Be Kind to Your Mind
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but I’m proud to say that I’ve been working on my mental health since January, by finally regularly seeing a therapist. This does not mean I’m cured. This does not mean every day is great and problem-free. This means I’m slowly arming myself with tools and resources so that, when I do have a rough day, I can soldier through.
I love the CDC’s information for Mental Health Awareness Month, and I think it’s valuable information, even outside of the craziness of the world today.
- Pause. Breathe. Notice how you feel.
- Take breaks from COVID-19 content…or anything that seems to negatively impact your mental health.
- Make time to sleep and exercise.
- Reach out and stay connected.
- Seek help if overwhelmed or unsafe.
I’m proud of myself for incorporating these things without even realizing it. I’ve been regularly working on mindfulness and self-reflection. Per recommendation from my therapist, I’ve been utilizing progressive muscle relaxation to help the physical side effects of anxiety and stress and it’s been working quite well. It helps me diagnose how I feel and allows me to pause, breathe, and assess.
I’ve been working on taking breaks from current events. I do believe it’s important to stay informed and I truly feel knowledge is power. However, sometimes we can overburden ourselves. In times like these, when things are so far beyond our control and understanding, it can start to feel overwhelming. I feel like 90% of my conversations and news consumption revolves around the current pandemic. I have had to make my own safe spaces. I’ve become comfortable with asking the people I care about to not talk about the current events, so that they can be my safe space, my break from reality.
Making time for sleep and exercise has been more difficult than I’d imagine. My sleep hasn’t been terrible, but my exercise…not great. I was relying on my free gym at work, and with transitioning to Work From Home, that meant I lost my gym. However, this week I began a 30 day ab challenge. I don’t do much per day (at least not in the beginning), but it’s something.
I decided to break quarantine to visit my mom and grandma. I had to, just as much for them as for me. While I’ve spent several weeks and months apart from them, I’ve never done it just being miles down the road. I’ve always had an end in sight. With feeling like this was never going to end, I made the decision that you sometimes just have to figure out what you prioritize. I prioritize them, even if that means leaving my house.
Lastly, I’ve been consistent with seeing my therapist every two weeks. I had a PTSD-related anxiety attack Easter weekend, and I think it could have been much worse had I not been in therapy. I’m so beyond thankful for her and for the work we’ve done together. I’ve learned that I need to be my best friend. I need to speak to myself the same way I’d speak to any other friend. I’ve learned that I have a lot of past trauma that I need to work through. I spent years flipping my emotions switch off when things were tough–it’s how I survived. Now, together, we’re going through various times and events and slowly flipping those switches back on. It’s not easy. I don’t necessarily want to face truths that I’ve avoided for years. But I want to be healthy. I want to grow. I want to heal. And thanks to my therapist, we’re working together to help me accomplish those goals.
I’m proud that I’m still working on and achieving my New Year’s resolutions. I feel like for most people, they’re gone by the wayside by now. Not mine. I set out to work on my mental health, knowing that this wasn’t a resolution I’d ever “complete.” This is a work in progress, and it always will be. Mental health is not a box you can check, it’s not a line item you can cross off. But that’s okay. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I have to remind myself I’m doing the best I can. What my best looks like day to day may be different, but I’m still doing my best.
Which is why I want to end this with, “it’s okay.” My therapist asked me what kind of mantra or saying has helped me these last few weeks, and this is what I told her. She asked me if I felt I needed to expand on it or add to it, but what I told her is that it’s just a prompt, and each day, each moment, I need to finish the sentence. It’s okay…if I feel stressed right now. It’s okay…it’s just a loud noise. It’s okay…that I made a mistake. It’s okay…if I’m happy. It’s okay.
