Therapy

The definition of therapy: The treatment of physical or mental illness.

This afternoon I thought a lot about therapy. Not the physical kind. The mental kind. And not where you go in and talk to a therapist. The kind where you can be at home and something brings you out of a funk. Out of a low or down point. Yes, my moms with cancer group is a therapy. We help each other in a group setting, but what about when we are at home and don't have those people to talk to? That's when I started to think "What kind of therapy do I have at home?"

My son is definitely one of them. Today, he was playing in his exersaucer and I was just watching him play with everything on it. Between trying to put everything in his mouth and just hitting the different "musical" toys on it and cracking up, watching him play and smile and laugh brought a smile to my face. Then, I was caught! He looked up and saw me looking at him and he got a huge smile on his face.  Which put a smile on my face. His smile is infectious. You can't help but smile when you see his. His whole face lights up and you can really see how happy he is. After a while, while playing with him on the floor, he fell asleep for a nap. Just watching him lay there and listening to him breathe, it brought a sense of calm over me. Anything bad going on at that moment couldn't take away the calmness I felt. He is my therapy.

Another therapy I have is music. I LOVE listening to music. Mainly calming sounds or artists. My favorite? Colbie Caillat! Hands down. I love her. Her voice and sound calms me and even makes me happy. Her music is so up beat. A few others would be Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Sara Barelleis. Of course, I love all kinds of music. But these are the sounds that help calm me when I am having anxiety or lift me up with the upbeat sound when I am feeling down or depressed. The other music that makes me feel better is when my husband plays his guitar. I don't know if he knows exactly how much it helps. Don't get me wrong, I have told him. Many times. But I don't know if he can see exactly how much his playing helps. And especially when he sets up our son to watch him play and I see the smile they both have on their faces. I really hope through our musical influences, that Brandon loves music also, and maybe has a little bit of a musical bone in him. I am not inclined that way. I can not carry a tune {but will still sing in the car or at home} and can not play an instrument. So, maybe Brandon will get that from Eric.

I then started to think if there was anything else that helps me. Then I remembered art. I may not be able to draw detailed objects or anything like that, but i can look at some easy paintings and copy them or some up with my own rendition of them. I also love to make wreaths {although one can only have so many before they overtake your storage....or you have nowhere else to put them}. Right now I also have a crate project going on. We bought 6 wooden crates at Michaels and I am staining them. Then, we are going to put them together and make a coffee table out of them. We have a coffee table now, but I've had it for years and when I first got one of our dogs, she chewed on parts of it. As some puppies do when you turn your back on them. So, I wanted to make something that is a bit different but with storage. I can't wait to see the finished project. Which means I need to get on it. Since I have about a month to get it finished before the crazy two months of SCT transplant time begins. A few other crafty/artsy therapies I have are cross stitching {which I run into the same issue as with the wreaths...too many to put up anywhere} and photography. Just being outdoors, camera in your hand, finding things in nature to photograph is therapy to me.

Some people run for therapy. Honestly, I've always hated running. Although, in high school I did run cross country. Mainly because we didn't have a swim team. So, for me in the workout sense, I love to swim. There is something about being in the water. Feeling weightless. All your troubles seem to float away, for a lack of a better term. Angry? You can beat it out in the water by doing a hard set, or just a hard lap. "Hitting" the water with your arms. I used to have my Beachbody workouts that I love so much. Mainly Shaun T. He is so motivating and makes you feel like you can do anything and encourages you. But, since my diagnosis 7 months ago and finding out I have compression fractures in my lower back, my doctor {and Eric} feel its better I still to easier workouts on my body like walking and if I can ever get to a pool, swimming. Another way any workout is a therapy? It brings good endorphins into your body. Makes you feel better. Gives you a positive high.

The last therapy I have, is one I have used for years. Even before I was diagnosed with MM. It's helped those achey muscles from workouts or long work days. It helps calm/settle those hard to get rid of headaches. It's simply a long, hot/warm soak in the bath tub. Almost two years ago I became an Independent Consultant for Perfectly Posh. It's a pampering product direct sales company. I love drawing a nice warm bath and adding in some of the calming soothing bath salts or even the bubble bath. The amazing smells from the essential oils in the products really help calm your mood and ease your anxiety or depression. At least for me they do.

As you can see, I did a lot of thinking today on ways that I have therapy in my life. I didn't think I did until I really started to think about it. If you ever feel down or anxious or need something to calm down or relax, just do something you enjoy. Really, thats the conclusion I came to with this thought. Your therapy is usually something you like or love to do already. It's right there under your nose. You shouldn't have to look very far.