What are (were) your values as far as leisure and recreation are concerned. What would be 'you' in this aspect of life? Are there activities that you used to enjoy, even as a child, that you have lost track of? How has your mental health impacted them. Are you a different person as a result?

There was a time I highly valued the importance of activity - not just physical but mental as well. I had never been one for gym but I believed in the importance of living an active life. This meant eating well, walking whenever/wherever I could, and making regular outings. If there was an opportunity to move I would do so. I was the soccer mom that walked laps around the pitch sort of thing.

The outdoors as I've told before was a cornerstone of my life...

Before I crashed.

I don't do these things any more. I can't do these things any more.

Lack of money is what stands in my way. Inability to work causes that. Unbearable anxiety dictates that. So yes, my mental health as impacted my values regarding recreation and leisure. Yes, I am a different person as a result.

[*Laurie*]

When I was younger I did a lot of dancing- ballet and modern dance. I still do the same stretches I always did, but thanks to mental illness (weight gain from psych meds) I can't dance anymore. Nevertheless, dancing continues to help me in life, much in the same way that meditation helps. Something about being able to use myself as an emotional container.

[Unrigged64072835]

I used to be more active with bicycling and hiking. Since I gained weight from meds, anxiety and depression, I don't have the stamina. It's definitely impacted me.

[DechanDawa]

Growing up canoeing on lakes and tributaries was major activity. I loved it. The tree roots made cedar water which is golden brown and has a delightful scent. I would love to get back to that neck of the woods to do some camping and canoeing.

[eyesclosed]

when i was growing up i was a wild one i won't go there but there was point in my life after the wild was tamed when i had a wife who treated me well and 2 step kids that didn't have the every other weekend thing going on and they were 5 and 7 when we became our own family it was very uplifting for 12 of the 14 years during this time i spent a lot of time with the family and i had 3 hobbies powerlifting, bow hunting white tailed deer and fishing all of which have gone away including the family.

[dlantern]

Recreation sensitizing to sight sound smell etc I had a bad without permission experience to the patterns on the journey even once I left those that first abuse me in therapy. It was too early and I didn't let that one organization off once I got a way to share without making us look bad. I know some of this is inevitable if on the journey to find out what happened in your youth on the journey to healing and wholeness. I rather have conscious involvement certainly not having to adapt to be okay the famous approach which I'm not famous per se to have it make sense so that I can be sane in world in the now marred by mental illness. I'm a bit reflective here, but it is still part of my truth. I pride myself in conquering it and have done a great job.

It would have clicked in the confines of therapy office........
1. 80's 90's toys
2. Visits to old neighborhood
3. Bringing a trend back isn't something that isn't unheard of
4. Q and A with relatives if told in a conscious way there might have been willing relatives without having to out yourself as this type of pattern forces you to do.
5. The internet is full of newspaper articles television the library things from the past that can help associate memories.....

Like I said I'm just reflective I have been there done that and got several stories to share and also legal recourse isn't as undetectable crime as I once thought too bad I'm pass the filling limit.