Welcome to the style affect!

The general symptoms of anxiety are muscle tension, poor concentration, worry, restlessness, etc. and impairs one’s ability to feel relax, relate and release. Some general depressive symptoms are, feelings of worthlessness, lack of interest regular activities, sleep issues, changes in weight (not on purpose), and loss of energy.  In today’s climate, most of us are experiencing increased levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms as we are trying to adjust, make sense of our world, and find a new normal.  While trying to manage our mental health, who has the time or want to be concerned with putting on the standard “appropriate fits”? Take a look at my visual style presentation that explores different types of sweatsuits and the various fashionable and fun ways to wear them.  I can’t control many things in my environment, but I can control what I wear! Feeling comfortable in the clothes I choose to wear gives a me a sense of unequivocal freedom and it brings me much joy.  I am a cozy girl and a therapist who uses style as an expression of art, therefore in addition to my visual presentation I developed a list of the mental health benefits of rocking sweatsuits:

1.  Allows room for movement which can reduce tension in the body when you need to sit or stand in different positions to relax
2. Allows room for movement to dance, jump, and engage any other movement that brings you joy
3. Most are very easy to wash, so go do some gardening, repot those plants, and/or just ground yourself in the earth 
4. Gives graces for fluctuation in weight and you can still feel confident in your appearance
5. If you are in need of touch or the feel of comfort, wiggle around in your cozy jogging suit while taking a few deep breaths
6. Reduces concerns of needing to iron or drying to release wrinkles, you don’t have to put much concentration in putting it on and going about your day
7. Appropriate for lounging around the house to get rest, taking a mindful walk around the block, or a jog for exercise
8. It can increase motivation of engaging in various activities, because all you have to do is choose the suit and kicks and “Just Do It!”
9. They are great for transitions from Fall to Winter and Winter to Spring (a necessity if you struggle with seasonal depression)
10. They usually come in soft textures which is something to consider for children, teens and/or adults who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum D/O who are sensitive to various textures