LAUREL AND THE NINELIVES PROJECT

ninelives was produced by the team from Brighton & Hove City Council who put together the successful bid for city status and the 100 Faces campaign.

ninelives grew from discussions about how ideas of sustainability could be taken beyond the committed few and made real for people regardless of their background knowledge. The nine volunteers took on a wide range of life skill challenges to get a better quality of life and become more sustainable. They embarked on nine weeks that changed their lives forever. A team of experts and mentors volunteered their services and were on hand to guide them through the highs and lows of their personal challenges.

I was the stress management counsellor for ninelives. Here are three of my clients stories with extracts taken from their weekly diaries found online at www.ninelives.tv.

Nicole

Nicole, 21, lived with her sister's family in Hove, Sussex. She worked as a director's PA. “My biggest problem is stress,” she said ”I just can't wind down properly and I can't stop thinking about work. I really love my job but it's dominating my life.”

WEEK 2
The highlight of the week was the stress counselling arranged by Sussex Career Services. Absolutely brilliant. I just can't praise it enough. To begin with, the counsellor asked lots of questions all about my health and emotions to get a picture of how I'm feeling. She's now going to work out a list of things I can try so I'm really looking forward to going again next week.

WEEK 3
The stress counselling with Laurel Alexander from Sussex Careers Services just gets better. She's so good and I can't believe how much better I feel after the sessions. This week I learnt some new breathing techniques. They're simple techniques that I can use at any time. For example when I'm lying in bed thinking about work, I can use the techniques to help me get off to sleep. Each week we try something new, and they're all brilliant.

WEEK 4
My stress counselling is still brilliant. This week I was so stressed I just talked for a whole hour, which was exactly what I needed to do.

WEEK 5
My stress counselling is still brilliant and this week I tried some Reiki therapy. When I got up I felt nice, relaxed and calm.

WEEK 6
Taking part in the campaign and working with the stress counsellor made me realise just how stressed I was and that, at 21 years old, that wasn't right. Seeing Laurel has really been the most fantastic thing I've ever done. Just having someone to talk to who's completely neutral has been wonderful, and I now feel I'm ready to take the plunge and travel the world. I just wish I could take Laurel with me!

WEEK 7
I saw my stress counsellor Laurel and tried some reflexology, which was wonderful. I didn't realise that there were 70,000 nerve endings on each foot and they are all connected to different parts of the body.
When Laurel pressed on certain parts of my feet and I felt discomfort, they all related to parts of my body where I was having problems. The worst was my lower back, which does give me trouble. Laurel's also suggested I have an eye test as I felt pain in parts of the feet which relate to my eyes. So I'm booking in for an eye test - it will be interesting to see if there is a problem.

WEEK 9
I went along for my final stress counselling session this week and tried out a biofeedback machine. My index finger and the one next to it connected me to the machine, and when switched on, it gave out a humming noise, which got louder as I got more stressed. Laurel asked me to let thoughts come and go, so I could see just what was making me stressed. I was amazed by the results. Things I thought were stressful made hardly any difference, but it was little things I didn't realise were stressing me, like packing to go away that sent the levels rising. It was fascinating to see just how much stress affects the body, and that it's the silly little things that are often the most stressful.

I've enjoyed the stress counselling so much, and it's really changed my life. I'm hoping to continue with reflexology and Reiki therapy and will look out for the Bach flower remedies while I'm on my travels.
Before the ninelives campaign, I wouldn't have thought of myself as the sort of person who would have benefited from counselling. I thought you had to have a major trauma in your life, and I didn't. But I had no idea how stressed I was and just how much I'd benefit.

WEEK 2
I went for my stress counselling and found it really interesting. I didn't realise there were so many different things available to help with stress. We spent most of the time talking, so the counsellor could gather lots of background information about me. She made lots of suggestions of things I might like to try, like foot massages or herbal remedies so I can choose what appeals to me.

I'm going to try a stress monitor, which shows stress levels by reading body temperature. The idea is that you take your reading before and after you've taken action to relieve your stress, and you could see whether it's gone down. I think that will be really interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing her again next week.

WEEK 3
I went along to my stress counselling this week and tried mediating for the first time. The counsellor was great and told me exactly what to do, and I definitely felt better afterwards, but I haven't tried it at home on my own yet. Every week I'll be trying a different method of coping with stress, and I'm really looking forward to finding out more.

WEEK 5
The stress counselling with Laurel is superb I just can't fault her. I admit I was a bit sceptical at first, but am really pleased with how it's going and how the whole family is benefiting, which was exactly what I wanted when I started ninelives.

I've taught my husband how to meditate and it worked so well he fell asleep. I'm finding the meditation very useful as I can do it anywhere, and am not shouting at the kids as much.

This week I had a foot massage and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it, because I hate anything to do with feet! It was brilliant. Laurel massaged my feet while I just blabbed away!

I've also had a temple massage. During one session I just talked and talked, while Lauren listened and we came up with solutions. She makes me feel very at ease, and I really feel I'm benefiting. Even my husband's thinking of going to get help with his migraine.

WEEK 8
I'm still really enjoying my stress counselling. This week I tried Reiki, which is a spiritual form of releasing stress. It's hard to describe how I felt afterwards, but I'm enjoying all the sessions and am definitely benefiting.

Eric

Eric, 33, lives in Saltdean in Sussex. He is a comic writer and voluntary health outreach worker.

WEEK 2
I really don't think I'm cut out for therapy so I found the stress counselling stressful! But we've come to an understanding and I'm going to try yoga and the Alexander technique, which I am really interested in because I would like to look at my posture.

WEEK 3
I've been back to the stress councillor and have learnt some simple meditation techniques, which I've been putting into practice. I have to say that in spite of all my cynicism, I'm now enjoying the stress counselling. I've meditated at Victoria Station and out in the countryside at Warwick, and after just 15 minutes felt much more relaxed. It's great that I can use the time spent waiting for a train or bus in such a positive way.

WEEK 6
I saw the stress counsellor at Sussex Careers Services and tried visualisation, a type of meditation that takes you off to an astral plane. I found it wonderfully relaxing and almost nodded off. I'll also be doing some journaling, when I write down how I feel about what happens during meditation.

WEEK 7
Went to see Laurel, my stress counsellor, this week, and I've been journaling as part of my meditation. That was interesting as I assumed I'd be jotting down my thoughts as I meditated, but instead I've found myself drawing and doodling. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to Laurel and to be listened to, particularly as I spend a lot of time listening to other people.

WEEK 9
Went to my final stress counselling session with Laurel, and was connected to a biofeedback machine which lets out a loud squealing noise in response to stress. I managed to fall asleep which was not supposed to happen!

I've enjoyed my sessions with Laurel. Having somewhere to go where no one can reach me and I can have a cup of tea and talk about myself has been very relaxing. Just being there helped reduce my stress and I can imagine going back again some time.

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