I have started to contemplate how I should use my experiences of photography and how I can use it as a technique to assist in my anxiety management.
Whenever my anxiety hits a fever pitch I can feel it creeping up my throat. It is times like this that I go in search of flowing water.
The smell of the sea or a river running through a forest is powerful – as are the connotations of strength. There being no pollution, just the nature and serenity and sound of flowing water or lapping waves is instantly calming to me. The patterns the water creates, the ripples that are far reaching. The way that it finds its route no matter what helps me to feel a bud of strength and positivity return.
This week I went out for a few hours to do exactly this, allowing me to be only present in the moment not to focus on my anxiety the affects of my physical disease, or the pressures of my work circumstance. I find this is the release to help me to move forward and not get trapped into the negativity.
Water is important to me also for the metaphors I associate with it.
- Water like time does not stand still
- It always finds a way whatever the obstacles are put in its path
- You don’t know how deep it goes, like the depths of my emotions.
- Water can help wash away the negative feelings I have.
This is really important to consider in relation to maintaining my mental health.
I have also been reading around the subject of Mindfulness and contemplative photography as I have adopted it as a very important step on my journey to good long term mental and physical health.
I have prepared a shooting list to follow up with more images:
- Plessey Woods
- Morpeth
- St Mary’s Lighthouse
- Tyne
- Holywell Dene
- Jesmond Dene
- Seaton Sluice Harbour and beach
- Longsands, Tynemouth
- Blyth Beach
Kirsty Logan Photography 