Stress, anxiety and worry are becoming such an everyday part of our lives in Donegal.
We may live in one of the most beautiful places in the world but we all have our own personal situations which may make life difficult much of the time.
And make no mistake that we are not alone because many of your work colleagues, neighbours, team-mates and friends are facing the exact same feelings.
But the good news is that there are mechanisms which can help us cope with these challenges and overcome them on a daily basis.
And the good news is that each and every one of us can learn ways of coping with this stres and anxiety and it’s completely free.
You wouldn’t expect to jump into a car for the first time and be able to drive. You wouldn’t expect to do one class in French and expect to be fluent in one hour.
When we are growing up, we go to school to learn. We also learn from our parents at home. We learn things like English; Mathematics; Geography which is all good, but the subject that will benefit us most when we get to adulthood hardly ever gets a mention – HOW TO GET TO KNOW YOURSELF?
The vast majority of people enter into adulthood with a head full of facts but a heart full of fears and worries.
It could be compared to putting someone into a sailing boat who has never sailed and sending them out into an ocean. When the wind picks up, they won’t know what to do.
If we look at Ireland at the minute we can see signs that there are plenty of people struggling to cope with life. We consume large amounts of antidepressants, anxiety tablets and sleeping pills. We are being constantly bombarded with negative news.
Added to this is the fact that we tend to hang on to negative thought and feelings more than the positive ones. No wonder life can be a struggle.
So what’s the answer? What are we supposed to do if we are finding that we are taking in water and life is a struggle?
- Start to get passionate about you. Learn all you can about you.
- Remember – this will take time.
Majella O’Donnell came to this realisation when she had her own struggles with depression in early adulthood which really brought its own challenges.
Majella O’Donnell
But there are many ways that people can find life getting to be a struggle. Financial problems, sick children, caring for parents, being out of work – we never know what life will throw at us.
In 2014 Majella O’Donnell founded her charity, Donegal Mind Wellness with the simple aim of encouraging people all over Donegal to learn more about looking after their mental health. She had several meetings with the HSE Mental Health Services in Donegal.
From these meetings, it was decided that Donegal Mind Wellness would run Stress Control classes all over the county.
Stress Control is a programme that was developed in Glasgow by Clinical Psychologist Jim White. The programme has been hugely successful and is delivered all over the world.
Its success is due to its simplicity. It is both interesting and easy to understand.
Donegal Mind Wellness has a team of passionate volunteers who deliver this 6 week programme. Each session last for 90 minutes.
Full details of the six weekly sessions that will teach you to take control of your stress and be happier in life can be seen below:
- Letterkenny Station House Hotel – Wednesday, 5th February 11am – 12:30pm
Contact: 086 029 8906
- Glenties The Hub (at front of St Columba’s school) – Monday, 4th February 7pm – 8:30pm
Contact: 086 029 8906
- Ballyshannon Kilbarron Parish Centre – Tuesday 29th January 7pm – 8:30pm
Contact: 086 029 8906
- Moville Serenity House Wednesday, 6th March 6:30pm – 8pm
Contact: 086 029 8906
- Milford Mulroy Woods Hotel – Thursday 14th March 6:30pm – 8pm
Contact: 086 029 8906
- St Johnston Family Resource Centre – Wednesday 5th March 7pm – 8:30pm
Contact: 086 029 8906
- Dore Niamh Padraig Centre – Tuesday 19th February 7:00 – 8:30pm
Contact: 086 029 8906
There is no charge and anyone can just come along on the night.
Over 6000 people in Donegal have completed a Stress Control programme and there are people who have done several.
People have said that the programme helped them with sleep; with relationships; with self-confidence as well as other stress-related problems.
For more information about Donegal Mind Wellness please call 086 0298907 or look us up on Facebook.
For information about the Stress Control programme go to www.stresscontrol.org
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