Third of a Lifetime

Best Tweets for Trauma and PTSD Survivors is a weekly Friday feature. My selections are entirely subjective, and I know it will never be possible to include every great resource tweeted. But I can try! I’ve personally read all tweeted links, and believe them to be of great value.

Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for content found on any other website. Stay safe, and don’t follow links if you believe you might be triggered by them. Also, I will not be re-checking links from older Best Tweets posts, and if the site’s archived URL is different from the one I’ve provided here, you may need to do a search on their site.

Please Share My Stuff! You can now “like” and “share” this post everywhere with the touch of a button or two at the end of the linked tweets! Feel free to do any or all of that! (And thanks.)

Photo Credit

@LillyAnn “There is only the present moment,
all else is distraction.”

Six Standalone Tweets to Ponder

@ShareAwakening “There is no more important step you can take than to define your life’s purpose. It develops your sense of belonging to our universe.” ~ Arnold P

@soulseedz “Acceptance does NOT mean being passive or submissive. It’s the choice for peace and non-judgment.”

@karenkmmonroy “Your certainty of what will happen prevents what can happen…”

@zebraspolkadots “Self love is no longer thinking I can ‘work it out’ with those who need me to somehow be wrong so they can be right.”

@StacyIgel “Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong.” ~ Unknown

@DrAthenaStaik “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” ~ Gloria Steinem

Linked Tweets

@NAMIMass The Impact of Partner Anxiety on Your Relationship
[SEO: This post references a 2004 survey by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) that assessed the impact generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has on relationships, beginning with a list of findings regarding how GAD sufferers feel about themselves and their relationships.

"I think what struck me most about the above findings is the underlying guilt and shame that people with anxiety and panic disorders must feel about the way their illness affects their partners and the relationship as a whole. I often find that clients with anxiety fuel their own problem by blaming themselves for not being able to get past the fear and panic, which adds more stress, and puts them in a never-ending cycle." Post then offers a list of what you, as the supportive partner, can do to help your partner with GAD. (If you're the one with GAD give this post to your partner.)]

@psychcentral Before you move forward, you need to say goodbye to the past. Here’s how to let go so you can move on with your life.
[SEO: "Having mined your past for clues as to how you characteristically approach the ending of one thing — your high school days, your first love, that job you hated — you can learn what to anticipate as future transitions approach, and be better prepared to cope. ...

"So here is the challenge presented by endings: As you stand on the cusp between this and that, here and there, make a conscious choice about “former me” and “becoming me,” between who you were and who you would like to be. Sure, you might not be able to fully discard all of the aspects of “former me” that you’d like to. And your notions about “becoming me” might be a tad overblown in the final analysis (New Year’s resolutions, anyone?). But it is the process of reflecting that is important. You are equipping yourself with important self-knowledge that is sure to help you through the current transition — and the next, and the next, and the next."]

@natasha_tracy Myth: Psych Meds Are an Agent of Control
[SEO: "One of the myths about mental illness medication is that it is used to control its taker. In other words, by taking the pills prescribed by a psychiatrist you become a pliable, braindead lemming. So, let’s take a look at my pliable, braindead, lemming life." ... "When successfully medicated, you’re not a zombie, you’re a person. A person who can do whatever they like. They can mess up their life; they can succeed; they move forward; they can jump up and down. What they aren’t is controlled. The unsuccessfully treated illness controls a person far more than the medication ever could."]

@patriciasinglet Why are We the Ones that Hide the Truth?
[SEO: Examines why abuse survivors are made to bear the brunt of a dysfunctional family's shame and blame, which encourages deadly silence. "Why are our 'secrets' considered embarrassing? Why are we protecting our abusers?" The conversation continues in the comments.]

@NAMIMass How to Fight Mental Illness Stigma
[SEO: Article by Dr. Deborah Serani (@DeborahSerani), discusses origin of the word 'stigma', and how it can impact you if you have depression. "There are five levels of stigma that can affect your daily living experiences if you have depression. Stigmatizing beliefs occur on a personal level, in the general public, within professions, via labels and by associative connections." She goes into each level in some depth.

"As you continue to educate yourself, make the leap to teaching others so that the myths of depression can be addressed. You will be creating a new reality, one that shows how living with depression is not something to be afraid of or shameful about."]

@SarahEOlson2009 5 Quick Facts about Art Therapy
[SEO: "The very words 'art therapy' can sound abstract (no pun intended!), and many people have little understanding about its origins, principles and purpose. That can easily create myriad misconceptions. Here, we lay out five facts about art therapy."]

This is the late edition of Favorite Tweetstuff, brought to you every Friday! Each week I gather up my favorite items from my Twitter stream; maybe funny, or beautiful, or quirky, or inspiring. It’s all good! Enjoy!

@Quotes4Writers “Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life.” ~ Lawrence Kasdan

@OddityCentral The Awe-Inspiring Paper Sculptures of Allen and Patty Eckman
[SEO: Just ... wow. These are incredibly complex and intricately detailed, and all appear to be 3D.]

@AnnTran_ “The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” ~ Sydney J. Harris

@DavidShuster “Another must-read by @singernews — National Zoo’s animal reactions before/during/after quake. So interesting!”
[SEO: The giant pandas weren't impressed, but everyone else was!]

@kathiekeeler “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” ~ Saint-Exupéry

@goodthingz 13 Incredible Libraries
[SEO: Breathtaking! Not sure I could actually read in these places, I'd be too busy looking around, exploring nooks and crannies!]

@soulseedz “I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it.” ~ Garrison Keillor

@latimes Human-like robot comes alive aboard space station
[SEO: Includes a video of two space station members assembling "R2". And you can tweet w/him @AstroRobonaut! (I keep wanting to call him Hal. ]

@CausesEffects “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” ~ Gandhi

Special Request: If you find value in this blog showcase, please add the Dissociation Blog Showcase link to your blogroll so others can find it. Thanks!

We have amazing writers amongst us who give insight and hope to anyone struggling with dissociation, or to their loved ones. It’s a brain trust, and I treasure it. When I find new blogs, I usually update the Dissociation Blog Showcase (DBS) on Sunday evenings. Tonight I’ve added the following three new blogs:

Just Call Me Frank

Ramblings of a Dissociated Soul

The Crew

Please use the DBS link above to access these blogs, and check out the entire directory of (approximately) 190 dissociation-related blogs! As always, be careful and stay safe. Many of these blogs do not provide trigger warnings, nor are they obligated to do so.

Still on the way: I’ve received requests for inclusion of some DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) information and awareness sites, which are not “blogs” per se. I’m still planning to add a new section for these types of sites to the index, so please let me know if you have any favorites. (The two sites currently in the queue are DID World Map and DIDiva.com.) Thanks!

If you, or someone you know, experiences dissociation and blog about it, write to me with the URL at sarah.e.olsonATgmailDOTcom . I review each blog before adding it to the Showcase.

Thanks so much for the feedback and well-wishes for this project!

Best Tweets for Trauma and PTSD Survivors is a weekly Friday feature. My selections are entirely subjective, and I know it will never be possible to include every great resource tweeted. But I can try! I’ve personally read all tweeted links, and believe them to be of great value.

Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for content found on any other website. Stay safe, and don’t follow links if you believe you might be triggered by them. Also, I will not be re-checking links from older Best Tweets posts, and if the site’s archived URL is different from the one I’ve provided here, you may need to do a search on their site.

Please Share My Stuff! You can now “like” and “share” this post everywhere with the touch of a button or two at the end of the linked tweets! Feel free to do any or all of that! (And thanks.)

Photo Credit

@healingtrauma “A mind at peace,
a mind centered and not focused on harming others,
is stronger than any physical force
in the universe.” ~ Wayne Dyer

Six Standalone Tweets to Ponder

@Josh_Bickle “Breathe in the goodness people offer and breathe toward all you can be … inspiration, aspiration, respiration.”

@zebraspolkadots “How are you feeling? what are you focused on? That’s what you’ll get more of. Focus on now to step out of pain of past or fear of future.”

@soulseedz “Be as fully present as you can be, awake to what is forming inside and around you.”

@sanzplans “One of the processes of your life is to constantly break down that inferiority, to constantly reaffirm that I Am Somebody. ~ Alvin Ailey

@reginaldcuffee “When you uncover new dimensions of who you are, you will begin to trust yourself more deeply.”

@embraceselflove “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Linked Tweets

In the News

@psychcentral Announcing the Psych Central Drug Discount Card
[SEO: Psych Central has partnered with Needy Meds to provide a discount drug card, which also can be used for savings on over the counter items. It's free, it never expires, there are no extraordinary requirements to get it, and Psych Central does not receive any money from your use of the card. I haven't tried it, but this looks like it could help bridge any gaps in your medicine expenses. Worth a look.]

@AVCupdate Thousands of veterans with PTSD to receive new disability benefits
[SEO: This ruling only applies to 2000 veterans who filed a class action lawsuit to force the government to acknowledge and pay for their PTSD disability status. It's deplorable that vets had to sue their own government to receive these benefits. But it's a start.]

About Therapy, Generally

@PTSDdotOrg Top 7 Therapy Myths Debunked
[SEO: "An expert psychologist and a psychiatrist explain the top 7 misunderstandings that people have about therapy -- with a dose of reality tossed in." These myths include: My childhood doesn’t matter; All therapists are the same; I don't need therapy, just drugs; It's not going to work; It's too expensive; It's going to send me over the edge; and I don't have time."]

@Good_Therapy Why Do I Have to Talk About My Painful Feelings in Therapy?
[SEO: "Much of how we feel, think and behave in the present relates back to the experiences we have already had. Understanding the pain you carry, and why is an important tool for your therapist to have when working with you. This enables your therapist to change how you feel, by understanding the root cause and then taking proper treatment channels. These most unpleasant moments in therapy are the real work, and facing them is your most rewarding challenge."]

The Rest of the Best

@MentalHelpNet What Does a Depression Diagnosis Mean to You?
[SEO: "Diagnosis can be the beginning of your partnership with physicians for the work of recovery, or it can be the beginning of a passive relationship in which you wait for the right treatment to come along. It depends on how you respond and the messages conveyed to you by your PCP or psychiatrist.

Do they encourage you to be part of your healing or do they expect you to leave everything in their hands? Do they help you build confidence in your resilience in the face of illness, or do they encourage you to look primarily outside yourself to the latest in medical treatment?"]

@HealthyPlace Anxiety Wants You in a Box (via @kris_burns)
[SEO: "Anxiety likes to keep us in boxes. Little boxes, with four walls and a steady stream of same, same, similar, same. Don’t stray too far now. Don’t, should, must,... and after a while your mind stops using the windows, let alone the door. One doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with the same, if it feels safe, safer, or like it’s somehow protecting you no matter how unsafe we actually feel, every single day. Up to a point it’s fine. Of course it’s fine. Of course then it’s easy to miss the point that it’s not fine, too."]

@psychcentral Getting Back On The Wagon: Success, Failure And The Cycle Of Change
[SEO: This post examines the Cycle of Change therapy, in particular, how relapse is an acknowledged part of the cycle, so it ought not to be looked at as failure. (Not just relapse involving substance abuse, but also those efforts to nourish our psyches, honor our creativity, and add enjoyment in life.) Outlines the six components of cycle of change therapy, and describes why, if you relapse, you don't go back to "zero", or square one. "Because you’ve already done all of your pre-contemplation and contemplation. And you’ve also probably done most of your planning."]

@ACCRI 5 Steps for Being Present
[SEO: "The first thing to recognize is that, try as we might, we really can only do one thing at a time, so we ought to do that thing wholeheartedly. Most of our time is spent in the past or the future, rather than the present moment. What we end up doing is passing through that moment on the way to somewhere else and, in doing so, we miss the moment. That's how life ends up passing us by - we do it to ourselves." The five steps discussed are simple but not easy. Practice.]

@thereseborchard A guide for dealing with those that don’t get or try to get mental illness, a.k.a. idiots
[SEO: Whether they are close relatives or a jerk sitting next to you on a bus, we've all dealt with people full of judgments and proclamations about mental illness. While Therese writes somewhat tongue in cheek here, the advice offered is sound.]

@goodthingz Next time you feel stuck, ask yourself the following question (via @amandalinehan)
[SEO: The question is: "What can I do? This is opposed to thinking about all of the things you can’t do or don’t have control over in any given situation. ... When you ask what you can do you stop trying to control the world around you, and you simply focus on yourself."]

@SarahEOlson2009 How to Keep Going When Mental Illness Treatment Doesn’t Work
[SEO: "Everyone who has been bipolar, or mentally ill in general, for longer than about a day-and-a-half has experienced failed treatments. We’ve all had medications that didn’t work. Therapy that didn’t help. Lifestyle changes that did nothing. And so on, and so forth. In fact, most of us experience months of treatment failure before we find treatment that works for our mental illness."

I know it's so tempting to throw in the towel after trying -- sometimes for years -- to find something that works. But that isn't the time to give up. "Every treatment is a question mark and the only way to know whether you’ll get better or not is to try. I don’t regret trying. Because even failure is information to use moving forward."]

Every Friday I pick my favorite tweets that passed through my tweet stream and compile them here. They can be inspiring, funny, quirky, or simply beautiful. Enjoy!

@SashaKane “From someone who was taken up — Kept warm and safe under the Wings of Twitter peeps. ONE Person, ONE word, ONE Tweet can change a life.”

@AmazingPics Morning Meteors by Michael Menefee
[SEO: A composite of 444 shots taken of last weekend's meteor showers, 30 of which captured meteors. Spectacular!]

@zebraspolkadots “Pssst…that voice that keeps telling you how worthless you are? It’s lying.”

@pourmecoffee No big deal, this NASA picture posted today is just of two galaxies colliding

@OurTownMagazine “Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only with what you are expecting to give, which is everything.” ~ Katharine Hepburn

@BlondeTXGoddess 12 Bird Nests In Unusual Places: Get Inspired By Nature (via @adamsconsulting)
[SEO: All very cute, but the one with (what I think are) herons perched in an over-sized nest on top of a telephone pole? That's extreme bird nesting!]

@ShareAwakening “The more REAL you are, the more UNREAL your life will become.” ♥ John Lennon

@latimes Prehistoric flying creature lands on Cardiff surfer statue

@soulseedz “Expectations are resentments under construction.” ~ A Lamott

@DavidBTwit The Incredible Flower and Sand Carpets of La Otorava
[SEO: Simply gorgeous artwork.]

@Quotes4Writers “A writer takes earnest measures to secure his solitude and then finds endless ways to squander it.” ~ Don DeLillo

@GerryWiederRN “As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.” ~ Thoreau

Best Tweets for Trauma and PTSD Survivors is a weekly Friday feature. My selections are entirely subjective, and I know it will never be possible to include every great resource tweeted. But I can try! I’ve personally read all tweeted links, and believe them to be of great value.

Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for content found on any other website. Stay safe, and don’t follow links if you believe you might be triggered by them. Also, I will not be re-checking links from older Best Tweets posts, and if the site’s archived URL is different from the one I’ve provided here, you may need to do a search on their site.

Please Share My Stuff! You can now “like” and “share” this post everywhere with the touch of a button or two at the end of the linked tweets! Feel free to do any or all of that! (And thanks.)

Photo Credit

@karenkmmonroy “Whatever is happening,
there is a silence, a peace, and a calm
that belies every moment.
Your job is to find it.”

Six Standalone Tweets to Ponder

@IVKelly “Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us.” ~ Steven Pressfield

@back2incomplete “Each of us is frightened and ashamed in our own way. When we can embrace our vulnerability, we can remember our connection.”

@CarePathways “Know that each uncomfortable truth you face creates a bigger opening for the things you are searching for to enter your life.”

@LillyAnn “HIDE NOWHERE. I believe in reasons over excuses, in running to –rather than running from — and in uphill battles over slippery slopes.”

@EndStress “Imagine it as already real. See yourself there.”

@SashaKane “When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.”

Linked Tweets

About PTSD

@PTSDdotOrg The Effect of PTSD on a Person’s Life
[SEO: A good primer of what PTSD is, how it impacts many different aspects of life, and the importance of seeking treatment. Good for anyone just starting on their healing journey, and for their loved ones, to help them understand it more fully.]

@CombatPTSDblog The signs, symptoms and red flags of Secondary PTSD in children
[SEO: This is aimed at children in military families whose deployed parent returns home with PTSD. But I can't stress enough that these symptoms will apply to any child with a parent dealing with PTSD issues, regardless of cause. Includes an explanation of each type of symptom, and what you can do to get help for your child to deal with it. The sooner the better, as these issues don't just go away, and may become worse if ignored.]

The Rest of the Best

@SarahEOlson2009 How to Deal with the Stress of Tough Economic Times (by @DrMelanieG)
[SEO: Dealing with mental illness is hard enough without constant money and job stress. "The first step is to realize that panic doesn't help. Worry and obsessive fear make the situation worse by clouding our minds so we can't think clearly and wearing out our bodies so we don't have as much strength to cope. Instead, stop for a moment, take a deep breath...." Discusses five strategies for coping, and moving through tough economic times.]

@FaithLotus Differences between Fear and Anxiety
[SEO: This post refers to How Fear Differs From Anxiety (.PDF), an article from the journal Traumatology, and well worth a read in itself. From the blog post: "...[W]hile people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently struggle with anxiety, the anxiety is a byproduct of a ‘conditioned fear response,’ which distinguishes PTSD from other anxiety disorders. The article argues that the two terms of ‘fear’ and ‘anxiety’ are not interchangeable because they have different causes.” Very interesting post!]

@darleneouimet If Happiness is a Decision WHY Couldn’t I Make It? (via @zebraspolkadots)
[SEO: This resonates so strongly for me. If happiness is a decision, seemingly as easy as deciding to have eggs for breakfast, why are there so many unhappy people in the world? Why does being unhappy, in certain circles, register as some kind of character defect? This post looks at the many external things we do to try to be/find happiness, and the guilt induced by accepting that it's a decision -- and you're obviously not making it.

"I found real and lasting happiness when I faced the things that had caused me to be so unhappy in the first place. And now I really can choose my attitude. I found that being grateful, being able to sustain an attitude of gratitude came much easier after I faced the past and was allowed to have my resentments for the things that stole my happiness. When I gave myself permission to feel the anger and NOT judge myself for it, I didn’t have to fight it anymore." The conversation continues in the comments.]

@psychcentral Feel like you’re not progressing in therapy? You may be standing in the way of your own treatment.
[SEO: This post lists various ways progress is impeded in therapy, and adds: "Sometimes, particularly when people are fearful and anxious, lack of progress in treatment is a result of resistance to the therapy process." Discusses four ways in which you may be resisting therapy, and why resistance is often part of the therapeutic process.]

@HopeLCSW The Four Questions to Rid Automatic Negative Thoughts
[SEO: "When we’re depressed, automatic negative thoughts such as 'This is hopeless,' or 'I’ll never get this right,' or 'what’s the point' are swimming around. If we’re excited, thoughts like, 'this is really going to happen,' or 'everyone loves me,' or 'I feel like I can do no wrong' are prevalent. Thoughts are powerful and it’s worth becoming aware of our minds, understanding that thoughts are not facts and at times, even challenging them."]

@ssanquist Is It a Relapse? (via Beyond Blue)
[SEO: "The fact that I study neurobiology -- that I know that the amygdala, or the brain’s fear system, is hosting a massive keg party inside my head right now -- should, somehow, protect me from the shortness of breath, and the loss of appetite (there’s a BIG problem if sweets don’t make me happy), an inability to sleep, feelings of tremendous guilt (for hiring a babysitter to watch the kids for a few hours so that I can work), a lack of confidence about absolutely everything (and especially motherhood, marriage, and writing), and the inability to make any decision (like which salad dressing to buy)."

I've sat right on the edge of the abyss Therese Borchard describes, and felt the fear of relapsing after months -- no years -- of progress into a deep black depressed goo. It took a long time, with some therapy-enlightened life experience, to come to the same realization she does: "What’s different this time from past bouts with this beast is that today I have hope, and I know this place is only temporary." Give yourself the chance to get there, too.]

So glad it’s Friday! After the imposition of “new Twitter” on Sunday, it’s been a very looooong week. I’m still not up to speed on it, but I did manage to find my favorites! (Yay! It’s the little things….) Enjoy!

@Quotes4Writers “I write to ease the passing of time.” ~ Jorge Luis Borges

@petapixel Must see! Mind-blowing short film shows trip of a lifetime around the world
[SEO: "What happens when 3 guys spend 44 days flying 38,000 miles on 18 flights to 11 different countries, capturing moments of footage at each location with two cameras?"]

@Quotes4Writers “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” ~ Mark Twain

@AmazingPics 30 Inspiring Photo Moments Captured in Fog (via @smashinghub)
[SEO: Beautiful, sometimes surprising, photos!]

@SashaKane “After twelve years of therapy my psychiatrist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said, No hablo ingles.” ~ Ronnie Shakes

@LillyAnn Everyone should have this clock. Even if it runs a little slow or stops ticking, it will always be right. #Zen

@heykim •15 Amazing Videos Of Soldiers Returning Home (/via @BuzzFeed)
[SEO: I can watch these videos all day long, guaranteed to make me tear up, for good reasons.]

@ptarkkonen “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”

@petapixel Beautiful long exposure shots from a Japanese high speed train
[SEO: Surreal.]

@healingtrauma “A day of worry is more exhausting than a day at work.” ~ John Lubbock

@AmazingPics Hayashi Natsumi’s Levitation Self Portraits
[SEO: She is quite good at making her elevation seem real and natural. Very interesting!]

@soulseedz “The creative process requires chaos before form emerges.” ~ Marilyn Ferguson

@pourmecoffee Come at me, badass slo-mo owl.

Best Tweets for Trauma and PTSD Survivors is a weekly Friday feature. My selections are entirely subjective, and I know it will never be possible to include every great resource tweeted. But I can try! I’ve personally read all tweeted links, and believe them to be of great value.

Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for content found on any other website. Stay safe, and don’t follow links if you believe you might be triggered by them. Also, I will not be re-checking links from older Best Tweets posts, and if the site’s archived URL is different from the one I’ve provided here, you may need to do a search on their site.

Please Share My Stuff! You can now “like” and “share” this post everywhere with the touch of a button or two at the end of the linked tweets! Feel free to do any or all of that! (And thanks.)

Photo Credit

@Zen_Moments “I have one small drop
of knowing in my soul.
Let it dissolve in your ocean.” ~ Rumi

Six Standalone Tweets to Ponder

@CarePathways “Healing is something far more profound than curing disease.”

@lizstrauss “I thought if I changed situations, I’d change how people saw me. What needed changing was what I believed about me.”

@LillyAnn “Please be reminded to appreciate your life. Appreciate doesn’t mean ‘like’. It means ‘feel completely’.”

@soulseedz “Hummingbirds teach how to re-visit the past to release it instead of being caught in a permanent backward flight pattern.”

@TWLOHA “The world hurts. We live in fear and forget to walk with hope. But hope has not forgotten you.” ~Libba Bray

@Tamavista “The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next.” ~ Mignon McLaughlin

Linked Tweets

In the News

@NAMIMass Injured vets wonder if country will now sacrifice for them. Please support service members/veterans and their families.
[SEO: We are failing our vets, and their families, by not providing adequate care resources to cover the thousands of new cases of PTSD and TBI returning home every day now.]

@suicideresearch Interested in doing something for Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September 2011? (.PDF)
[SEO: Link above is to a "toolkit" for creating awareness and activities on World Suicide Prevention Day. Also check out the International Association for Suicide Prevention website, which offers banners for September 10th in 40 different languages, and helpful resources. The theme in 2011 is "Preventing Suicide in Multicultural Societies".]

The Rest of the Best

@SarahEOlson2009 How Compassion Can Free You From the Cycle of Unworthiness
[SEO: "In a world often devoid of a true sense of community, we grow up searching for how to belong. Social isolation is our greatest fear and many of us grow up with the mantra 'There’s something wrong with me' feeding a cycle of unworthiness and shame. How we relate to our 'frightened and vulnerable hearts' makes all the difference."]

@aflourishinglif 10 Life Changing Facts to Heal the Inner Critic
[SEO: "If you feel held back in any area of your life and have the sense that there must be something more, your inner critic is alive and well. There is nothing helpful about the way the inner critic guides you. Who finds it supportive to be incessantly doubted, devalued, and deflated?" See also the next article below.]

@goodthingz 5 Steps to Effectively Deal With Negativity
[SEO: Five questions to ask of yourself to effectively deal with negativity. Simple, but not easy!]

@psychcentral Recovering from Mental Illness? Be Your Own Best Friend
[SEO: "The key factor that determines who recovers and who doesn’t most often is the willingness and ability of the person to engage in his or her own healing. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or any of the other diagnoses for mental illness, your involvement and attitude make a difference." Discusses creating your own internal best friend, how and why. "I’m talking about a friend who cares deeply about you, wants only the best for you, and who loves you enough to find a way to encourage you even when you are so discouraged you push her away." Includes eight ways a supportive friend -- inside or out -- would encourage you.]

@NAMIMass Living With Severe Chronic Pain
[SEO: "Experts agree that comprehensive care — which can involve medications, exercise, psychological therapy, massage, physical therapy, injections and complementary treatments, depending on the patient and condition — is essential. 'The reason we now call chronic pain an illness is that we recognize that it is more than just a sensation in the body,' Portenoy says. 'It affects your ability to function as a human being, your relationships, your ability to be productive, to think straight.'" Discusses chronic vs. acute pain; the problem with opioids; and provides links to further pain management resources.]

@Mindful_Living A Mindful Phrase to Help with Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Addiction
[SEO: "We’ve all heard the adage that 'It is what it is,' telling us that whatever is happening is simply the reality of the current experience. But I like to add on another piece saying, 'It is what it is, while it is.' This speaks to a larger reality that whatever is here is also impermanent."]

@psychcentral Creative Mind: “Art Saved My Life”
[SEO: In depth article with interviews of various celebrities, artists, writers, and art therapists who came from traumatic childhood or adult backgrounds, (or treat those who do). What all these people have in common is they found that using art (whether via acting, writing, painting etc) helped them to heal those wounds. Several also describe how their art provides an expressive outlet to release "disturbing emotions".]

@LillyAnn 10 Ways to Love the People in Your Life ❤ (by @tarasophia via @tinybuddha)
[SEO: Discusses the healthy -- and not so healthy -- stories we learned about love growing up, and offers 10 ways to love the people in your life. These are guidelines about authenticity and healthy boundaries. I especially like "Give of yourself, but never sacrifice or compromise yourself."]

@ssanquist On Loneliness … (via Beyond Blue)
[SEO: "Those of us diagnosed with mood disorders may continually battle psychological loneliness, especially if we are recovering from traumatic and dysfunctional childhoods." Describes five kinds of loneliness, and why it can be deadly: "It’s associated with increased risk of heart disease, higher rates of inflammatory disease, and diminished immune function."]

Every Friday I pull out gems from my Tweet stream for recognition. Some are truly inspiring, beautiful, or funny. Some are just odd. We’ve got a lot of linky goodness this week — enjoy!

@Tamavista “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” ~ Dalai Lama

@SarahEOlson2009 Whatever else you think of the debt vote, that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was in the House to vote was inspiring. (video)

@nicole_legault “All learning begins when our comfortable ideas turn out to be inadequate.” ~ John Dewey

@AnnTran_ Beautiful Lavender Fields
[SEO: Gorgeous!]

@marcymassura “Leave it behind. It doesn’t matter anyway. And you already know that.”

@Alyssa_Milano This is the web right now (via @Oatmeal)
[SEO: The more things change, the more they stay the same?]

@Quotes4Writers “I’m not sure a bad person can write a good book. If art doesn’t make us better, then what on earth is it for?” ~ Alice Walker

@petapixel The amazing “rooftopping” photography of Tom Ryaboi
[SEO: I want to say 'don't look down' here.]

@LillyAnn “Spend your life doing something that fills your soul and your heart… not just your wallet and your house.”

@JudyGrundstrom What Your Favorite Ice Cream Says About You
[SEO: Hmm.]

@pourmecoffee World-record 343 hot air balloons fill the sky in France.
[SEO: Balloons as far as the eye can see!]

@Quotes4Writers “Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely essential.” ~ Jessamyn West

@heykim ~ The Coolest Shirt Ever Stitched?