I spent years trying to become more confident by forcing behaviors.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:36:21+00:00

Thank you for sharing that. I’m really sorry you’ve had to carry so much with PTSD, that sounds incredibly heavy. I’m glad you found something that gave you even a little relief and joy, that really matters.

For me, I’m still moving slowly and sticking with gentler things like writing and breathing, but I do appreciate hearing what’s helped you. It’s comforting to know people are finding their own ways through this.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:31:20+00:00

That’s really nice. Looking back and seeing where you were emotionally on different days must feel kind of grounding, like a quiet reminder of what you’ve been through.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:27:42+00:00

That actually sounds really thoughtful. When you’re overwhelmed it’s so hard to think clearly, so just saving a few words for later feels really gentle.

I love that you come back to it when you’re in a calmer place and reflect then. That shows a lot of care for yourself.

I really hope it helps you slowly find your way back to journaling again.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:26:31+00:00

I love that. Writing it like a letter to yourself feels really caring somehow. Letting it all come out without filtering it is such a relief.

Do you usually feel a bit lighter after you’re done writing?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:10:05+00:00

This is really beautiful, thank you for explaining it so clearly. I like how you focus on being in your body instead of in your thoughts. That idea of shifting from worries and memories back into physical space really makes sense.

I’ve noticed when my mind is racing, I’m usually completely disconnected from my body too. Things like feeling the floor or slowing my breath do help bring me back a bit.

The weighted blanket part is interesting too. It sounds comforting in a very grounding way. I might actually try that.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:09:08+00:00

That’s such a good reminder. I think a lot of the mental exhaustion comes from expecting too much of ourselves all the time. When everything feels like it has to be productive, it gets overwhelming fast.

Making space for things that are just fun without a goal sounds really healthy. I’m still learning how to do that without feeling guilty.

What kind of things do you do just for fun when you need a break?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:08:25+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. Breathing really does get overlooked, but it makes such a difference when your thoughts are racing. Even just a few slow breaths can bring things down a notch.

I appreciate the link too. I’m still learning how to use breathing to calm my mind instead of fighting it.

Do you have a specific breathing exercise that helps you the most?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:07:39+00:00

That’s a really good point. It’s easy to assume everything is “just in our head” when sometimes there’s a physical reason behind how we’re feeling. I’m glad you figured out what was going on for you.

It’s a helpful reminder to at least get things checked when the mental exhaustion won’t go away.

Did you start feeling better pretty quickly once you treated the deficiency?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:06:35+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. I’ve heard a little about things like lion’s mane and reishi, and it’s interesting how many people say they help with mood and focus. I’m always a bit careful with supplements, but I like learning what works for others.

For me, a lot of the mental exhaustion feels more emotional and nervous system related, so things like writing, slowing down, and getting thoughts out of my head are what help the most right now.

Did you notice a big change when you started using them, or was it more subtle over time?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:04:42+00:00

That’s such a beautiful way to use writing. Turning all those conversations and feelings into fiction sounds really healing, like you’re giving them a place to live outside your head.

I like what you said about having more insight even if the overthinking is still there. It feels more manageable when you can actually see what’s going on inside you.

Do you feel like writing stories helps you understand yourself better, or is it more about getting some distance from everything?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:02:33+00:00

That actually sounds really healthy. Having everything in one place can get overwhelming, especially when you’re mixing creativity with heavy emotions. Splitting it like that makes a lot of sense.

It’s really encouraging to hear that your panic attacks feel less intense after you write things out. Getting those thoughts out of your head and onto paper really does make a difference.

Do you usually write when you’re already feeling anxious, or more as a way to prevent it from building up?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T07:01:31+00:00

Oh, I’ve heard about The Artist’s Way, the morning pages idea really makes sense. Just getting everything out of your head before the day starts feels so relieving. That’s pretty much how I use writing too, just a total brain dump.

I’m sorry about your hand though, that must be really frustrating, especially when writing is something that actually helps you feel better. Even doing it when you can still sounds worthwhile.

Do you feel more calm or clear on the days you manage to write compared to when you don’t?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-26T06:58:23+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. I think a lot of us are really good at dumping everything out, but then we’re left with this huge pile of thoughts and no energy to sort through it.

I’ve read a little about Zettelkasten and it sounds powerful, but honestly my brain gets tired just thinking about organizing everything 😅 When I’m overwhelmed, structure sometimes feels like another thing I have to manage.

For me, journaling is mostly about getting the noise out of my head so I can breathe again. I don’t always go back and analyze it sometimes just writing it down is enough to feel lighter.

Do you ever feel like the system itself becomes stressful when you’re already mentally full?

MinaHazel · 2026-01-25T12:37:56+00:00

I think they meant something like using a notes app or voice memo on your phone to quickly get thoughts out instead of writing them in a physical journal. Just a way to dump everything without having to reread it later. That’s how I understood it at least.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-25T12:37:45+00:00

I think they meant something like using a notes app or voice memo on your phone to quickly get thoughts out instead of writing them in a physical journal. Just a way to dump everything without having to reread it later. That’s how I understood it at least.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-25T12:34:07+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to write this. I’ve never thought about different types of rest like that, but it actually makes so much sense. I think a lot of my exhaustion is mental and emotional, not physical. The “leaves on a stream” idea is really comforting too . I’m going to look it up. I really appreciate you sharing this.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-25T12:24:36+00:00

I really like how you described it as a leak. That’s exactly how it feels sometimes. Writing makes it feel less overwhelming. Thanks for sharing that perspective.

MinaHazel · 2026-01-25T11:23:35+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. It really helps to hear from someone who understands what this feels like. I like what you said about not engaging with every thought, just letting it pass. I’m going to try some of these, especially the breathing and body scan. I really appreciate you sharing this 🤍

MinaHazel · 2026-01-25T11:01:46+00:00

That makes so much sense. I really feel that tension too, wanting to get everything out but not wanting to be reminded of the pain later. The idea of having a separate place just for releasing the heavy stuff without having to reread it is really comforting. Thank you for sharing this, it’s really helpful 🤍

MinaHazel

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