MAGAZINE FOR WELLBEING
Issue 57
>> Wellbeing News Roundup >> London on Foot >>Positivity List >>Drug Issues >>Photography: Sara McCallum
2015
>> Art, Science & more
ISSUE 57
>> Ecotherapy: The Big Outdoors
Equilibrium Patron Dr Liz Miller Mind Champion 2008
Front cover image: Sara McCallum www.nonchalantly-devastated.com
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EQUILIBRIUM 2
editorial Hello and welcome to our new issue of Equilibrium! Whether you’ve just discovered our magazine for the first time, or are a loyal reader, we hope you enjoy this issue’s offerings. We’ve got some lovely new guest contributions, which we’re sure you’ll enjoy. Do keep them coming! We would love to hear your feedback; please do tweet us @teamequilibrium. If you’d like to join the editorial team, contribute an article, some art, photos or creative writing, please do get in touch via equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk. Kate, Editor/Team Facilitator
disclaimer Equilibrium is produced by service users. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without the prior permission of the Equilibrium team. Products, articles and services advertised in this publication do not necessarily carry the endorsement of Equilibrium or any of our partners. Equilibrium is published and circulated electronically four times a year to a database of subscribers; if you do not wish to receive Equilibrium or have received it by mistake, please email unsubscribe to equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk
the team Facilitator/ Editor: Kate Massey-Chase. Editorial team: Dev, Ian, Nigel, Paul and Richard.
contact us Equilibrium, Clarendon Recovery College, Clarendon Road, London, N8 ODJ. 02084894860, equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk. We are in the office on Friday afternoons 2.30-4.30, but you can leave a message at other times and we’ll get back to you.
contributions Wanted: contributions to Equilibrium! Please email us with your news, views, poems, photos, plus articles. Anonymity guaranteed if required.
EQUILIBRIUM
3
London on Foot In early July, London experienced
more creative in my journey. It was a
the biggest tube strike in over a
beautiful summer’s day (not painfully
decade. Thousands of people had
hot like some of the days either side),
a terrible day, many giving up after
and my half an hour’s walk through
hours of travelling, abandoning their
Bermondsey from the station to the
journeys as a lost cause; buses termi-
school I was working in that day gave
nated half-way to their destinations,
me the chance to explore a bit of
spilling sweaty, frustrated commut-
London I’d never been to before. After
ers onto the pavement. I, however,
my job had finished, I chose not to
found a surprising joy in the absence
get the bus to my next appointment
of the tubes. Down in South London,
– as I luckily had time to spare – and
where we’re bereft of many tube lines
walked for almost an hour down the
anyway, I’m used to buses and trains,
Thames’ South Bank. It’s one of my
and the strike forced me to be even
favourite walks in London, and as I
Photo: Anthony
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 4
Summer/ Issue 38
Kate Massey-Chase
ambled past Tower Bridge, London
with an important message about
Bridge, through Borough Market,
being present, being in the world
past the Tate, the Globe, down to
around you. I do sometimes feel
the National, BFI and Southbank
like a slave to technology, that
Centre, I felt so grateful, so gleeful,
need for constant ‘connection’,
to be an explorer in my own home,
updates – scroll, like, refresh, delete,
and so immersed in and part of the
reply, scroll, refresh. ‘Refresh, Kate,
city.
refresh’, the honeysuckle whispered to me, as I consciously spent the
Sitting on the tube, the bus, the
next two minutes with my face in
train – everyone’s heads are down.
it, enjoying the smell, enjoying the
Staring at the Metro, their phones,
reality, all the details of that little
the floor. It’s the ultimate Londoner
moment. Since that day, I’ve been
cliché. The other day I was walk-
trying to make a conscious effort not
ing from one of the places I work
to check my phone whilst I’m walk-
to the tube, through Parsons Green,
ing between places. Such a small
and I had my head down, scroll-
thing, but I keep having to check
ing through the emails I’d received
myself when I realise I’ve done it
in the last two hours whilst I’d been
without thinking. Likewise, on the
teaching. I was so absorbed in
tube/train, I find myself mindlessly
this seemingly essential activity,
scrolling through updates on my
I walked head first into a honey-
phone, rather than looking around
suckle bush. I almost laughed as
me or even reading the book I
I realised life was slapping me in
invariably have in my bag.
the face not just with flowers but
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EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 5
On that sunny, chaotic day of indus-
genuinely annoying, but I do have to
trial action I made a commitment to
remind myself to keep some perspec-
myself to try and appreciate the city
tive. So, there are my commitments:
I pay so much to live in. We all have
perspective and awareness - being
busy lives and the horror of commut-
present when I’m walking (and pref-
ing around the city (particularly with
erably the rest of the time too!) and
the unreliability of South London trains)
trying to value the treasures all around
can make me irritable; I feel my blood
me in this city I call home.
pressure rise with every person who stands on the left on the escalator (gahhh!!!), pushes past me to get off
Feeling inspired?
the train, or walks too slowly in front of
Transport for London suggests beauti-
me. Who knew I even had so much
ful and interesting walks that can be
anger in me? All these things are
found all across Central and Greater
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Summer/ Issue 38
London. Check out their website for
St Paul’s to Buckingham Palace, and
more information about these routes:
includes Bloomsbury and the City on the
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/top-walking-routes?intcmp=2424
way.
Capital Ring
Lea Valley
A walk through London’s greenest
A glimpse into Britain’s industrial past,
suburbs, this 78-mile route is divided into
the path follows the 18 miles along the
15 shorter walks, including Richmond
Lee Navigation towpath, from Waltham
Park, Wimbledon Common and Eltham
Abbey to the Thames at Limehouse
Palace.
Basin.
Green Chain A network of straight and circular walks
London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP)
across South East London, the route
The London Outer Orbital Path, or LOOP,
takes in dozens of woods and parks, as
almost completely encircles Greater
well as the Thames Barrier and Crystal
London. Nearly 150 miles are split into
Palace.
24, bite-sized walks.
Jubilee Greenway
Thames Path
Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubi-
A 40-mile stretch of easy, level walk-
lee, this path for walkers and cyclists
ing on both sides of the river, the path
links the Olympic and Paralympic
stretches from Hampton Court Palace
Games venues, including the O2 Arena,
through the heart of London to East India
Greenwich Park and the Serpentine.
Dock.
Jubilee Walkway This route, created to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, encompasses London’s most iconic landmarks, from
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 7
Positivity List for ‘Upmooding’ Nigel Prestatyn
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Summer/ Issue 38
One of the drawbacks of writing lists
We often worry about all the things we
about positivity is that people expect
haven’t got, or haven’t achieved, when
you to be ridiculously positive; in addi-
it would be far more productive to take
tion to that, because I have written it, I’m
a moment to consider all things we have
expecting myself to be ever positive. It
got, and have achieved.
reminds of a story of a leading NLP practitioner who was giving a conference over
3. Mistakes are there for a reason. The
three days, and on the third day he was
amazing thing about Mistakes, or fail-
seen getting out of his car, with that unde-
ures, is that they are there to teach us so
niable expression of someone in deep
much. We know instantly not to go there
depression. This was prior to him finding
again. How many ‘failures’ did Edison
a new route of self help. Well, it doesn’t
make before he discovered the light
matter who you are, negative thoughts
bulb? Well, firstly they are not failures.
and feelings will always creep in. That’s
Edison regarded each ‘failure’ as ‘steps’
just life. Given that, there is no reason a list
to achieving success: the discovery of the
for staying positive can’t act as a healthy
light bulb.
reminder of things to do: 4. What you read or watch can negaSo this is my list:
tively affect you. So keep away! Now no one wants to be accused of sticking their
1. Expect good things in your day. Expect-
heads in the sand. But too much nega-
ing good things in your day and it will be
tive news, day in day out, can bring your
more likely that they arrive. Of course
mood down. Picking up a paper can liter-
the inverse is true: look for the negatives
ally be soul destroying. Do you listen to
things in your day, and they will also be
the news or read a paper? Know this, they
more likely to appear.
are invariably filled with death, destruction, crime and how bad the economic
2. Wake up with an attitude of gratitude.
situation it. Keep away, or filter wisely.
There is a reason this little saying is thrown all over the shop. It’s sound advice.
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
5. You are the composite of five of the
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closest people you hang around with.
8. Read self-help books. Reading books
What does this tell you? Who are you
on self-help can be great, or not! It
socialising with? Some it’s worth consider-
depends on what you choose and how it
ing, if you’re attaching yourself to nega-
resonates with you. But you won’t know if
tive people this will have an effect on you.
it’s beneficial until you’ve read it. But there
If you attach yourself to positive people,
are some amazing books out there, filled
this will also have an effect on you. The
with incredible personal stories of how
lesson here? Choose your friends wisely!
individuals have managed to stay positive in the face of immense adversity. And
6. Take control of you life. Sit down and
great thoughts and understanding about
consider what are the things that appear
keeping a positive state of mind.
troublesome in you life and seriously consider writing a plan to deal with these
9. Exercise is good for the soul. Yes, exer-
issues. It maybe that a little concise strat-
cise can keep you positive. It is scientifi-
egising can help alleviate one stress. So
cally proven that thirty minutes of good
try doing some mind mapping on a piece
exercise can release chemicals that can
of paper to see what surfaces.
lift your mood and give you a more positive outlook.
7. Try reframing for a more positive glow. It can often be the case that adjusting
10. Indulge yourself once in a while. Treat
the way you perceive things can make
yourself. Why wait for someone else to
a world of difference. Reframing involves
do it for you? In fact they may never do
taking something quite negative and thing
it for you, in which case you’ll be waiting
about it in a more positive light. Now this is
a long time! So consider what your little
not a Pollyanna thing. It means having an
indulgence would be, that moment of
clear objective overview of situation and
personal pampering or luxury? And make
seeing it for what it really is. So my motor-
a pact with yourself to do it often and
bike is knackered. But I’m getting to do far
regularly.
more cycling and feel far healthier for it.
EQUILIBRIUM 10
PHOTOGRAPHY: SARA MCCALLUM
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CORNWALL 2015
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TREYARNON BAY
Summer/ Issue 38
Equilibrium’s Nigel Prestatyn hotfoots it to Cornwall to capture these stunning panoramic views
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EQUILIBRIUM
ARTWORK
(f) (a)
Clarendon Group
(c)
(g)
This time I’m not reviewing one but many
for the sky in the background… You could
different artists and I must say I’m truly
literally dive in to the picture, the boats are
enthralled by the wide array of pictures to
so close you could almost reach out and
look at.
touch them. And then there is the turbulent sea, captured with light and dark so effi-
Firstly, I have to say that I am impressed
ciently. I’m at the seaside having a picnic;
by the tribal feel (a); you could say it’s like
the light blues mixing with greens, greys
looking at American Indian or even aborig-
and just a hint of yellow gives a light view
inal art. The choice of colours is striking and
over what is a tense view of a turbulent
eye catching; you could even go so far as
sea. Well done – I’m totally hooked. You’ve
to say it looks like an Islamic prayer mat:
got skillz, Gary. It has re-inspired me, thanx
beautiful reds and yellows, with pale blue
mate.
that complements itself with natural tones and intricate details. Well done, John.
Now for the next piece of art (c). I know block colours when I see them, and I
The next picture (b) brings me back to my
grew up watching Rainbow on TV! Dawn’s
early artistic years when I used to draw and
colourful rainbow is bold and beautiful and
paint scenic landscapes. I am looking at
she has even offset it with hints of grey. It
a sea picture and the brush strokes have
blurs the boundaries of their endings, with
truly captured a storm at sea: the wind in
two meeting in the middle and exploding
the sails, the perfectly used, limited colour
in a turbulent sea of colour.
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Summer/ Issue 38
(b)
(a)
(e)
(e) (a)
(d)
Neil has a thing for shapes and one of the
varied simplicity. He has moulded a face
most well known is the pyramid (d), the
paper on paper through collage, and
triangle. Really unusually he has decided
the blue hair and dark beard offset one
to colour it in with pencil both lightly and
another perfectly. You can’t forget the
darkly and just to give you a little extra
advertising. That’s rep, man – thanks,
with two clouds one each side. Less is
David!
more. Simple. Now Miranda gives an eye of zaniness to Dev’s picture (e) is a top half portrait of a
one of my favourite activities (g), for when
person whose arms are folded and is star-
I’m at play I love rollercoasters and this
ing right at you. This picture really grabs
one really tests gravity to the limits by the
you and draws you into the eyes.
looks of it. There’s lots of intricate details in all the individual people in the cars and
Denica’s work (e) is of a beautiful bright
the queue, and let’s not forget the seesaw.
bird standing on top of a pot. The bird’s
Your picture is beautiful, Miranda.
legs remind me of an albatross and she has even called it ‘Bird of Paradise’. That
Richard Honan
sums it up perfectly.
(aka mohecan raphecant touché punt lsd cara2che dtf d2t kudos da living pugilist).
Now the face I’m looking at (f) is really back to basics, creatively unique in its www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 15
Languages By Dev
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 16
In an increasingly multi-cultural
English Dictionary has recently
world where around a half of
added new words from other
the population speak more
languages into their diction-
than one language, and in
ary. For example, the updates
some cases several languages,
includes many words from
words tend to migrate into
Philippine English, such as new
other languages. This is what
senses of common English
makes languages grow and
words, like ‘gimmick’ to mean
evolve. It is said that the Oxford
a night out with friends; loan-
Summer/ Issue 38
words from Spanish, like ‘estafa’ meaning
more common in speech than writing). If
‘fraud’; and Tagalog, such as ‘barkada’
you go into the midlands they sometimes
meaning ‘group of friends’. This also goes
say their vowels differently, and in the north
for English entering dictionaries of other
of England in Newcastle some people
languages. For instance, the words televi-
speak with a Geordie accent. Scotland,
sion, socks, camera, laptop, books all
Ireland and Wales all have very distinct
appear in many of the world’s languages.
accents.
Languages, or the way they are spoken,
In the Indian Subcontinent people tend
can change depending on where you
to speak in two languages at the same
live. If you travel to another part of your
time. This is known as Benglish (Bengali
city, you may find that people speak the
and English) or Hinglish (Hindi and English).
same language but in a different accent.
Basically you use words both from English
A prime example is if you start your jour-
and the other language at the same time.
ney in Chelsea they may speak English but
This is mainly spoken by people under 27
with a ‘posh’ accent; as you move down
years old and above 12 years old. These
to central London or the city of London
are often used so that adults do not under-
the way words are spoken change. Move
stand what they are saying.
even further east into the East End you might hear people speaking in cockney or
In some countries there are at least two
missing a few letters from their words. Some
or more main languages spoken. But,
people also use a lot of slang (a type of
according to K-internation blog, the Tiny
language consisting of words and phrases
Papua New Guinea is about 462,840
that are regarded as very informal and are
square kilometres in size (about the size
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EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 17
of the state of California) and there are
bit differently. For example, in Arabic
about 820 spoken languages in that
some words also appear in Urdu (a
country alone! That is about a quarter
language spoken in Pakistan and North
of the 6,912 known living languages
West India). Urdu has some of its words
spoken in the world today. Accord-
appearing in Hindi (one of the two main
ing to the Effective Language learning
languages spoken in India). If you keep
website the most difficult languages to
on following this example you will find it
learn are Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin
goes around the world.
and Korean. As a person who can speak three Apparently the first words were just
languages (Hindi, Bengali and English,
sounds and clicking noises which were
and I also speak some Urdu as it is very
done by the hunter gathers. This type of
similar to Hindi), I have had some trou-
early language is still spoken in hunter-
ble writing the languages I speak. I try
gathering tribes in extremely rural areas
to get the gist by understanding what is
and the Sahara. The majority of writ-
going on in the situation, as the context
ten words developed from the pictorial
of the words help with their meaning.
images. For example the letter A came
When I first started learning one of the
from the image of a cows head.
languages, I tried to learn the basic greetings, then followed on picking up basic words like is, there, the, why. Then gradually the names of things i.e. cup, chair, salt, table, followed by putting
Languages have been described
words together. Sometimes if you watch
as: “free spoken words which gradu-
foreign children’s programmes this can
ally change in pronunciations as you
help a lot, and I have managed to learn
move across the world”. As you move
some Arabic words this way. As I am a
across different countries similar words
dyslexic person, this took some time.
appear, but are often pronounced a
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 18
Summer/ Issue 38
PHOTOGRAPHY: SARA MCCALLUM
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EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 19
GREEN THERAPY Wellbeing & the Big Outdoors
I have to confess to having never heard of
in 71 percent of participants. Research-
the term ‘Ecotherapy’, also referred to as
ers compared the effect on this group with
‘Green therapy’, but it seems natural that
a control group who also took a walk, but
the wellbeing benefits of being in the great
in a shopping centre. Only 45 percent of
outdoors would eventually get its own title.
the shopping center walkers had reduced
Of course we all know that getting some
depression, while 22 percent of them actu-
fresh air and being in the great outdoors is
ally felt more depressed. So there are sound
good for us, but for many, knowing that it
statistics to back up the benefits of being in
now comes with research credentials, may
the great outdoors.
give potential couch potatoes an additional boost in getting out into the big green world.
There are more terms in fact, this time related to the effect on one’s mood in not
A recent study conducted by research-
getting out into nature, and that is Nature
ers from the University of Essex, found that
Deficit Disorder, coined by American author
taking a walk in nature reduced depression
Richard Louv in his book, The Nature Princi-
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 20
Summer/ Issue 38
Nigel Prestatyn
ple. Of course it’s hard to know what exactly
green activities like gardening or environ-
getting out into nature means. Well, yes, out
mental conservation work. The organization
into a park if you’re an urbanite like me. But for how long? How much nature would there need to be? Would a fairly green garden
has found that 69 percent of people had an increased sense of well-being after participating.
count as nature? Well, gardening by all accounts is very beneficial for some in terms
These studies might help the stubborn who
of lifting mood, or seeking a little tranquillity.
scream: ‘when do I get time to go out into
Another study published in 2010 in the Jour-
nature, I’m far too busy with work?!,’ etc.
nal of Environmental Psychology showed that spending even just 20 minutes outside per day could boost energy levels. Mind has funded several “Ecominds” projects that
Well you don’t have to, you could always stay in a low mood. It really is up to each individual to make the time and effort.
bring people at risk of developing mental
Twenty minutes is not such a big cut from 24
health problems to become involved in
hours, giving the benefits we now know.
EQUILIBRIUM21
Yoga and Recovery Francesca Baker
Recovery from mental illness and
When experiencing any mental illness
addiction is a process – one of
it can be difficult to even contemplate
rebuilding a life, harnessing resources,
dragging yourself to a mat to engage
connecting with the self and finding
in any exercise, and the mind will no
meaning. It’s unfortunately not some-
doubt be racing away from it even
thing which can occur as a result of
once you are there, but this is all part
just a course of tablets and a doctor’s
of the process. Yoga is not a magic
appointment, and treatment which
wand or an instant fix, but the prac-
adheres to such a rigid definition often tice consists of tiny changes which has a narrow and short lived result.
together will not in itself alter your life,
There is an increasing recognition that
but can alter your attitude to life, the
recovery requires hope, control and
tools you use to cope with difficult
opportunity and that these things can
situations, the approach you take to
be found outside of the mainstream
daily activities, and thus, in all of this,
medical catalogue. They can be
be life changing.
found in yoga.
Around the world practitioners are
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 22
Summer/ Issue 38
starting to realise the power of
for yoga and addiction. Concentra-
yoga in recovery. It has a tool to
tion enables individuals to develop
help deal with life and connect
emotional regulation and over-
with oneself, but more formal
ride learned behaviours, with a
programmes explicitly aligned with
particularly powerful effect on the
recovery are cropping up. In the US
dopamine system, the feedback
Nikki Myers has set up a movement
loops of which are often found to
called Y12SR, aligning together
be skewed in those with addictions.
yoga with the traditional twelve step
Her practice is therefore delivered
programme, whilst closer to home
from an informed space, and she
Camilla runs classes and retreats
works with individuals to highlight
in Brighton and London ‘aimed
the aspects of practice which medi-
at anyone who may be currently
ate the condition. A compassionate
experiencing challenges in life
approach to discomfort reduces
that have left you feeling out of
struggle and trauma, and yoga has
balance’.
been found to have been as effec-
It’s not just a case of yoga making
tive as antidepressants (although do
you ‘feel better.’ There’s clear
speak to your doctor if considering
evidence to support the use of yoga
coming off any medication).
for recovery. Shaura Hall of Yoga
The Yoga Project run specific
Love trained with the Mindfulness
courses and classes for those recov-
Institute, and unites her scientific
ering from long term illnesses and
background with yoga practice.
addictions. They state how ‘recovery
Her knowledge of neurobiology led
from any addictive or compulsive
her to really explore the evidence
behaviour shares the same aims as
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM 23
yoga: a quest for self-control, disci-
most important things in recovery is
pline and strength’. It’s a point shared
connecting together the emotional,
by Alan Marlett, who set up the Mind-
cerebal, social and physical parts of
fulness Based Relapse Prevention
one’s life to create meaning. Addic-
Centre and has noted that through
tion is often a result of having lost
building resilience, acceptance and
some kind of connection with either
understanding researchers have
oneself or community, and replacing
already found that yoga helps people
this with something else. Empower-
accept the negative emotions and
ment and belief in one’s own ability
physical cravings that so often lead to
to create real and lasting change is
a relapse.
crucial in recovery. It’s a rewarding
Durga Leela runs Yoga of Recovery, a
and wholesome moment when you
yoga retreat that uses the twelve step
notice that your heels touch the floor
principle of recovery, which looks
in downward dog, or you can stretch
at the roots of addictive behaviours
just a little further in triangle pose. No
through the 6 Tenets of YoR – Life is
one has made that happen, just your
Longing (union), Prana (vitality), Rela-
own practice and belief.
tionship (belonging), Sweet (beauty),
Everyone is individual; the practice
Love (true Power) and Progress (direc-
of yoga is accepting of that and
tion and guidance). Her approach
encourages individuals to accept
is spiritual and her focus on chan-
themselves. There’s no judgement
nelling consciousness, but with the
– just you and the mat – which is an
same effects taking place upon the
incredibly liberating place to be in.
body. When the prana energy of the
Imperfections are not criticised, but
breath is balanced, the sympathetic
embraced as part of what makes
and parasympathetic systems are in
people unique. Yoga won’t make
balance.
the issues that have led to addic-
Yoga means union, and one of the
tive behaviours go away, but it will
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 24
Summer/ Issue 38
create the space to explore and
moving through the postures – the
accept them. Shuara notes how the asana – that is beneficial for recovdiscomfort of some yoga positions
ery, but the language of yoga.
can be seen as trials that replicate
Phrases such as ‘wherever you are
those in life, and learning to deal
today, ‘that’s enough’, ‘just work
with them an important lesson.
to what you can’ and ‘maybe you
The space to connect with all
can go further, maybe you can’t
aspects of your being, the physi-
today’ are at odds to the harder,
cal, mental, emotional and spir-
faster, stronger mantras that seem
itual, and allow whatever comes
to repeat through most exercise
up to just come up can feel chal-
classes. The kind of questions
lenging for individuals so used to
that come up in yoga are about
numbing, fighting or running from
being curious, rather than finding a
difficult emotions, but is a very
cause and blame, and encourage
healing process to go through.
a playful and enjoyable process
Releasing some of the emotional
of change. I don’t come out of a
trauma that is stored in our energy
yoga class angry at my limitations
and body means that there is less
and what I have achieved, but
of an urge to ‘treat’ it through mala- instead proud that I have taken the daptive means. It’s a way for to
time to tune into my own body.
get ‘in touch with one’s own Self
‘Come back to the breath’ is the
and develops the right perspec-
phrase used most often in yoga.
tive about life, becoming deeply
Come back to the one thing you
contented no matter what is
always have, without seeking any
happening externally’. As Durga
external behaviour, substance or
describes it: ‘This is tremendous
routine. Come back to yourself.
healing’.
Really, that’s what recovery is all
It’s not only physical practice of
about.
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EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 25
‘BECOMING’
A Computer Game For Health
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 26
Summer/ Issue 38
Nick Chester
At Last, a Computer Game is on Its
within a psychiatric ward. The game
Way that Provides a Realistic Depic-
will be an RPG that takes the player
tion of Mental Illness by Nick Chester
deep inside the brain of the central character via dream and memory
Have you ever played a computer
sequences, and enables him or her
game that features a mentally ill
to participate in therapy sessions
character and found yourself roll-
and interact with other ward resi-
ing your eyes at how unrealistic it is?
dents. I caught up with Isaac to
Mental health is usually portrayed in
find out his motivation for creat-
terms of either cartoon-style ‘insan-
ing this game, and how it aims to
ity’, complete with cackling evil
change the face of mental illness in
laughter and plans to take over
computer games.
the world, or zombie-like braindeadness, with the individual in
Me: What inspired you to start devel-
question being incapable of any
oping this game?
form of rational thought. There is rarely any attempt to evoke empa-
Isaac: I’ve wanted to be a computer
thy for these characters, or depict
game developer since I first played
them as they are in the real world.
Super Mario Bros. as a little kid,
Fortunately, budding game devel-
and I’ve been in and out of psyche
oper Isaac Benjamin is seeking to
wards since I was a young teen. The
change this situation. He’s currently
last time I was in one, I was about
working on a title that is aimed at
18 years old. I’m inspired by story-
realistically simulating the struggles
driven games, like Dear Esther and
of people with mental health issues
The Stanley Parable, and when
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EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 27
I thought about the types of game
Me: What has the response to your
I wanted to make, I decided that I
ideas been like so far from people?
wanted to create something meaningful. It seemed logical for me to make
Isaac: I’ve had a good response;
a game about mental illness, because
people definitely seem to like them. I
there really wasn’t anything that
haven’t had any negative responses,
depicted it realistically in the game
so that’s good.
industry. Me: Do you think Becoming has potenMe: Your game explores the thought
tial for teaching people about mental
processes and the dreams of the char-
illness as well as just functioning as a
acters as well as the physical world
game?
that they exist in. Can you say a bit about that?
Isaac: Yeah, I really hope so. I also hope that it’ll provide a cathartic
Isaac: I want to implement a day and
release for people who have mental
night cycle in which the player has to
illness. I hope it’s something that
go to bed at night and wakes up in
people can play to gain an insight into
other locations, which are either repre-
the world of mental illness.
sentations of the past or dreams. The main level I like to tell people about is
Me: What’s your background as a
a level where the floor and walls move
game developer? Have you made
based on player movement, which is a
other games before, or is this the first
way to display through metaphor how the
that you’ve worked on?
world can get in the way of the player.
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 28
Summer/ Issue 38
Isaac: I’ve got high standards for
Isaac: I hope that I’ll be finished
the games that I release. I haven’t
within five years, although that’s just
released any others so far, because
the vague ballpark.
games need to be of commercial
Me: Where will people be able to get
quality for me to I release them.
hold of Becoming?
I’ve been studying game design for about 2 years now through online
Isaac: I’m hoping to have a demo
learning platforms like Udemy and
level up in a handful of months,
Digital Tutors, but this is going to be
and I definitely plan on selling the
my first commercial title.
game before it’s finished as an early access release. I’m not really sure
Me: The clips of Becoming that I’ve
where I plan on hosting that; I might
seen look very professional for some-
just host it on my own website. I defi-
one who hasn’t released a game
nitely plan on releasing the game
before!
on Steam [a digital game store] and GOG [a game distribution service]
Isaac: Thank you; that’s kind of the
when it’s done.
whole point. I wanted people to see the first thing I made and go, ‘Hey,
Me: Thanks, Isaac. I’ll look forward to
this guy knows what he’s doing’, not
playing it when it’s out.
‘This guy just started out’. For further information about BecomMe: When do you hope to have it
ing, search for Isaac’s game produc-
finished by?
tion company No Audible Dialogue on Facebook or YouTube.
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EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 29
A Can of Snakes & a Kettle of Nightmares The global ‘war’ on drugs
HIGH SOCEITY I am of the opinion that a fresh
law makers have mimicked truth with
perspective is required in order to
false hegemony. Their self righteous
tackle what could destroy a decent
approach, like they are on the moral
civilised society if we continue the
high ground, suggests the way to deal
way we are going. We will soon reach
with your body and mind is in their
a point where all these politicians and
nihilistic design of neoliberal capital-
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 30
Summer/ Issue 38
ism, where people are secondary
perhaps we should have access to
to profit and trade. The only ‘isms’ I
that which is required; for example
personally believe in are monothe-
doctors and dentists and the medi-
ism, antidisestablishmentarianism
cal world are free to use drugs on
and altruism.
us and there is no recrimination, whereas if you are caught using
The trade of illegal drugs has a reve-
a controlled substance you are
nue of near a billion, and when law-
labelled a criminal, even though lots
makers are making their decisions
of evidence that suggests that mari-
it’s self-evident that they’ll be influ-
juana can be highly effective for
enced by money. The use of legal
relief from some medical conditions.
drugs, such as nicotine and alcohol,
Why are we criminalising people
pulls in huge revenue in taxation,
who are desperate?
and this has been used as an argument for the legalisation of some
Yet we must remember: the scale
drugs. However, here we are again
of the global drug trade problem is
bringing it all back to money rather
pandemic and totally out of control,
people: more concerned about fat
ruining millions of lives. If we are to
pockets than wellbeing.
come up with a sensible solution that has everyone’s best interests
I suggest we look to the reality of
at heart, the only way forward is to
people’s lives. On the one hand,
work together with one aim in mind:
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EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 31
purity of both mind and body, where
to highly addictive substances and
possible. So, in my humble opin-
end up losing dignity and respect. In
ion: don’t do the crime if you can’t
my humble opinion, with my limited
deal with any possible outcome
but varied experience, I believe that
that might not be agreeable with
we desperately need to change our
your individual biological chemical
attitude towards assisting the vulner-
make up (and you can’t know that
able in society. We definitely need
in advance!). You might be suscep-
an altruistic rather than judgemental
tible to problems that could arise
attitude and to get our heads out of
from substance use and not just an
the clouds and treat all substances
adverse reaction; for example, it
with the attitude and caution they
has been suggested there are links
deserve. This is a complex issue and
between cannabis use and schizo-
we need to be careful not to delib-
phrenia. There is also the possibility
erately demonise or legitimise what
of addiction with any drug (and let’s
could destroy us as individuals, as
not forget alcohol is a drug too!) and well as our society, both local and addiction is a serious sickness.
global.
We are paying a high price on both
Richard Honan (aka mohecan raphe-
sides of the coin; the justice system
cant touché punt lsd cara2che dtf d2f)
is not (or at least rarely) caring, aiding, healing or assisting the poor people who are susceptible
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 32
Summer/ Issue 38
PHOTOGRAPHY: SARA MCCALLUM
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EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 33
Photography: Sara McCallum