Mind your Health

gamersagainstbigotry:

This week GAB are looking at the benefits of gaming. We’ve almost drowned ourselves in discussing race and geek girls - and it’s high time we had a nice break to feel warm and fuzzy.

Lets remind ourselves of not only why we love gaming, but why it can be good for us.

We’ll be posting and linking things like the one above (source: http://visual.ly/gaming-good-you) here, and on our Twitter, Facebook & Website.
And you can share your questions and stories with us by dropping us an Ask.

Merry Gaming :)

ianocheetos:

kiss-the-tot:

pheebadohdoh:

0shawhat:

davidbowiesgroin:

no-one-sees:

I love you most.

She kisses her hair instead of her forehead.

THAT JUST BLEW MY mIND THANK YOU

I just noticed, when she says ‘you most’ she breaks eye contact to look at her hair

There’s so much symbolism in this movie though like when the mirror breaks at the end and all the stuff about the hair so along with being extremely cute and catchy Tangled is also really deep.

I could watch this movie forever.

Gothel directs most of her loving gestures towards Rapunzel’s hair. In “Mother Knows Best”, Gothel gives a particularly noticeable, prolonged look at her hair and rubs her cheek against it. She also calls Rapunzel her “flower” several times.

First time watching “Tangled”, afterwards I thought, but Mother Gothel did seem to care for her in the beginning. Did she actually care for her, just a little? But after watching it a second time, I noticed all of her subtle ways of emotionally manipulating Rapunzel into being dependent on her (convincing her that staying inside was for her own good, and constantly chipping away at her self esteem before dismissing it as “just teasing” with a smile and a wave, keeping her compliant with small kindnesses like going away to get Rapunzel the shells she wanted), and all of the subtle signs that even as Gothel acted like she loved Rapunzel, all she really cared about was her hair.

Basically, “Tangled” is really clever at showing an emotionally abusive, parasitic and manipulative family relationship. It’s effective because it’s so subtle.

Beautiful discussion about emotional manipulation in all its subtleties.

And before someone says ‘its just a cartoon’ remember cartoons are supposed to convey large issues in a fashion that “even children” can recognize and understand. And because children learn through mimicking we want to create enchanting imaginary worlds in which they can gain valuable knowledge.

So much Adult media centers around distraction and minimizing serious issues, while children’s media focuses on teaching the “right” and “wrong” ways — because, typically, in our society we feel that prevention is the only method of change.

But I digress. I suppose I just love how people are picking out subtle cues and really paying attention to something and learning from it.

coooode:

And that’s the most frustrating thing about depression. It isn’t always something you can fight back against with hope. It isn’t even something — it’s nothing. And you can’t combat nothing. You can’t fill it up. You can’t cover it. It’s just there, pulling the meaning out of everything. That being the case, all the hopeful, proactive solutions start to sound completely insane in contrast to the scope of the problem.

It would be like having a bunch of dead fish, but no one around you will acknowledge that the fish are dead. Instead, they offer to help you look for the fish or try to help you figure out why they disappeared. 
(x)

You know when you read something that’s so accurate that you don’t know how to words?
Yeah.

con-affetto-kiko:

A series of prototype posters I did to address verbal abuse.

I was lucky enough to have willing models and a great photographer. Thank you for all your help.

I want to share “The Magic Book” with you now;

This is a process my therapist, Kristen, has been working extremely hard on. She recently graduated from a program outside of our state (she had to travel every weekend and stretched her budget thin to learn) that centers “Life Planning” exercises around people on the autism spectrum.

Our progress with what started as an hour long class has turned into months of dedicated work. She’s allowed me to break from the mold that the program was typically set in and the results have been tremendous. To the point strangers have walked up and asked what I was doing; which is how this book got its name, someone asked if I brought my “magic book” with me.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

What you see here are sensory soothing techniques with perfume (not for everyone!) and stamp collecting. My “happy place” that I created with my therapist during our EMDR sessions. Of course my “life plans” — and my strengths and weaknesses, which I learned were (almost) all strengths in disguise when used in the right place and time.

Photos of my friends, my dog, my support system that has become bigger than I ever imagined, and a page dedicated to my partner and more pages dedicated to those close in my life. I’ve gotten words(and pictures) of encouragement from many of them (and more to come) to keep tucked safely away in a book that is, quite frankly, me.

Even to the point where I’ve combated my need for self-perfection by assuring myself that if something wasn’t worth putting in my book it wasn’t worth putting so much time into and stressing over. Not only could I say it, but I believed it. I’m sure some of you will understand what a tremendous achievement that is.

If you want to see more of it, its here. We hope to one day make a book about how to make your own, but I’m more than happy to share what I’ve learned for free if anyone is curious. uvu

Anyways, I’m very excited about what is coming out of this… so I wanted to share. Its still a major work in progress!

uclamsw:

Calm Bottle (aka Glitter Jar)

Goal: Anger management; Decreasing anxiety, fear, etc.; Aggression/anxiety physical release

Supplies

- Container: This is typically made with a glass mason jar, but since I often make these with children I use water bottles with smooth sides.

- One bottle of clear glue (not white glue that dries clear), corn syrup, or glitter glue. I like using regular glue so I don’t have to deal with the hot water since I make these in my office.

- Water: It can be room temperature if you use regular glue but should be hot if glitter glue is used. If the water is not hot enough then the glitter will become clumpy and separate.

- Glitter: I use mostly super fine glitter with a little regular sized. I sometimes add sequins, beads, shells, plastic jewels, etc. Glow in the dark glitter looks really cool if you can find it. Less (or even none) is needed with glitter glue bottles

-Food coloring: This is optional. Only use one drop or it becomes difficult to see the glitter.

- Strong glue or duct tape: This is used to fasten the lid to the container. I like using colored duct tape.

Directions

- Making a Calm Bottle (clear glue or corn syrup): Fill the bottle 3/4 of the way full with water. Then add the glue (or corn syrup) and glitter. The more glue you use, the longer it will take the glitter to fall. I usually use the whole bottle. Add 1 drop of food coloring, if desired, and then glue/tape the lid on. 

- Making a Calm Bottle (glitter glue): Instead of clear glue you can use glitter glue.  If you go this rout then mix the glitter glue in a bowl with very hot water before adding it to the bottle.  If the water is not hot enough then the glue will clump up and not work.  You can add 1 drop of food color and additional glitter is desired.

-Using a Calm Bottle: I definitely suggest making this with your client, rather than for them. It is fun to make, they can personalize it, it will mean more to them and they will be much more likely to use it.  When your client becomes upset, angry, frustrated, anxious, etc., direct them to shake the bottle vigorously as long as they want as an aggression/anxiety physical release activity. When they are finished they set the bottle down and watch the glitter fall as they use their favorite coping tool and/or deep breathing exercise.

-Other uses: This is a common coping tool used for people who self-harm and is easily adaptable to many clinical issues.  I have also used this as a coping tool + timer for kids who are transitioning into sleeping in their own bed or have trouble focusing and are taking long breaks during homework.  It is a highly adaptable to numerous therapeutic goals.