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Make Friends With Your Demons

@makefriendswithyourdemons

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Movement is medicine!
Working hard to bring you a new perspective on mental health awareness.
Stay tuned.

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Sometimes my anxiety demon gets real loud, but I know I can out lift that dude in the gym, and that he really loves a walk in the sun.

My hard day checklist:
- lift heavy stuff
- walk about it
- fresh air (bonus points if it's sunny)
- tidy up
- mood lighting and a movie

What's on your checklist?

#makefriendswithyourdemons #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #mentalhealthtips by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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2 months ago

Your brain is actually kinda easy to trick 😂

One thing I’ve learnt through recovery, healing and getting back in touch with myself is that movement changes EVERYTHING.

Gym. Riding bikes. Yoga. Dancing in the kitchen. Walking. Snowboarding. Whatever.

When you move your body, your brain starts releasing all the good chemicals — dopamine, serotonin, endorphins. The stuff that helps you feel happier, calmer, more motivated and more connected to life.

And science backs it too. Studies show movement can seriously help with anxiety, depression and stress regulation.

Sometimes we think we need to “think” our way out of a dark place.
But honestly sometimes you just need to move your body long enough for your brain to remember you’re alive again.

The body and mind want movement.
And the communities that come with movement and sport can genuinely save lives too 🤍

#mentalhealth #bikes #girlswhoride #mountainbike #makefriemdswithyourdemons by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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5 months ago

Well it’s true .. 🤷‍♀️

Bad mood? Ride a bike.
Big feelings? Hike a hill.
In your head? Get into the mountains.

Overthinking? Pedal it out.
Stuck energy? Climb something.
Anxious? Eyes on the trail.

Heavy heart? Let gravity hold you.
Mind loud? Let nature quiet it.

No motivation? Just start rolling.
Need clarity? Go get lost.

You don’t need “fixing” you just need some fresh air.

#mtb #mountainbike #bikes #mentalhealth #girlswhoride by @makefriendswithyourdemons

8k

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7 months ago

Doing new things can be scary.
The nervous system doesn’t know the difference between danger and growth …it just knows unknown.
Movement and time in nature create space to regulate, breathe, and soften the mind.
Scared doesn’t mean wrong.
Sometimes it just means something new is unfolding.

Hashtags:
#MentalHealthMatters #NervousSystemRegulation #HealingInMotion #mentalhealth #makefriendswithyourdemons by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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10 months ago

PART TWO!! Check out what @dreuanspeirits has to say about movement and mental health. We get some insight into how Euan takes care of his own mental well-being, and he gives us some great advice on how to access green prescriptions.

Slide 1:
"What are other things people can do to promote a healthier mental state?"
Slide 2:
"What do you do to help your own mental state?"
Slide 3:
"Is there an initiative the healthcare system has in place to help support people with their mental well-being, and what is the best way to access that?"

Disclaimer: this content is intended for educational purposes.

#makefriendswithyourdemons #mentalhealthawareness #movementismedicine #mentalhealthsupport #teamdemons by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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10 months ago

HERE'S THE FACTS ⤵️

Up to 60% of people with mental health struggles won't seek help for fear of being labelled.

BUT many recent studies prove that stigma interventions and open conversation about mental health lead to improved health outcomes and effectiveness of mental health support.

So let's start normalising the conversation, start making friends with your demons by having a yarn and checking in on your mates.

References:
Canadian Mental Health Association.
NZ Mental Health Foundation.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.39549
doi: 10.1017/gmh.2023.34

#makefriendswithyourdemons #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #breakthestigma #teamdemons by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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10 months ago

We sat on a rock with @dreuanspeirits from Action Sports Medical and chatted about men's mental health.

Euan is an athlete physician working with many different types of athletes, and has experience competing at different levels across many different sports.
He kindly answered our questions about mental health, movement, how the healthcare system can help, and gave some great advice for anyone trying to make friends with their demons.

PART ONE:
Slide 2: Quick intro and why do you think so many men still struggle to talk about their mental health?
Slide 3: As a doctor, what is a mental health myth that really grinds your gears?
Slide 4: What are the first steps people could take in getting the help that they need?

Stay tuned for the rest of the interview!

Disclaimer: this content is intended for educational purposes.

#makefriendswithyourdemons #mensmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #movember #teamdemons by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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a year ago

Is your check engine light on? Your mind is like your engine and sometimes it needs a service.
Movement can be anything you want; mow the lawn, walk the dog, hit the gym, play ball with the boys or hide and seek with the kids, do your best air guitar solo! It only takes 10 minutes to make a difference.

Let the science speak for itself:

JAMA Psychiatry (2022) — Association Between Physical Activity and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
• Found that even small increases in physical activity reduce depression risk.
doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0609

PubMed (2019) — Associations between physical activity and depressive symptoms among US adults.
• Men meeting physical activity guidelines had lower odds of moderate/severe depression.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.09.061

#mentalhealthawareness #makefriendswithyourdemons #movember #mensmentalhealth #mentalhealth by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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a year ago

Listen up boys... or don't, because for too long you've told some bullsh*t about mental health.

We did some research and turns out it's okay not to be okay, building resilience by processing your feelings is tough as, and "real" men go through shit too.

Want to read more!? Here's where we got the facts:

Seidler, Z. E., et al. (2016) — “The role of masculinity in men’s help-seeking for depression: A systematic review.” American Journal of Men’s Health.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27267899/
→ Discusses stigma and masculinity norms preventing help-seeking in men.

Beyond Blue & Australian Psychological Society (2023) — “Men, masculinity, and mental health.”
https://www.beyondblue.org.au
→ Summarizes cultural shifts in defining resilience and emotional openness for men.

Movember Foundation (Ongoing Reports & Fact Sheets) — “Men’s Health and Wellbeing Data.”
https://au.movember.com/about/foundation
→ General statistics on men’s depression, suicide rates, and help-seeking behaviours.

#makefriendswithyourdemons #movember #teamdemons #mentalhealthawareness #fortheboys #mentalhealth by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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a year ago

What if it made you feel better? My anxiety demon does not like being perceived but LOVES getting active so I said stuff it and went where I thought we would be alone.
I was wrong, there were people, I probably did look silly huffing and puffing at my very slow pace and hell yeah it was hard, but my anxiety melted away once I got going.

You can do hard things. My anxiety demon was just trying to keep me safe, little did it know what I really needed was the run. If you've ever felt self-conscious about doing the things you love you're not alone, let's do them together!

#makefriendswithyourdemons #mentalhealthawareness #teamdemons #jointhecrew #anxietyrelief #takeyourdemonsoutside #mentalhealth by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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a year ago

When our anxiety demons think they are helping by overthinking, we like to take a minute, be mindful and take notice of the small wonders around us.

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment. Evidence shows that mindfulness improves emotional regulation, reduces rumination, and enhances cognitive functions. You can practice meditation, or if that's not your style simply noticing the smell of your coffee, the sounds around you, or the feel of your favourite hoody work too!

Check out @mhfnz for more mindful tips and ways to get support.

#makefriendswithvourdemons #mentalhealthawareness #teamdemons #mentalhealthawarenessweek2025 #bepresent #topuptogether by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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a year ago

Sometimes being active looks like smashing PBs… and sometimes it looks like two mates messing around at the gym, making friends with their anxiety and stress demons .. 😈

Movement doesn’t have to be serious to count. Whether it’s lifting weights, dancing in your lounge, or chasing your dog down the street — moving your tinana/body boosts way more than just your fitness.

✅ Fact: Just 20 minutes of exercise can boost your mood for up to 12 hours.
✅ Movement releases endorphins — your brain’s natural “feel-good” chemicals that fight stress, anxiety, and low moods.
✅ Regular physical activity is linked to sharper focus, better sleep, and stronger mental resilience.

So grab your mates, get a little sweaty, laugh a lot, and remind yourself — moving your body is one of the best ways to move your mind too

#makefriendswithyourdemons #mentalhealthawarenessweek #demonsandco #mentalhealthawareness #teamdemon #topuptogether taken in Mental Health Awareness by @makefriendswithyourdemons

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a year ago