Crafty Time!

As I might've mentioned before , I attend a mental health therapy centre, both as client and as a volunteer staff helper and the centre has helped me so much . At the centre, they have a part where those who want to improve their computer skills, work out what best to put on their c.v's with a mind to sometime in the future returning to work, study courses and the like can use. But there is also a room where those attending to craft, either learning various crafts if they haven't crafted before, or working on their own particular craft projects. Both parts of the centre do their bit to help increase
peoples confidence and belief in themselves in that that sense of achievement gained when something has been completed is very important to those who have any kind of mental health related issue, as it  gives them a boost to their morale and mood, helping them to think that even with the issue they have, they can achieve something and so keep going and not giving in to it is worth doing.
   I count myself in a very priveledged position in that when I started attending the centre about eight or nine years ago, I was in a dark place . I had always had a sense of having certain issues with my thoughts and emotions so to speak and these issues had compounded you could say because I had  a,what I think the queen once termed her ' annus horribilis' where lots of things happened within a very short time. So the point came where even I, who had always tried to hide what was going on in my head and hated asking for any kind of help, even I admitted that I needed to seek help as I could not go on the way I was inside my brain. I had kept a lid on things the best way I could for years so that I could do the best I could to bring up and help my daughter grow up the best way I could, but then I suddenly realised just how much I had bee keeping a lid on and so I just had to go seek help from the doctor. He referred me to mental health services and through them I was able to start to access the centre. And I haven't looked back since. I was so worried before I went what it would be like and my anxiety had a field day before I went through the day that first day. If you get referred,
you start wondering what will people think, will happen and all sorts. I was lucky in that as soon as
 I went through the door I saw a girl I use to work with, she only turned out to be the deputy manager and still is by the way. The I saw another girl I know as well, so that made things easier for me to settle in.
  I said that I feel in a very priviledged position. How you may ask. because I have been helped so much by attending that I now spend a good deal of my time there, in volunteer helper mode, which means my sense of achievement now is gained by sharing what knowledge I have of crafting with those attending that maybe just getting into it and want to learn more. Im no expert by any means but if I can help show someone how much joy and relaxation can be gained by doing crafts then that's my achievemnt and self esteem box ticked plus someone has learnt something they didn't know.
  In future posts I will be sharing some of my favourite crafty products with you. I don't do difficult so if I find a crafty product easy to use then believe you me anyone will! So watch this space!