Hello! I’m Debi or otherwise known as anoswaldoddity. I was forced to retire from working as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner due to health problems. I really miss my work.
Anyway, fiber arts……. I, for one, call my crochet my “Xanax”.
So, I’d like to share funnies as it relates to mental health; discuss how crochet helps your symptoms; and mental health in general.
Really, anything you want it to be.
If some of you would feel better if this was a private space, we could do that too.
Join in and let me know what you’d like to see.
22 Likes
I am Marilyn. I had a mini stroke years ago. It caused me to not remember numbers (still struggle with that a bit today). It caused me issues with connecting electronics to the tv. That kind of stuff. I used to help others, now I need help. 
But, as bad as the symptoms were, I was able to figure out how to read a crochet pattern. And the healing has begun. It really has helped with healing. I am getting better. It’s been 10 years since the first crochet pattern. Whoop.
10 Likes
Crochet is a great stimming tool! It’s stress relieving and helps me focus too.
9 Likes
I’m Tiphani,
A combination of the lockdowns and a severe back/hip injury forced me into early retirement from hairstyling. I have been working with fiber arts most of my life and have taught others along the way. I always thought that " someday" I would have the time and space to devote to designing and teaching full time… I guess it’s Someday!
Right now I am only in the process of converting my small item notes into patterns that other people can read, but once I get through that library, then I’ll start on the sweaters and coats.
I have dyscalculia, so it is a huge challenge to translate, but I’m getting there.
However, I do find myself feeling a little disheartened over the lack of knitters here in the forums, it feels a little lonely.
7 Likes
It’s difficult to need help isn’t it? It’s a grace that I am slowly learning to accept.
The brain is so complex, even a tiny insult to it can cause some kind of handicap. M
I find it difficult, maybe I should give it up, getting my family to understand what COVID 19 did to me. I crave understanding. How about you?
@HookedByMarilyn
Hey! I just realized you changed your user name!
4 Likes
Yes!
Did you know everyone engages in stimming? Those on the autism spectrum, their stimming is more obvious. Whereas, a person who does not have ASD; engage in finger biting, hair twirling, foot tapping, jiggling their feet, etc.
As a child/teenager I was a nail biter, to the point where the tips of my fingers would swell. Then when I got married to my late husband, I stopped suddenly and have not returned to nail biting.
Looking back, I can see why I stopped. The first 20 years of my life was chaotic to say the least.
My husband was a good man, and I felt safe with him.
@Winternightmare
6 Likes
We do have some knitters here. What I observed is that most of them hopped on the crochet forum to interact with others. I wasn’t here in the beginning of Ribblr, but I suspect that the crochet forum had the most activity.
@LDSVenus is a knitter and a great gal
@Lakeviewknitter is also a knitter she’s great too
@NoKittenAroundStudio also knits and probably some others I am overlooking.
Now that I am retired, life is more enjoyable. My doctor, whom I love and respect, said I needed to stop work and “slow your a@@ down”! My crochet skills have improved dramatically in the last year.
Looking back, I don’t know how I kept up the pace I did for 29 years.
5 Likes
I’m chandra, from canon city, colorado, 23 years old a stay at home wife, with 3 dogs names are miley she is a jack russell, molly she is a toy poodle chihuahua mix, bayley is a chorkie, and we have 2 cats name angel and sassy.
I love crocheting helps me relieve stress, and makes me happy that i can create anything my heart desires.
5 Likes
Yes, everyone does it! The reason it’s viewed as such a big thing for neurodivergent people and that we tend to distinguish it from neurotypical stimming is the type of action and frequency and such but indeed everyone needs to regulate 
I’m autistic and I have adhd. The reason I say crochet is a great stimming tool is the movement is repetitive and it almost “scratches the itch” in my brain if you know what I mean! Most of the time I rock, tap my chest and do quite a bit of vocal stimming. But with crochet, at least I don’t get in trouble if I do it in public 
5 Likes
Im Donna and a Mental Health Nurse. I am currently a Community Psychiatric Nurse in our local prison. I work closely with Psychology colleagues now and have started to look at trauma informed care. Crochet and finding ribblr helped me take time for me.
3 Likes
I think you’ll find about 75% of prisoners, maybe a little higher in females, have significant trauma in their history,
Thanks for joining us @Mentaldee !
2 Likes