Widen your focus by tuning into every thought in your mind, inviting them all in and letting them rip: the good, the bad and the ugly. After a minute, let them go… My ‘aha’ moment came when I realised I had used my success as armour to cover the chaos inside me… I was just a front; and, behind the front, no one was at home… I’ve come to the conclusion that we’re all in this together: many reside in the Land of Frazzledom, and we’re all trying to find some kind of exit route. This Mental Health Awareness Week (May 8-14), we revisit our interview with comedian Ruby Wax, who famously suffers from anxiety and depression, in which she reveals how to combat ‘frazzled’ moments in just three minutes.

you will feel encouraged to share your own. Whether you speak or not, please treat each other in a supportive and considerate way. Please note that this is not a space for those under 18 years old, although please do let your Facilitator or Host know if you are struggling with alternative childcare. mind, for half my life. The adult-hood half. I rationalize it like this: of course, my attention is always everywhere because of my faith and my intune-ness to my feelings. I observe myself living my life, and I live it- both at the same time. Ruby's here to show you that behind the clouds, the sun still shines. So, do you want the good news? Wax provides step-by-step guides to mindfulness practise that you can do daily - including practise for those if us with busy and active lives (or those who are not 100% taken by the idea of mindfulness). She also provides guidance on how to introduce this practise to your children and teenagers. There is also a realisic guide for parents (and how to snatch those moments of mindfulness wihin the self chaotic family life).The problem is there are a number of evolutionary hiccups that were never ironed out; glitches in the mothership. Part of our brain still functions as if it is hundreds of thousands of years ago and we haven’t yet learned to adjust our dials for the 21st century. Rather than going on bitching about the shortcomings of being human, I thought I’d find out what we can do about it and that’s how I came to write A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled. Each meeting opens and closes with a short mindfulness exercise. You don’t need to ever have tried mindfulness before, and your participation in these exercises is completely optional. To agree to access the meeting in a confidential, quiet space that is not available to the public or other non-attendees. Your Facilitator or Host may ask you to leave the meeting if they deem you to be in an inappropriate venue. I now hold nightly meetings for 50-100 people. We also have trained hosts who hold smaller meetings for up to 15 attendees throughout the day – you can sign up for either at FrazzledCafe.org, and it’s free. Attendees have said things such as, “By coming here, it calms the chaos in my mind... you get that instant, raw connection that brings out the true essence of what it means to be human.” I’ve said throughout my life: “Talking is half the cure.” In my book I present my own six-week mindfulness course with the blessing of Mark Williams, my professor at Oxford and co-creator of MBCT. With my programme you don’t have to perch on a gluten-free cushion, you can do the exercises anywhere, anytime; in the gym while pumping the pecs, or while eating a chocolate-chip cookie (or both at the same time).

Let's be honest, very few good things have happened in 2020. This is my first book from Ruby Wax as I try my hand at more non-fiction titles. This book appealed to me because world events have been so depressing lately, and I’m constantly searching the web for some small positives among all the negatives. Ruby Wax arrived in Britain in 1977 to pursue an acting career. She says "I really could never find my niche. I was a terrible actress, I couldn't sing, I couldn't do characters, I couldn't do an English accent and I lived in England, so I was narrowing it down".Also I'm not sure who is the target audience of the book, some parts read very light and even over explained, that made me think this is for the older generation who lost touch with technology and aren't informed. But having so much I formation delivered in a speedy way, made think it was for YA as they can take all of that in without many problems. The final section of the book is called ‘To the Future with Love’ in which she summarises the good news for each of the topics covered in her book. Her hope is that we will remember the’ feelings of interconnnectedness and caring for each other and … keep them going’ when the pandemic is over. Ruby Wax began writing it in 2018 before the outbreak of Covid-19, but ends the book with some ‘Post Covid-19 Good News.’ Whilst researching for her book she found what she calls ‘green shoots of hope peeping through the soil of civilisation’ that ‘may just bloom into a brighter future.’ It’s easy reading, written clearly in a breezy conversational style, covering a large amount of information. She emphasises the importance of compassion and kindness, of community and on working for the good of all. Maybe, above all she focuses on the benefits of mindfulness and on positive experiences. I personally wanted to learn how to de-frazzle and, even more urgently, find a method to defuse my depression. After much research, I found out mindfulness and cognitive therapy (called MBCT) had the best results, as far as empirical evidence goes, in dealing with stress, depression and anxiety. The word mindfulness gives me the same vibes as dream-catchers and lentils, but Oxford University offers a master’s programme in MBCT so I thought there must be something to it. So I took the course, wrote my dissertation, spun it with comedy and boom, then got a book and show out of it. That’s killing multiple birds with one stone.

It is impossible to deny her enthusiasm and personal trauma, her will to be well and compassion for fellow sufferers.” – Helen Davies, Sunday Times (paywall) Buy the book To help ensure that our meetings run smoothly and in line with the values of Frazzled Cafe, we ask that all participants agree to follow these guidelines: Her next mission is to create walk-in centres for people with mental health issues. ‘There’s not enough support; there aren’t enough shrinks,’ she says. ‘It helps to know you’re not alone.’ Ruby Wax’s 3 minute technique to feel less frazzledThese days she promotes understanding of the brain and campaigns for greater mental health awareness and destigmatisation. Finally - a map for the troubled human mind. And it's funny Witty, wise and thought-provoking Wonderful, painfully funny and instructive This manual for living must be read by everyone A very funny book about how to be calm and poised and not bonkers Having loved "Sane New World" and "A mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled" I had high hopes for this new book by Ruby Wax. I admire the straight-talking, comedic, yet somehow serious way in which Ms Wax's message is delivered. In both previous books that message landed so well and I could relate.