Mindfulness

I've found that trying to distract myself from low mood and intrusive thoughts is quite difficult. Pulling myself out of it and channeling my energy into something more positive seems impossible... However, I've found having a main hobby/focus has helped wonders. Casper is a beautiful dapple grey Connemara (the horse pictured below) and he is one in a million. Having this focus gives me purpose and it helps me keep fighting when I feel like I want to give up, he's my reason for living and I'm so grateful to have him. I've been riding since I was 10 and I'm still as horse-mad now as I was back then, probably even more so!

Whenever I'm feeling a low mood coming on I walk up to the stables mindfully. I focus on my breathing, the sounds, sights, taste, touch... I keep myself grounded and in the moment and although it's extremely difficult I force myself to do it. When I first tried it I thought it was a load of rubbish and I hated doing it, but after practising time after time, I have found it is much easier and actually helpful.

It's good to have a "safe-place," whether it be your bedroom, a beach, a friend's house... whatever it is. My safe-place is the stables, so going there instantly makes me calm down. As soon as I look at my horse my mood lifts, all it takes is for him to nicker softly to me if I surprise him or a loud whinny if I call to him across the field. It's the little things that mean the most to me. I continue to do the mindfulness practise. I catch my horse, tie him up and continue. Touch, his soft fur, my hands running through his mane. Sound, his metal ring clinking as he tears at his haynet, other horses nickering to each other. Sights, the colours in the sky, the dapples on my horse's coat. Talking to him also helps sometimes, though I feel as though all I need to do is touch him and everything I need to unburden is unburdened. It's a good feeling.

I recommend finding yourself a hobby/focus as it can almost become live-saving in a way and it can help as a distraction. Hope this helps.

"Just because it's not happening right now doesn't mean it never will."