to dogs barking, just anything. I agree, counting what you've done, no manner how small, and not what you haven't done. As for falling asleep I drink chamomile tea and turn my electric blanket on and get cozy. Most of the time it works.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I love love love going out for walks in nature, always have done. They restore the souk somewhat 🌿💚

Ahh yes, that year that suddenly changes everything. From someone who has also been there: thank you for your honesty and for sharing this. I totally agree - let yourself feel, celebrate the little things and always remember that we are totally badass. A piece of advice that has also really stuck with me is to always treat yourself like you would your best friend. Be kind to yourselves because you freaking deserve it!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has never had any luck with a lot of mindfulness type things for anxiety. Some of them have even made me feel worse while attempting to force myself to do them. Me and deep breathing do not get along and that's the number one thing it seems people push for anxiety. I also used to count when I would get anxious, but I got obsessive about it as well and it fed itself back into my anxiety. So I have to watch myself to make sure I don't do that now. I really enjoyed this video.You use a lot of similar methods of dealing with your anxiety that I do and it kind of makes me feel validated in the way I try to deal with things. Well that's my rambly comment. Thanks for making this video! If you ever just need to rant or ramble or talk at all feel free to reach out! Sending lots of love and good vibes your way.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly this! I hate being told to take a deep breath because the first physical symptom I have is my throat closing up & causing me to struggle breathing so then I just go into a mad panic about how I can’t breath when I’m being told to 😅 Ramble away! I’ll always be here, or on any of my social media’s

Thank you for sharing this with us!! ❤️❤️

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for listening 💚

I've been watching your channel for many months, but I only just found this video now, so sorry for replying so late, but I really felt like leaving a comment because I could relate to a few things you said and it's nice to find people with a similar experience. Your channel is one of my favourites, I find your videos very soothing and relaxing to watch whilst I'm drawing or doing anything creative. I didn't know you had anxiety, thank you for sharing your experience and your methods for feeling better ❤️ I don't really like mindfulness exercises, they dont work for me. ASMR is the best thing ever, especially for anxious people ! I particularly love Goodnight Moon's fantasy series, it feels like home and I put it on whenever I have trouble sleeping. Sorry that was quite long.

Thank you so much for making this video. It was very helpful. I'm so grateful for you

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I’m so glad it helped and hope you’re doing ok 💚

you're so strong for posting this. all the love to you 💚💚

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

Such a lovely, genuine video. Thank you for your honesty and compassion! You were so brave for posting this ❤️

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

thank you for sharing

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚 I love Mel’s ASMR videos!

I’m very anxious this morning and this helped a lot. Thank you ❤️

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I hope you feel better soon 💚

Thank you! At 27 I JUST had my first physical anxiety attack and realized I've been dealing with anxiety. This helps. Yes to ASMR reading video! 👍😍

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I’m so glad this could help at all!

I have just read a book Asleigh, and I think that maybe it can be interesting for you as well, and maybe can help on your creative block and hustles right now, because it definitely helped me! It is called The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, and it is about how to fight with writers block or artist's struggles to "catch the muse". I think it had genious ideas about all what is procrastination and how to tackle it. Maybe it would be interesting :). Thank you for your videos, I love them! :)

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I’ll have to take a look, thank you!

thank you for sharing is means a lot for a lot of us that are dealing with anxiety, we love you so much Ashleigh

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for listening 💚

Thanks for sharing. You are strong af even when you don't feel it ❤️

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

Putting up this video is so brave, Ashleigh. I think it's very responsible and kind of you to use your platform to be open about your struggles with mental health. I found it difficult even to say the word "depression" verbally for a long time, so talking about your journey at length and trying to help others with the tips you've learned along the way is really admirable.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I will admit, I still find it hard to say the word depression. I almost spat it out every time I said it in the video aha

Very relatable, and much appreciated.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

Always appreciate other people being honest about mental health. Thank you for sharing 😘

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

Thank you so much for this. U have made so much sense to me. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and always thought it was just me or what i was doing that the mindfulness techniques didnt work. I will be trying out some of the things you suggested. Anyway thanks again. Take care xx

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

I really agree with the letting yourself feel the panic thing. I used to try and fight when I could feel a panic attack coming on but that would just make it last longer. Now I know that if I let myself feel it, it will pass and often that will get that particular worry out of my system. One of my favourite grounding techniques is trying to identify all the sounds that I can hear, again it's a brain distraction thing that helps me to focus on the moment. Thanks so much for sharing. ❤️

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

It’s sad that that’s the best option but holding it in just adds to the pressure and my god you don’t want that moment when it all blows up 😅 I’ll have to try the sounds one! I feel like I do this fairly often anyway just as a pastime because I live in a super quiet area so it gets late and I see if I can pinpoint anything at all 😂

You are truly a wonderful person! Thank you for sharing your journey and these tips, I've always found you incredibly relatable and real. My anxiety is always the worst at night and my struggle to even get a few hours of sleep is pretty bad. The only thing that helps is an audiobook or ASMR, so those are definitely great tips.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

I really think focusing on everything I’m touching, etc could be very helpful when I’m full of anxiety. Thanks so much for sharing Ashleigh and offering suggestions for everyone!❤️

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I really hope it does!

Thank you for making this video! ❤️

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚

Thank you so much for this. I have been struggling with my anxiety / depression a lot in the last 6 weeks that I have been in isolation. I have been feeling bad about my situation, which to be honest, isn't bad, and that makes me feel worse and the cycle continues. I crochet and listen to audiobooks, or watch / listen to youtube videos when I'm working. I have been doing this my whole life and I didn't realize that it was anxiety related until recently.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚 I hope things ease up for you soon

Hey lovely lady...I wanted to share with you. I had similar symptoms to you for all my life, and at over age 40...I was finally diagnosed with adhd. Obviously everyone is different, but I never thought I had adhd until my 10th psychiatrist finally tested me for it. Coming from a place of love - please take care. Love your content! 🖤

i had a nervous break down in 2013 i had cbt and it worked i managed to go back to work but again i relapsed so another session of cbt jump to 2018 i had two relapses in depression and anxiety and was told that maybe mindfulness would work i did an 8 week course in 2019. but then i got diagnosed with fibromyalgia and now every day i have to make sure everything is in sync if i have a relapse anywhere healthwise i have an almighty flares up. i find it very tiring working on everything but i do complete a pain diary and put my thoughts in it. what i did find helpful was to write something nice that happened to me on a piece of paper and put that into a jar and every december 31st i open the jar and read all the notes it shows that no matter how bad things are there is always something to be grateful about. i also do reading challenges every year

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I love the memory jar idea! I feel like I’d get so overwhelmed but in the best way aha

@traceyvince258

4 жыл бұрын

@@AFrolicThroughFiction well i'm always tearing up when i open it up at the end of the year. as yet ive not started one for this year but that's gonna change from tomorrow i be filling up that jar be needing it more than ever living in this situation we find ourselves in

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

tracey vince I might just join you in that!

I really enjoyed listening to you talk about drinking a hot drink as your grounding technique, because that's a big one for me as well. I normally use tea, and focus on every minute step in the process of making it, then my drinking experience looks a lot like yours.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Ahh I’ve never known anyone else do it!

Ashleigh, you are amazing human being and I'm so glad that I came across your channel, for a past few weeks I've been watching your videos while struggling with my own mental problems and they were the only thing that helped me. Thank you for being and creating such a stunning community here. I wish all the best! Greets from Poland! xoxo

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I’m so so glad my videos could help in any way at all, and hope they continue to do so 💚

@rozowafemme

4 жыл бұрын

A Frolic Through Fiction they do ❤️

Anxiety ✔️ OCD ✔️ Misophonia ✔️ Misokinesia ✔️ Depression (not all the time) ✔️ Hear if you need to chat. I can completely relate 👍

This will help a lot of people at the moment ❤️ xx

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I hope so 💚

Have paused this before you’ve even spoken to say a big thank you. Most people hide the fact that they have anxiety and mental health issues and I think it’s an extremely positive thing that you are doing giving people tips on your management of this awful awful condition that can be debilitating at times and cause horrendous side effects like agoraphobia. You’re an absolute star for doing this. As you know (well Ashleigh does) I’m coming up for 42 this year and have suffered terribly since I was 15/16 with this and due to other medical reasons I can’t be medicated for my anxiety or depression so if I can think of any of the coping techniques I use I’ll drop them in for you all too x once again Ashleigh thank you 😊

@cleg78

4 жыл бұрын

Psychiatrists will push this mindfulness til the cows come home, I had 2 literally gag me with this stuff and for me it just didn’t work. Congrats for those it does though.

@cleg78

4 жыл бұрын

I use humour when it comes to my mental health too so you aren’t alone there x

@cleg78

4 жыл бұрын

It’s like listening to someone tell my mental health journey, we are like pages of the same book when it comes to this with the eating issue, ocd, agoraphobia etc. With a panic attack it will hit so hard and fast or build so quickly and Ashleigh is so right if you prolong it or try to ignore it the fight or flight tendency will only get stronger so try and let it flow. Panic attacks are bloody scary and you will think the worst, thee very worst even to the point the worst will happen, trust me it won’t. I’m here and Ashleigh is here so it’s proof you will survive even though at the time you think all sorts

@cleg78

4 жыл бұрын

Distraction methods like what Ashleigh has spoken about are fantastic, like with Ashleigh talking about the cup and the tea with the heat etc. You can also look round a room and pick say 5 things then literally dissect them if you see a can, what colour is it? What does it feel like? Is it smooth/rough/warm/cold? Is it heavy? Try and think of a number of things for each item. Ashleigh you do have a voice that people will listen to, you could do one of these recordings. Talk and people will listen, you reading a variety of calming text would be great 👍🏻

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so, so incredibly much Claire 💚 it breaks my heart to know you’ve gone through all this and more. At least there’s some sense of validation in your agreeing with my advice. I was worried people would find it bad advice

Thank you for this ❤️ one of my issues with my anxiety is feeling “trapped” I usually try to find somewhere that’s an escape/safe space. For example, if I panic when I’m downtown I head to the frozen food section because for some reason I associate that with being safe. Or I’ll make a note of where a bathroom is so I know I can go there if things get too much. As long as I come up with a place or a spot that feels safe, I know I’ll be okay 👌

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I had that with my agoraphobia - I used to go to college but couldn’t manage the public transport unless it was almost empty, so every day would stop midway through the journey and run to some place in town 😅

@kjandherbooks

4 жыл бұрын

A Frolic Through Fiction That’s not fun :( it is good though that somehow our minds come up with ways to ‘fight or flight’ in those circumstances.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Ily 💚

Thank you ❤

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚

Thanks for this! If I were to recommend one book it'd be "The Happiness Trap" by Russ Harris; I'd thoroughly recommend and links quite well with the touching and feeling everything technique you mentioned. Once again, it might not help but thought I'd just mention it just in case it does.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I’ll take a look!

okay big mood, but mindfulness actually makes me more anxious 😩

@WordWonders

4 жыл бұрын

this is the most relatable mental health video i've ever watch because i feel/handle things the same way. Everything save for ASMR that is 😂 i tried so so many types and they make me want to crawl out of my skin. the only ones i like are ambiant noises.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

YES! If I start focusing on my breathing or something I just immediately panic because the first thing my anxiety does is stop me breathing so it’s one big spiral the second I think about it. It’s a shame ASMR doesn’t work for you, though I can defo see why! I used to hate it and now I adore 😂

@WordWonders

4 жыл бұрын

@@AFrolicThroughFiction imagine focusing on your biggest anxiety symptom while panicking 😭😭😭 also! i might try the reading ones!! i checked a couple after watching your video and they didn't make me want to immediately run away

Well done Ashleigh. I like to listen to Harry Potter audiobooks when I go to bed. I find it helps me to feel calm. Thanks Stephen Fry for narrating! You can also get Harry Potter ASMR rooms. I recommend ASMR rooms KZread channel. She does Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Sherlock Holmes. Worth a listen! I hope you are well. Best Wishes 💕

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

I use ASMR rooms when I need some background noise for reading! Need something a little more for when I’m just listening, but ASMR is fab all round ✨

💕

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚

I appreciate you and your courage sharing your story with us. Thank you for your recommendations. Do you have a PO Box that I can send something to? 😁

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

💚💚💚 I don’t have a P.O Box I’m afraid!

@heatherm561

4 жыл бұрын

@@AFrolicThroughFiction aw darn. I have something in mind I'd like to make for you. I'm grateful for all you do. 😊😘

Photography really helps me.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Oh that’s one I haven’t heard before!

Thank you for the video! Something that has helped me massively is a book called Reasons to stay alive by Matt Haig. It's so reassuring and kind and understanding and I'd recommend it to everybody who's struggling.

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Ahh see I sadly don’t like reading things like that, but I know loads of people love it!

[whisper] my method of dealing with my anxiety disorder is to just pretend nothing is happening until i literally cant anymore dont tell my therapist because she totally thinks im doing mindfulness techniques

@AFrolicThroughFiction

4 жыл бұрын

Sometimes mindfulness just doesn’t seem to cut it 😕

Please use my background music in your video i need support 🙏