Last week I sat on a panel with two other colleagues, Wendy Robinson who is the Director of Services at CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and our work Wellbeing Ambassador Jeff Brazier.
The panel event topic was 'Therapy' and was filmed to be shared with colleagues in a months time.
I mainly shared about my experience with seeing a therapist, briefly also touching on how journaling and writing is a form of therapy for me. But there are other things that I see as therapy for me too...however if I'd have started talking about them on the panel I wouldn't have shut up! So I thought I'd share them here.
Music
When I moved house in 2023 I realised I had gone back to listening to The 1975 constantly. I like listening to them anyway but they were all I listened to before, during and after moving. I realised that it was The 1975 that I listened to a lot the previous time I moved, and the reason for that, I discovered The 1975 in 2015/2016 and when I moved out of the marital home after divorce it was this band I listened to a lot and it was like I am conditioned to listen to them when his happens in my life. It brings me comfort, makes me feel safe and happy and reminds me that "I was ok then, I'll be ok now".
There are various singers, bands and songs I go to for comfort for different reasons.
So Solid Crew, Ricky Martin, Timbaland, Steps, Sia, Chase & Status, Simply Red, Spice Girls, but the biggest one for me, Imagine Dragons.
Their songs have been a comfort and therapy for me for 10 years now. They've been with me through a variety of situations and stages in my life. Dan Reynolds, the lead singer, is incredible. I've read interviews with him, some of his social media posts hit beautifully, but not only that, I was lucky enough to get tickets to see them when they did a show in Milton Keynes and even then, he spoke some beautiful words.
He is my therapist without even knowing it. I probably owe him a hell of a lot of money!
TV Shows and Books
I love getting lost in tv shows and books. It can be great escapism. This isn't just self help programmes or books, but allsorts. My favourite book genre is Thriller and my favourite tv shows are true crime. I really feel like I relax reading these books and watching these programmes, most of the time with the programmes it involves educating myself too. Learning about different cultures and the psychological side of it too.
One of my other favourite things to do is to go on Youtube and watch episodes of programmes I watched years ago that made me happy. Newlyweds with Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, Jade Goody's reality shows. Or to just search videos of people who make me laugh....Jennifer Lawrence, Greg Davies, James Acaster and Claudia Winkleman for example.
I love Pinterest and I think it's such a lovely platform to help when you're feeling down, or needing an escape or a pick up. I'll either search on their for quotes to give me a boost and remind me of the good things, gratitude and affirmations. Or pick a topic and create a board based on that, latest one for example, The Labyrinth.
I find it really calming, and the quotes you can find on there can be really useful when feeling a bit lost and just needing a pick me up. Saving them to a board are also really nice to then look over to remind you of things you needed before which will pick you up and make you smile.
Podcasts
It took me a while to get into Podcasts. The first I used to listen to was one around motorbike racing but in the last couple of years I've really fallen in love with listening to a Podcast. I even listen to a True Crime one to help me sleep at night.
My favourites though, which really feel like therapy for me:
My favourites though, which really feel like therapy for me:
- Uncanny/any created by Danny Robins - I'm spiritual and believe in ghosts and the afterlife, even reincarnation and this Podcast makes me feel SEEN! It's difficult admitting you believe in ghosts and angels etc, it's almost like people feel they have the automatic right to say "What a load of rubbish" so I tend to keep it to myself a lot of the time.
- The Brave Table by Dr Neeta Bhushan - This is such a beautiful podcast featuring stories of growth, change, empowerment. I am inspired so much by the episodes and find Dr Neeta so easy to listen to.
- Anything Goes by James English - This is my current "long drive go to" podcast. I absolutely love the variety of guests James interviews, his interview style, the range of stories you hear from people, the different cultures. One day you're listening to a policeman and the next a criminal. It's great to hear the perspective from both sides. Listening to James feels like you're sat in the room with a friend who is having a conversation with someone and you're just there to listen. He asks the questions we want to know but in a kind conversational way rather than a strict interview style.
Water
I love being near the water. It's something I've only recently recognised in being therapeutic for me. Funny really seeing as I live on the coast and rarely go to the beach (I should do that more!). I will often choose to sit by a river to relax and reflect.
Sun, beer garden, live band, and water. Perfect.
Tattoos
Tattoos might be a bit off to mention as something that is therapeutic but for me it really is. I love being able to decorate my skin, especially as everything that I decorate my skin with means something to me. I don't get a tattoo for the sake of it.
To be completely transparent, the pain is therapeutic. And sometimes when I've had a hard time or am in a low getting a tattoo feels like a release, with something nice left at the end of it.
Colouring
I now own 4 colouring books and a ridiculous amount of colouring pencils. The colouring books are all different themes- The Labyrinth, Sweary Cats, Witchy and Van Gogh. I think we probably tend to think of colouring being for children but my goodness, does it calm me as an adult. Again, something to lose myself in. TV or Podcast on and automatic mode whilst I then sit there and colour.
It's really nice having a variety of books. Some with pages that are simple and won't take long to complete and others that are a little more intricate and detailed (Van Gogh!)
The Isle of Man TT
10 years ago I visited the Isle of Man TT for the first time. I'll bore anyone with the story. I only went to spend some time with my twin brother who lives the other side of the country to me. My plan was to sit and read a book whilst he was watching the bikes go past. Little did I know, when the race started I would become HOOKED!
I fell in love with the sport, with the island, with everything about it. I've now been 4 times, really overdue a visit again but always listen to it on the radio when I can't go and buy the TT pass so I can watch the live footage online when it's on.
Going to the TT in 2015 helped me make a big life decision, something that changed my life, and not only that it gave me a new hobby. I never, ever thought I would be into a sport, let alone motorbikes. To the point that I have various TT themed tattoos as well.
Yes it's dangerous, and yes it's absolutely heartbreaking when a rider is injured or loses their life, especially one that you follow, but they are doing something they love, something they are very aware has life changing and fatal risks to it. But it is the most incredible experience standing on the side of the road, waiting for the bikes and then seeing them race past at the most ridiculous speeds.
In 2019 I got to take my boys over. The weather was rubbish so they only saw one practice race but we didn't let that ruin the week for us. We explored the beautiful island, I got to show them some of my favourite places there. A place I believe is a spiritual home for me.
